‘She relies on me for protection. Given no one else has bothered to—’
His words were cut off with a mere brush of Will’s affinity, a strangled yell escaping as he clutched his chest. Will might not truly be able to manipulate the body like the Anima, but he could mimic the sensation of a heart attack well enough. He didn’t particularly care that Ryker was human. Not when he couldn’t very well run off to the Royal Guard. Not with that tattoo on his arm – not these days.
Ryker’s eyes flared, not with panic, but with fury. Definitely no longer a boy, then. Will hated to admit he was impressed. It didn’t stop the horrible calm that entered his voice as he said, ‘I’d advise you not to finish that sentence, Ryker.’ He waited until Ryker forced a single, tense nod before releasing him from his power.
‘You’re a piece of shit,’ he hissed. He tugged on the collar of his linen shirt, straightening it into place. Will merely gestured down the street.
‘Let’s get this over with, shall we?’
Lorna’s house was a tiny stone cottage rammed between two ramshackle beach bungalows. The first and only time Will had been here five years ago, he’d thought it looked like a gray stain in the midst of so much bright color. It was far better suited for the Mala range. It was surprising that Lorna had found a house that paid homage to her home kingdom. She detested Tala and its queen.
The house sat on a street that was blocks away from the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfare of Rinnia, and even though he couldn’t hear the ocean from this far back, sand littered the cobblestones still.
Will stared at the light wooden door, weathered from the salt in the air. Ryker didn’t bother to say goodbye as he stalked off down the street, likely to wait at some bar until this meeting was over.
Brave of her to assume she won’t need her guard dog.
He’d barely finished knocking when the door swung open, a small woman blinking up at him. Her pale face looked exactly as it had the last time he’d seen her – the last time she’d refused to give him what he needed. Except now he could see the signs of age starting to settle in; the wrinkles in the corners of her blue eyes, the wisps of gray in her long, wavy black hair.
‘Lorna,’ he greeted her gruffly. She merely stepped aside, inclining her head to invite him in. He followed her into the cramped circular room, noting the kettle of tea on the worn wooden table before a hearth that had likely never once seen a fire.
She padded into the small kitchen, calling over her shoulder, ‘I made sandwiches if you’re hungry.’
‘I’m not.’ Will lowered himself onto the leather couch, clasping his hands in front of him as he waited. Lorna brought the sandwiches anyway, serving him tea before she finally settled into the scratched leather armchair to his right.
‘It’s good to see you, William. Although I must say I’m surprised.’
He returned his teacup to the tray. ‘I assume you know why I’m here.’
‘I have my guesses.’ Lorna sighed. ‘Rumors reach even these parts of the city.’ She took a long sip of her tea, her eyes searching his face. Will resisted the urge to look away from that piercing stare. ‘If you’re here to ask us to pressure the king for an alliance, then you must have forgotten that I have no involvement with the Bellare.’
Will scoffed. Perhaps she didn’t – but Ryker did. And they’d both made it known Lorna was a second mother to the boy after his own parents had been killed by pirates at sea years ago.
‘I’m not interested in the Bellare and their agenda.’ If he were, he would’ve questioned Ryker days ago about the vandalisms. But like Dominic had said: it wasn’t their problem, and Will had more pressing matters. ‘You have knowledge of the prophecy of the Second Saint. I need it.’
How Kakos hadn’t hunted her down by now was beyond him. She could vow she wasn’t tied to the Bellare all she wanted, but he had no doubt they were responsible for her protection. That, or perhaps she truly had kept it to herself all these years.
‘Well, then you already know my answer, I’m afraid.’
He raked his fingers through his hair. Pointless. It was fuckingpointlessto have come, to have even wasted his breath. And yet he forced his voice to remain steady. ‘You have studied that prophecy for years. You knew that your research would be crucial—’
‘My research is none of your business. I should never have spoken of it to you.’
‘Then why bother to see me now?’ he asked tightly.
She shrugged. ‘It’s been too long. I thought we could catch up. I was hoping you’d left such ambitions behind.’
Will didn’t bother to hide his bitter laugh. ‘Charmed as I am, if you’re not willing to help, I’d rather spend my time in the Maraciana than waste it here.’ At the mere mention of those libraries …
Yes. There it was. Annoyance flashed in those blue eyes.
Lorna had the making of a Saj of the Maraciana. And yet she had refused to join them when she arrived in Trahir. She used their libraries. She honed her affinity. But something kept her from giving herself entirely to the study of power.
Perhaps there was more Tala in her than she cared to admit.
Her voice was level as she said, ‘Even the Saj of the Maraciana have limits.’
‘What is it that you want, Lorna? What will it take for you to give me what I need?’
