Page 158 of Stormvein

“We’ll discover what we can.”

“Jaris and Forsala both said that the Authority continued to hunt for months, but never found any trace of the masters or the child … me.”

“Which suggests whatever method they used was effective. No obvious trail, no witnesses who knew what their ultimate plan was.”

“I wonder what happened to them. Does sacrifice mean that they died getting me away?”

“It’s possible. Forsala seemed certain Nyassa didn’t expect to return.”

“What could they have done that required the deaths of all four of them?”

“Power of that magnitude always comes with a cost. Usually blood or lifeforce. Especially when channeled toward something that could have moved a person between worlds.”

“It still doesn’t make sense.” Frustration edges her voice. “I still don’t understand what Sereven would have seen in a child? What possible threat could a three-year-old pose to the Authority?”

“Perhaps it wasn’t what you were, but what you might become. The prophecy was starting to come to light around the same time as your rescue. Maybe the masters discovered something that linked you to it, even back then.”

“And if that’s true? If I was born here, taken from this world then brought back by your summoning spell …”

“Then maybe everything—the tower, my imprisonment, the spell—served a purpose none of us ever comprehended.”

“Whatpurpose?”

“To keep you alive. To bring you back when the time was right. When your power could finally be used as intended.” The words come easily, though the concept behind them is difficult for me to accept. I’ve never been a believer in prophecy, in fate.

She studies my face. “Do you really believe that?”

“I believe in patterns, in proof. And the patterns forming here are too precise to be a coincidence.”

Further discussion is put on hold by Telren’s arrival. He enters with several scrolls tucked under his arm, and an expression on his face that shows the barely contained excitement of a scholar who has found something interesting.

“Lord Torran.” He sounds slightly out of breath. “I’ve found some references that might relate to the blue crystal you askedabout.” His eyes flick briefly to Ellie, frowning at how close she’s standing to me, and the lingering silver glow surrounding her.

I reach down to squeeze Ellie’s fingers, then gesture for Telren to take a seat. “What have you discovered?”

He places the scrolls on the table. “These contain mentions of a crystal with unusual properties. The information is incomplete. Many of our oldest texts were destroyed by Authority years ago.”

“What do they tell us?”

“They speak of a crystal that amplifies certain types of powers.” He unrolls two scrolls. “This passage describes it as capable of…” His fingers move across the ink. “‘Drawing forth and channeling the essence of those who wield it.’ Another mentions that it ‘separates what is joined, and joins what is separate.’”

“That sounds like what happened at River Crossing and Blackstone Ridge. The crystal tore my shadows apart, but responded differently when Ellie’s power combined with mine and touched it.”

“These are only a couple of my findings. I thought you might want to know before I continue looking. I need more time to search the archives thoroughly.”

“Please, continue. Focus on any mention of how such a crystal might be used, or how different types of powers might interact with it.”

After Telren takes his leave, promising to continue his research, I turn to Ellie.

“There’s one more person we need to speak with.”

“Lisandra.”

“Yes. She’s been the leader of Stonehaven since my capture at Thornreave. She might recognize connections we’re missing.”

“Ifshe’ll tell us.”

“She will. But I think we’ve done enough for today. That can keep until tomorrow.”