Page 93 of The Dark Mage

She swept the nearest star toward him, the tiny light landing upon hisbrow.

“Speak,” she breathed reverently.“Speak,Alen.”

Esrin fell to his knees as the revelation struck him.At the same moment, Alen let out an unearthly scream, dragging clawed hands over his face.Ren’wyn felt the violent energy of his death and needed answers.

“Speak,” she commanded, her voice still gentle but firm, an undeniable will behind her words.

Alen’s dark form shook with suppressed energy.

“Speak.”The word was irresistible.

Beside her, Esrin shuddered.

Alen’s mouth opened, his voice harsh and jagged, like claws scraping stone.

“Fael found us.Brigands came.The token.Lia and Sorya taken.”

His form flickered, its edges bleeding out into the night.

“North.Another half day.Trees.”

Alen began to dissolve, and Ren’wyn tried something new.She cupped her hand as if holding water and brought it to her side.His shade coalesced again, regaining its shape.It wouldn’t last, so she swept another star toward where his heart would be.

“Come here, Esrin,” she urged.

Still kneeling, Esrin rose cautiously and approached Alen’s shade.

“Reach out,” she encouraged.

Esrin hesitated but finally extended his hand.Ren’wyn sent a star between them, and when their fingertips met, Esrin cried out, his body bucking as he experienced Alen’s death through the connection.

When his breathing steadied, Ren’wyn told him, “Tell him to rest, Esrin.Give him peace.He needs to know we’ll avenge him and save his sister and friends.”

Esrin turned to Alen, his voice sorrowful but determined.

“Rest now, friend.We’ll carry on for you.You will never be forgotten.”

To Ren’wyn’s surprise, Esrin reached out and touched Alen’s fingers once more.Alen’s form solidified, his dark silhouette replaced by the man he had been in life.His torn and bloody tunic was split from shoulder to hip, grim evidence of his violentend.

She knew Esrin heard the same whisper as shedid:

“Thankyou.”

The dark stars left the other shades, rushing toward Alen’s form.They enveloped him, glowing brighter and brighter until the light became blinding.

Esrin turned his face away, but Ren’wyn watched until she could no longer bear the intensity.When she blinked, the light burned against her eyelids.

And when she opened her eyes again, the glade was empty.

The morning dawned cloudy, a steady drizzle soaking the world in gray.As soon as the sky lightened, Ren’wyn and Esrin climbed onto Patina and headed north.Ren’wyn groaned as she mounted, her muscles aching from yesterday’s strain.

“Take me with you, Esrin,”he muttered mockingly, his voice laced with dark amusement.

Ren’wyn flipped him off from the front of the horse.

“Very dignified,” he retorted, chuckling.

She was glad he was speaking to her.After Alen had faded the previous night, Esrin had stared at her for a long, unreadable moment.When she’d tried to approach him, he had grabbed his blanket and rolled away.She knew he hadn’t fallen asleep quickly; he had lain unnaturally still under his blanket while she eventually noddedoff.