“There is no crooked bit in my nose.” Vi’s hand flew up to her face, gently feeling the bridge of her nose.
“Don’t be self-conscious, I think it suits you.” She narrowed her eyes at him, and Taavin had the audacity to have a laugh at her expense before continuing. “So if I wanted to heal that, I would usehalleth ruta sot—”Taavin’s voice had a soothing quality to it, his accent running words together in a way that was smoother than silk. “—and make sure my glyphs were crafted with the intent of repairing the tissue in that location.”
“Understood—three words, and then intent beyond that.” Just as she’d originally suspected. Lightspinning was not so different from the principles of elemental magic she’d been taught her whole life.
“Sometimes there’s a fourth word.”
“You’re just making this difficult now.” His mouth quirked up just slightly, as though he was not only amused by, but satisfied with, her accusation.
“It’s the last word, I promise—even more rare than the clarification.”
“Which is?”
“If you are particularly blessed, you’ll be told a word from the Goddess—a word only for you that will give you the opportunity to enhance your spells, somehow. Again, it’s different for every person, but individuals with a goddess-word know how to wield it.”
“Have you received a word?” Vi asked delicately, hoping he’d answer.
“I’ve received multiple.”
“Then you can hear the goddess through the flame?” Taavin’s gaze went hard. Vi’s heart raced. Perhaps she’d been wrong and even though the flame was weak, he could hearsomething?
“I am the voice. It is my duty to hear her and guide the people with her words.”
“Yes, but—”
A knock interrupted them.
“Your highness?” Andru asked through the door.
Was it dinnertime already?She could hardly believe they’d been working that long.
Vi’s eyes darted to Taavin and he gave a small nod. Vi stretched out her fingers and felt the tethers she’d summoned Taavin with unwind. Once she closed Sehra’s book and slipped her dresser drawer closed, it was like he hadn’t been there at all.
“Yes, Andru—” Vi opened the door and was assaulted with the aroma of steaming food “—thank you for joining me for dinner.”
“Thank you for having me.”
The servants were finishing setting the table in her main room. When she was no longer on bed rest, it became inappropriate for him to sit alone with her in her bedroom, so they had to find other means of communicating privately. Dinner seemed to be the easiest excuse. Jax had even praised her for making an effort to “win Andru over” while warning her to be careful in the same breath.
Vi had to fight back laughter the whole time during that conversation.
Navigating merely meeting with Andru made Vi appreciate her easy relationship with Taavin all the more… and underscore how necessary it was for her to keep him a secret. She couldn’t imagine the look on her tutors’ faces if they discovered she could summon a man to her room on a whim. Though thinking about it had her fighting a grin.
“How are you feeling?” he asked as the servants left.
“Better. I ache all over still.” Vi rolled her shoulders as she crossed to the table. She couldn’t help but notice a little bit of oil staining the wood where Jayme usually tended to her blade.
“Likewise.” Andru hurried over despite the ache, to pull out her chair for her. Vi eased herself down, feeling the seat hit the back of her knees and assure her she wasn’t going to land on the floor.
“Are your shoulders still giving you trouble?” Vi asked as he took up the seat to her right.
“They’re much better. Ginger does good work.”
“Doesn’t she?” Vi helped herself to one of the large leaf pouches on a platter in the center of the table. When she opened it to reveal the rice and poultry mixture inside, a billow of steam hit her face and went right to her stomach, reminding her that she was actually quite hungry. “Speaking of work…”
“Yes, I’ve been doing my best to secure and review trade notices and communications.” Andru followed Vi’s lead, though he struggled more unwrapping the leaf pouch. “Which hasn’t been entirely easy given my position here. But emissaries are arriving from the West for the solstice and I have found some information.”
Vi ate quietly, listening intently as he continued.
