Maybe not, but if a caller could speak to mythologicals, even those who were voiceless, they could make alliances, become friends. Perhaps even ask those friends to wage war on their behalf when humans wronged them.
Ajari’s attention shifted to Eva, a slyness there. "It seems Sebastian chose truer than even I knew when he picked you. Have you heard him yet? By now, the bond should be deep enough for him to project his thoughts."
“I’m not sure,” she found herself saying, not wanting to reveal to him she had begun to hear the mythologicals’ voices.
From his reaction to Caden’s suggestion that a caller would be able to control mythologicals, she sensed it would be dangerous to be seen as someone with that ability. She needed to think about all the ramifications being this caller would mean, before she let herself confirm it.
"Perhaps you simply need more time for your mind to develop the ability,” Ajari said with a watchful gaze. He nodded at the fox in her arms. “Fire foxes rarely choose a human companion. I haven't seen one in more years than I can remember. I thought they had died out when the rest of us were imprisoned. They stick close to those with power. We once considered them a sign of luck—good or bad–depended on a person’s perception. It'll be interesting to see what he brings out of you."
Eva looked from the little creature to Ajari. She knew better than most that appearances could be deceiving, but it still surprised her to hear the creature's reputation.
"You're not like that, are you?" she whispered to him as he peered up at her. The fox let out another yip before swiping its tongue across her chin and leaping onto Caia's neck.
The horse stood placidly under the fox, unperturbed at its presence.
"What manner of creature could do all this?" Laurell muttered, looking about the camp.
"A dangerous one," Fiona said, looking entirely too interested.
Darius ignored the banter, focusing on Caden. "I hope your excursion brought us something useful."
"I think you'll be interested in what I learned," Caden said.
He stood, raising his hands to his mouth and letting out a piercing whistle. The piebald pounded into view, stopping in front of Caden with a showy flourish.
“Do tell,” Darius murmured.
“For starters, I know the name of our enemy. He goes by Pierce.” Caden mounted and guided the horse to them. “His followers treat him like a god. He’s said to have strange abilities.”
“Amyeinthen,” Darius said grimly.
“What’s that?” Eva asked.
“It’s what they call people like you,” Reece said. “Someone who is ‘more’, who has abilities others do not. At least that’s how my cousin explained it.”
Darius regard the pathfinder with a challenging smile. “Some might say pathfinders could be consideredmyein.”
“Hardly,” Reece scoffed.
“You don’t think so?” Darius raised an eyebrow. “How else would you describe a group who can navigate the treacherous depths of the mist and never get lost? A group possessing talents that most do not.”
Reece compressed his lips, looking thoughtful.
“Themyeinare rare among my people,” Caden told Eva. “But they are usually welcome, their gifts embraced.”
“Usually,” Darius qualified.
Eva shot Caden a grateful smile at his effort to reassure her, knowing he’d guessed her discomfort at having one more thing marking her as different from the Trateri.
He dipped his chin in silent acknowledgement before guiding the horse over to them. "The problem is bigger than we originally thought. Rebellion has taken root in several of the towns and it seems there is a new player on the board looking to take advantage of the innate abilities of certain mythologicals. This Pierce seems to be quite compelling. I can’t tell if he is the leader or whether he is simply one head among others. The men I talked to said he could charm you into doing anything—even at great harm to yourself."
Eva petted the fox, scratching his chin when he offered it to her as she considered the information shared.
"Numbers?" Darius asked, not seeming surprised at Caden’s news.
Eva's hand stilled on the fox's head. They knew about the rebellion—or at least suspected. None of the warriors who had accompanied them looked shocked.
Fiona caught Eva’s eye and winked, holding one finger to her lips in an unvoiced order not to question.
