Kaja shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. Something he concocted from our stores. But if it would help…”
Aloisia took the vial and downed it in one. The taste was bitter. She pressed her fingers to her lips, fighting the urge to spit it out.
“That good, huh?”
“It had better work.” She dropped the empty vial down on the bedside table.
Leaning heavily on Kaja for support, Aloisia made her way to Mavka’s hall, where Ezra was still being held. The scholar sat on one bench, a plate of food on his lap. Though no weapons were drawn, and he bore no chains, Aloisia noted how her sisters were heavily armed and many of them had hands resting on sheathed blades. If Ezra felt threatened at all, however, he was doing a good job of not showing it.
Aloisia made her way over to the bench opposite Ezra. He glanced up as she lowered herself down onto the furs.
“Speak,” she ordered.
“It’s good to see you back on your feet, Huntress Aloisia.” Ezra smiled. “Your friends were rather concerned back there.”
“With good reason. What happened?”
He raised a brow. “With the spell?”
Aloisia nodded.
“The spell which bound me demanded a blood sacrifice. In turn, the one that released me did too. The sacrifice is what you provided.”
“What does this mean for me?”
“Perhaps something you should have asked at the time.”
Aloisia gritted her teeth. “Answer the question.”
“It means you likely have a sore head and will feel tired for a day or so. Nothing more.” His eyes went to the runes etched across her arms. “Your shaman has seen to it the effects will be minimal.”
“You said you would provide answers. Kaja said you have spoken. I would like to hear from you exactly what you have said.”
“I thought you might.” He set his plate down, dabbing at the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “As I told you in the cave, my name is Ezra Solis. I am a scholar in the Mage’s Guild, with a particular focus on the study of quintessence. Of course, I am well versed in other forms of magic: small magic, blood magic, dark magic. Such is the nature of my role.”
“You are from Ephroditia?”
“Born and raised, though my ancestors come from further south of Teneria.”
“And how did you end up in that cave, bound as you were? What do you know of the wisps, the Forgotten Gods, the trial even?” Aloisia narrowed her eyes. “How would you know when you were chained up?”
“Granted, I have been there approximately two weeks. Gruelling, being chained in a dank cave, bound by magic, no food or water. And none to hear you, no matter how loud you scream.”
“Who bound you there?”
“Unfortunately, I cannot say.”
Aloisia growled. “You promised answers.”
“And I will answer what I can. However, the spell which bound me was not the only one.”
“Then speak.”
Ezra inclined his head. “Of course. For months, I have been in the service of the Crown, studying various forms of magic. It’s nothing new. Often, we get visitors from the palace asking for various spells and research. It is what we do.”
“What did they want you to research?” Aloisia asked.
“I am not at liberty to say.” He ran a hand along his jaw. “But one night I was taken from my bed. Hence how I came to be in that cave. As your shaman said, the spell was designed to bind me whilst leeching on my powers, which would be fed to another.”
