Page 28 of The Pactbound Angel (The Soul Mirror Duet #1)

The Blue-Shrouded City

My Extended Pouch, capable of carrying many skins of water for our march through the Tanta Desert, had become a literal lifesaver.

The sun beat down, heating my steel armor to the point it was painful to touch.

Sweat trickled down my spine in uncomfortable drips.

I’d let my silver hair down from its standard ponytail to shield my neck and the sides of my face from the burning sun.

Raewyn seemed to be faring fine for a change. Her silken robes and now silken cloak breathed, allowing her to stay cool and shaded. Georgina had to walk, as M.A.L.C.O.L.M.’s metal shoulders were as heated as my armor. Ramiren looked the least bothered. He wasn’t even sweating.

Caravans became more spread out once the wildflowers disappeared to be replaced with sand.

I made sure to keep watch for those coming from the desert, to see if anyone needed immediate water.

Luckily, everyone appeared to have prepared for the trip.

They were sweaty with their skin pink from the sun’s rays, but no one was in distress.

“Ugh, I hate the heat. I hate it,” Georgina muttered, wiping her sweaty brow on her sleeve. She took a long drink from the waterskin I had provided her.

“Quit your bellyaching,” Raewyn said in a mocking tone, then laughed. The tables had turned, and Georgina looked none too happy about it.

The gnome cursed, “Oh, shut up. It’s hot. You know it’s hot. I can’t help it that I’m sensitive to temperature.”

Raewyn grinned. “Maybe, when we get to the capital, we’ll get some cloth to stuff in your -”

“Raewyn. Not now, please.” Those two…

Gone was the truce they had shared in Ghau. Now they were back at each other’s throats like rabid dogs. To distract at least one of them, I asked Georgina to tell us about Elancia.

“Oh. Sure. Uh.” She took a long swig of water.

“I mean, I didn’t spend much time in the city proper, so I can’t really comment on that.

Nice place with nice people, I suppose. The Workshop, though.

” She whistled appreciatively. “It is something else. It’s not just one room or one floor.

It’s multiple levels. They have a level for gemology.

One for blacksmithing. Another for armor. Whatever. You get the idea.”

She took another drink, wiping her mouth on her sleeve again.

“What boggles me is that there’s no smoke anywhere .

The air smells fresh as a daisy. It’s like the reservoirs of Ghau.

I don’t know what sorcery the Feylands cooked up, but I swear the things here that should be filthy are clean as a whistle.

We could use that magic in Tirvinir. You can’t really stay more than a few hours without choking on fumes, unless you have a breather mask.

It’s why we developed automatons. Beasts of burden can’t live there. ”

“Is that why you went to the carnival? For fresh air?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light.

I must have been successful, because she chuckled.

“No. I went to the carnival because of the deep-fried pickles and the Technology Exhibit earlier that day. Did I tell you I was the guest of honor? I’ve been trying to bring the cleaner fey technology to Tirvinir.

” She peered up at the reddish sky. “I knew I should’ve left right after. But, Grand Tinkerer, those pickles …”

When she trailed off, probably daydreaming about those deep-fried carnival pickles, Ramiren picked up the slack.

“That’s a wonderful ambition, Mistress Georgina.

I’ve been to Tirvinir, though I didn’t stay long.

You have much work ahead of you, but it is a worthwhile endeavor. If I can help in any way, please ask.”

Georgina grinned at him. “You know, when most people say that, they’re just saying it. They don’t mean it. You, I think you actually mean it.”

Ramiren replied with a gentle smile.

Raewyn looked back at me. “You know, I get that you and Georgina are uncomfortable. And I’m sorry for that, I really am. But I’m just happy to be the comfortable one, for once.”

Georgina chuckled. “I thought something was different about you, Raewyn.”

Raewyn beamed. “Yes, I-”

Georgina interrupted, “You haven’t been yourself lately. I’m sure we all noticed the improvement.”

Raewyn raised her waterskin to throw it at the back of Georgina’s pink head but thought better of it. “Though maybe I’m not the most comfortable one.” Her eyes turned towards Ramiren behind her.

Ramiren laughed. “Courtesy of my heritage, Mistress Raewyn. While gnomes are perhaps sensitive to heat, we broodlings embrace it.”

“I envy you, Ramiren.” Georgina sighed and took another drink of water.

“You’ll not envy me when it gets cold, Mistress Georgina, and it gets cold at night in the desert. I’ll stay tucked in my tent for the duration.”

It made sense to me, as devils came from the scorching Gateway, the only means to enter the endless black void of the Dark Drop where the Lordinar pantheon resided. However, my tutors failed to mention temperature adaptation or sensitivity when discussing his kind.

What else did they fail to mention ?

So, I asked. “Ramiren, what other abilities do broodlings have? I understand you can see in the dark. And now, I suppose, endure heat. What else?”

Ramiren glanced back at me, as though considering my question.

After a long moment of quiet, he answered, “We are adept at magic, either innately or through study. For example, I can innately produce and flare fire, though I cannot exactly control it. With my pact training, I am able to understand a multitude of languages I don’t currently know, after some intense concentration. ”

My face reddened as bright as the sun above. Did he then understand my Celestial when it spilled out of me? I hoped not. It felt invasive, like a private conversation had been eavesdropped on.

Not to mention what I had said…

“So, are you able to understand Celestial, then?” I said, then cleared my throat of the lump now poised there.

He looked back at me, a knowing smile on his lips. “As I said, only after concentrating. It’s unmistakable when it happens.”

My relief was palpable that he had indeed not understood what I had said in moments of no self-control. I still wasn’t sure if he could hear thoughts. And that word. Cordani. Had he heard it? I still had no clue what it meant.

An idea popped into my head. Of course! It has to mean something, not just meaningless syllables. Maybe I’ll ask him to concentrate as I repeat the word…

Oh, but what if you don’t like the answer? Or he asks where I heard it?

Or, worse, he doesn’t know.

“And what of celestials? I know some of you develop the ability to sprout wings for a short time, though I can’t say I’ve ever seen it,” Ramiren inquired.

I shuffled my doubting thoughts away to answer.

“Yes, we can. If our ancestors had wings, there’s a good chance we will, eventually, develop the ability to produce them on command.

We can heal, cure diseases, or remove poisons.

Celestials are able to care for their charges in a way that not many can.

It’s part of the reason celestials make excellent priests…

” I said, indicating my sister, “... or protectors. So, we are quite formidable when we take our oath to a charge, and our shielding abilities develop too.”

Georgina sputtered on her water. “ Shielding abilities ?”

It was the only real way to describe them.

“Yes. If we’re not next to our charge when they are attacked, we can…

throw a shield?” I plucked a cloak from my pouch and placed it over my shoulders, hoping it’d keep me cooler than the molten armor I was wearing.

“It’s rather hard to explain without seeing it. ”

Ramiren tilted his head back toward me again. “And have you found a charge, then, Lady Nathalia?”

With a sigh, I shook my head. “No.”

He’s out there somewhere.

“No one worthy of your… ministrations, eh?” Georgina said over her shoulder, her head half turned back towards me with a pink brow cocked.

Though it was meant as a rib, I did not mind, especially because it was true.

“That is exactly correct. Choosing a charge is the single most important decision a protector will ever make. We literally train to guard someone who we feel is more worthy of life than we are. We have to see it that way. Though there are some who take an oath to the Church of Horyn itself, I did not want to follow that route.”

“She wants her mysterious future husband to be her charge.” Raewyn chuckled.

A huff slipped out. “Yes. That is right, and I feel no shame for wanting that. A protector vows to one person in their lifetime. I will marry for life, so it makes sense. Besides, Father is a protector as well, and you know who he’s sworn to, Raewyn. I’m just following his example.”

Raewyn made an exasperated noise in response that sounded like a grunt combined with blowing a raspberry. “As though she needs the protection, Nat.”

“So, like a bird mating for life?” Georgina asked. I listened for a mocking tone, but there was none. Mere curiosity.

I considered, then smiled slightly. “Yes, like a bird mating for life.”

“What happens if your charge dies, then?” Georgina asked.

My smile faded, and my eyes turned downward toward the sand under my feet. “We are to join them into the afterlife. A dead charge means a failed protector, barring old age, of course. Our only hope of regaining honor is to follow.”

Georgina goggled at me. “Woah! That’s rough.”

Raewyn sighed. “I think it’s romantic.”

Beep. “IF GEORGINA DIED, I WOULD DIE TOO. DOES THAT MAKE ME A PROTECTOR?” Georgina patted her automaton on the leg as she walked next to him. She cursed in pain and shook her hand out, having forgotten how hot to the touch he was.

“In a sense, M.A.L. In a sense.” Georgina poured water on her hand to help with the burn, then took a few gulps.