“No, but still potentially important.” Anna thrust a book at us and pointed out a section. “It’s right here.”
“Read it out loud.” Anna had found it and was excited. I wanted her to get the credit.
My friend beamed and recited the passage. “Documentation passed down from Queen Sassa Falk’s inner circle at court leads us to believe that the Shadow Fae were eradicated from Isila, not by an unforeseen force. Nor primarily by magic performed by the queen herself. But by powerful gatemakers. One, being of theLisika line, died five moons after the Shadow Fae War. Sources close to the family say that he wasted away.”
“Holy stars,” Thyra breathed.
Luccan had claimed it was possible. Was this the proof we were looking for?
“The second gatemaker was a commonborn subject of House Virtoris. A sailor sent on a boat tasked to intercept a second wave of Shadow Fae forces before they made landfall. During that interception, the gatemaker created a gateway, sending the attackers on the ship elsewhere. She knew not where. Nor had she meant to perform such a feat of magic, but had done so out of necessity. However, after the war ended, she was commanded to journey to the Shadow Fae Isles and do so again. The second feat of magic cost her life.”
Anna stopped. “There’s more, obviously. The most important bit is that Luccan was right! Gatemakers banished the Shadow Fae. And it stands to reason they could bring them back too.”
“The problem being, of course, that we don’t have any idea as to where they went,” Duran added excitedly. “Or if the two gatemakers sent the Shadow Fae to the same world. Some may be in the human world, and others elsewhere.” Duran looked up, as though he could see the stars in the sky, and the gods said to rest among them.
“Roar once said Sassa banished the Shadow Fae. I wonder if he really thought it was a joint effort? Or if he knew at all?” I frowned. “And, actually, Roar’s father was a powerful gatemaker. So it seems that power ran in their line. Thank the stars Roar doesn’t have that magic.”
“You’re sure?” Thyra asked.
Was I sure of anything when it came to that fae? Roar had hidden so many things from me. From everyone.
“No. Actually, I’m not.”
“Gatemakers have always been kept under close watch,” Duran said. “It would be natural to hide that talent. If someone possessed other powers, hiding such magic would be relatively easy.”
Luccan had done that. Stars, what if Roar wasn’t just a shifter?
“They’re not feared like whisperers,” Thyra added. “Not killed butcontrolled. Always under the Crown’s thumb in case the ruling king or queen wishes to use them. Or they rent gatemakers out to a kingdom where no such power exists. If I had that power, I wouldn’t tell anyone either.”
“Clearly they’re rare among Shadow Fae, too.” I chewed thoughtfully on my lower lip. “Maybe nonexistent. Or else they would have returned on their own, right?”
“That’s right.” Duran nodded enthusiastically “Shadow Fae magic differs from the magic the rest of the fae control.”
“As if we don’t know that firsthand,” Thyra snorted and gestured to herself. “If this power felt anything like our winter magic, we’d be able to sense our way through this issue.”
“At least we now have confirmation that a portal can be opened only one way,” I said. “By a powerful gatemaker.”
“True,” Anna replied. “We have to hope that the king doesn’t know of one. Orfindone.”
Was Luccan powerful enough? He’d told me he was still early in his training.
“Set that book aside.” I rolled out my neck. “If we can take it with us, I’d like to read more.”
Anna nodded. “Will do. Any luck on finding information on the magic?”
“None. Which means we should get back to looking.”
Anna and Duran left, and I turned to my sister. “Today hasn’t been a total flop.”
She was silent for a long moment before replying. “Have you considered using the sword?”
I blinked and patted my hip. “This sword?”
“Is there another we ever talk about?”
I wrinkled my nose. “Go on.”
“If one of us gave it blood, and the shadows appeared, why don’t we ask it questions? To teach us or to find a book that could actually help us. They spoke to you, right?”
