Their fingers wrapped and unwrapped, slowly shifting like the lines of a magic glyph, changing and taking new shapes as they knotted together in different ways. Much like a glyph, there was power in his hold, and a hidden meaning. Ever since she’d reached for him after the first time she was attacked by the assassin, it had become more natural, easier. There always seemed to be an excuse—at the very least the need for reassurance—for them to reach out and touch each other. But it was undeniable they made use of every opportunity.
Maybe now, they did it without an excuse at all.
“I’m not really in your reach,” she whispered, reclaiming his gaze. “Not yet.” Vi pulled her hands away, drawing her cloak tighter around her. “I have to get to Meru first.”
“And you require something out there to accomplish that feat.” Taavin gave a nod to the window. “That’s why you’re leaving, isn’t it?”
“The woman I went in search of is in the clinic.” A frown crossed Taavin’s lips. “I must go and find her. That place, she said it’s in the Crossroads. The Imperial party is heading through there. It’s where I’ll need to break away and head to Norin. I can find an Apex on my way to you.”
“You won’t make it to me if you’re afflicted with the White Death.”
“How does it spread?” It was meant to be a mere question, but it came out as more of a demand. Somehow, she was confident he knew. He had to.
“I don’t know how Raspain’s tainted magic works.” Taavin shook his head.
“You must have a sound guess at least.”
He sighed at her. “I suspect it started with sorcerers on the Dark Isle, because they have a fragment of Yargen’s magic—an inroad for Raspian to take root in their souls. Non-sorcerers may not be as susceptible, but even their bodies, as creations of Yargen, will eventually break down when confronted with Raspian’s evil.”
“It’s as though the world is rotting from the inside out.” Vi remembered her earlier lesson with Martis. Would the White Death have a chance to ravage the population, or would famine do the work of it on the dark god’s behalf?
“An apt description.” Taavin took a small step closer. Their toes were nearly touching and Vi tilted her head to look up at him. His hands rested on her upper arms, holding them gently. “I don’t know if you will be in less danger, having Yargen’s full power. The White Death is only just beginning to appear on Meru. It is possible that since this land is still touched by Yargen’s unfractured magic, the White Death has been warded off… but even her magic is becoming too weak to stop it entirely. So it may have just prolonged the inevitable.”
“Or it’s possible I’ll be in more danger—that I’ll somehow be targeted by Raspian’s power because I’m a shining beacon for Yargen.” Vi reached the logical conclusion of his thought. Taavin gave a small nod. “I don’t have a choice though.”
“You can’t possibly find every Apex—”
“It’s not just about the Apexes.” She gripped his forearms in a sudden burst of energy. Vi leaned forward slightly, beseeching him. Their noses nearly touched. “It’s about my father, too.” Taavin stilled. “There’s no word of him here—no word there, either?” He gave a small shake of his head. “Then I… What if fate changed from my first vision? What if he will not make it to Meru? What if he perished at sea?”
Vi hung her head, taking a slow breath. She didn’t know if Taavin understood or not. He’d never said anything about his family.
“If I go to the Apexes, maybe I’ll see him again.”
Taavin released her. Vi continued to avoid his gaze, hastily working to compose herself. She didn’t like how quickly her emotions ran away from her when it came to the mere mention of her father.
His index finger hooked under her jaw. A shiver shot straight down her spine as he gently tilted her face upward. The pad of Taavin’s thumb rested lightly on her chin. She’d never been so keenly aware of such a small touch.
“I understand…” He swallowed, as if choking on the words. “This is our fate.”
“Help me?” Vi whispered.
“Anything.”
“I need a new face to sneak out with.”
His mouth tipped up into a small, sly smile. “I thought I told you not to worry about that crook in your nose from where it smashed into the tree.”
Vi took a step away, her hand flying up to her face. She felt the ridge of her nose—reaffirming for the dozenth time that there was, indeed, no crook. Her eyes narrowed, and just like that, whatever trance they had been falling under was broken.
“There is no crook. And it’s not about that,” she hastily continued before Taavin could get them off track again. “It’s aboutdurroe.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve been trying to make an illusion to mask myself… but I can’t seem to get it to sit right.”
“Show me.”
“Durroe watt ivin.” Vi held up her free hand, raising it to the top of her head. She closed her fingers as she chanted, imagining she was puling an invisible mask over her face. Light shone under her fingertips as they trailed over her eyes.
