Page 86

Chapter

Sixty

Liv

“ T he Elders here assume I am Veydian, and some don’t trust me.” I waved my hands in the air as I told Brekt of my travels.

We took our time searching for the University as if we were in no hurry to get these godly powers out of us.

God— gods , my senses were on fire with his presence next to me.

The force with which I wanted him was painful, but there were answers I needed, and I had come all this way to Maev’s city to get them.

I pulled on Brekt’s arm, stopping him when a man with vine-like hair approached me. The Elder of Mechanists—Xandar. He had been the one who warned me I would have enemies wherever I went.

“Are you following me?” I stepped toward him before he spoke.

Eyes the colour of bark lit with surprise. “Everyone is watching you, Saviour. You are a millennia old legend.”

He spoke with a calm, sure tone, and I was relieved when I didn’t detect hostility like I had from the Aerial Elder.

“May I ask who your friend is?” The Elder eyed Brekt. “You seem familiar with him, yet he was not with you when you arrived.”

“A Guard,” Brekt warned.

A chill went through me, waiting for the Elder to scream, but he just raised a brow in question. “Do you feel so much in danger in our city that you travel with a guard? I am sorry for the way the other Elders have treated you, Saviour. We only wish the best for our people.”

I wanted to smack Brekt. The Elder of the Mechanists seemed genuine—worried and offended that I would feel in danger. I was relieved he hadn’t assumed Brekt was one of the Guards.

“I am the Ikhor, Elder. I don’t feel in danger. But some that I am close to can feel overprotective.” I gave a warning look to Brekt, who didn’t seem to be the least bit sorry. In fact, he seemed to enjoy my anger. “I am looking for the University to find my friend Maev.”

“Ah. Madam, welcome to the University of Alchemy and Mechanists,” the Elder said, pointing to a large domed building behind him. “There are many buildings that make up the school. Your friend has a lab down that way.”

“Thank you.” I pulled on Brekt’s hand, but the Elder held his own up to stop me with a kind smile.

“I do believe the other Elders are skeptical, Madam. So I tell you this in secret. I’m privy to rumours.”

“What rumours?” I held my breath.

“Colleagues have informed me of a supply of crystals that arrived with Ms. Pretruq. A massive supply. Filled with potent magic.” He gave me a knowing look.

I blinked, failing to come up with a response.

“The source is unknown,” he said in a low voice. “The timing, however, interests me.”

“And I’m guessing you will tell the others what I can do?”

“No, Madam. I will not.”

I pulled back. “Why?”

“Because, although I wish to request testing of your magics, I do not believe men or women should be used as tools like they are in the aerial units. People are complex and layered. And I also prefer to have facts over rumours.”

“Thank you,” I said, surprised.

Brekt was appraising the Elder with similar confusion.

“Will some of those crystals be made into magycris?” I asked.

“I believe it is already being processed. Why do you ask?”

I stood up straight, acting brave even though I didn’t feel it. “As the saviour, I demand it to be sent to the children’s hospital. I want them to fix a child with a blood disease, as well as the other children in dire need.”

The smile that lit the Elder’s face told me a truth I had been wondering since I arrived—the Elders were not like the Council.

“I believe that is a wise and most thoughtful choice. It warms me to know this is the first request of our saviour. I will do this for you.”

Relief flooded through me, thinking of the young girl and hoping the magycris helped. “Thank you. And thank you for your help today.”

“Our Elders are chosen to represent the people. The fact that we disagree is a great benefit to our city as long as we can come to a conclusion that suits the citizens. This request, though not discussed with the group, would please them. I know this. I hope you will forgive their temperaments the other day.” He tipped his head in apology.

“If such rumours are true,” he continued, “and the stories of the Ikhor’s power returning magic to the earth’s crystals are fact and not fiction, I think you have made the right choice to help the sick first, Madam.

Yes, our city’s defences need help, but as we aren’t currently being attacked, the hospitals and the crops are what I would aid first.”

“Not the Mechanist’s school?”

“Ah, a curious mind never goes away. I am a patient study. I do wish to test the magic of the gods. However, I will wait, and after this meeting, I am most eager to see you again, Madam. You are a delight.” His vine-like hair fell over his shoulder as he bowed with his hand across his chest. “A Mechanist professor has told me there is an airship being loaned to a student for an extended period of time—though they didn’t give the student’s name.

I am told this student has put hours into upgrading the navigation system and that she is top of her class.

” He nodded as if in deep thought. “I am glad you are not what the Aerial Elder was hoping for.” He winked.

“And the building you are looking for is that one. Ms. Petruq is in there.”

Past a domed building was a square structure with large windows and a sloping, tiled roof. I thanked him and hurried to find Maev.

“Saviour …” Brekt mused. “To see the other side of the legends is no easy thing. It puts me on edge.” He stopped before the large doors of Maev’s building. “I can’t wrap my head around this city.”

“Avenmae? Why? The differences between this city and the Guardians City are far less than the difference between your cities and the Endless Forest.”

“This place isn’t even supposed to exist. I’m—I’m angry, Liv. And confused at what the point is, hiding this from the Guardians.”

“The Council?”

Brekt closed his eyes and inhaled. I wanted to reach out and smooth the lines creasing his forehead. “It’s been hidden from my people for far longer than the current Council has existed. The corruption and control goes back much further.”

“Let’s go inside. Let’s keep searching for the answers.”

A flash of iridescence rewarded me when he faced me again, lifting a hand for me to lead the way.

We entered the square building made of dark stone.

Sound didn’t echo in the dimly lit hallway.

Doors lined the hall, but I headed for the open one at the end, which revealed a large room lit with natural light.

“I’ve never seen such a place,” Brekt remarked.

Neither had I.

Long desks lined the room, covered in contraptions with glass bottles and metal arms.

“It reminds me of the Alchemist’s shop in Bellum,” I told him.

“I wonder if the old man had been from the Aethar’s side of the world. Though he didn’t have as much equipment, nor was it this advanced. Veydes isn’t … like this part of the world.”

Well, we were on the other side of it.

Brekt followed me into the room.

We passed stacks of books, contraptions like Maev’s tracker, and things that I couldn’t understand. I stopped when I heard voices ahead, and Brekt bumped into my back. I held up my hand, listening.

“You travelled all the way here with the Ikhor, Pretruq. That’s pretty badass.”

“Ugh, thanks. My tracker was what found her,” Maev said, her voice pitched.

“She’s really a girl, eh? I pictured a hulking dude if I’m being honest. Would have set a cooler picture.”

Brekt leaned into me as my hackles went up, hearing the man’s tone as he spoke about me. “Easy, little evil,” Brekt whispered next to my ear. “I feel your magic pulsing.”

Why did this mystery man think it disappointing that I was a woman? Who was Maev talking to? I didn’t recognize the voice, and I missed her reply.

“I came in to find my uncle, but I am glad I found you instead. Wanted to see when you were free.”

“Free?” Maev’s voice had risen impossibly further. I peeked through a large glass container suspended in the air.

A man stood next to where Maev was seated at a corner desk covered in pieces of metal, ore, wires and knobs at the far end of the room. I couldn’t tell what the other things were, but I guessed some of them were tools.

“I heard you were back in town, and I had been meaning to ask you out before you left.”

Was this the guy she had been talking about?

Hanold, the city guard—the one she liked?

He was not much taller than Maev, but he made up all his size in muscle.

His shoulders and arms were packed—different than how the Guardians carried themselves—and his white shirt was snug on his chest. He had light brown curls that fell in his face, and I couldn’t tell his legacy.

He was handsome—and I got the impression he thought so, too.

“Who’s the guy?” Brekt asked, keeping his voice low.

“I don’t know,” I whispered back. “Are you gossiping?”

“No. I’m spying. Following your lead.”

I stifled a laugh.

“Liv?” Maev said when she caught me spying.

She sat on a stool with her hair braided down her back and goggles on her head.

A dark smudge covered the natural lines and dashes on her cheek.

She wore a long-sleeved white shirt that was protected by a black apron.

Her black-gloved hands held something that resembled her tracker, forgotten with her current distraction.

Her mouth popped open when she saw who I was standing next to.

The guy she was with tapped her desk. “Come get me when you’re free. We will head to dinner tonight.”

“Okay.” Her eyes were like glass, watching him go.

Oh no. That was definitely the guy she was into.

He passed Brekt, giving him a nod and ignoring me. Clearly, he didn’t know what the Ikhor looked like. Or maybe I was too unimpressive of a woman to notice.

I pushed the hair from my face and made my way to Maev’s desk. “You remember Brekt.” I gestured behind me, trying to clear my irritation away.