The press of bodies tightened. For one reckless moment, Ellina imagined drawing her weapons, flashing her green glass, driving this crowd back like Raffan had once taught her. The image fizzled in the next moment, petered and faded. These people recognized her, but they either did not know or did not believe that her voice had been stolen. Yet they were supposed to be her allies. Violence would only make things worse.
Ellina held her hands up higher.It was a mistake,she thought fervently, imagining the words as if they might transmute by will alone.I did not know.She faltered when she realized that among the crowd were several soldiers she recognized, men whom she had journeyed with from Parith. They could come to her defense, explain that her voice was lost, that she meant no disrespect. Yet they said nothing.
“Last chance,conjuror,” the woman named Helda spat. “Either explain why you were breaking our laws, or let your silence stand for an admission of guilt.”
Ellina did not think that Helda cared anymore for her answers. There was an eagerness in the woman’s eyes, fueled by attention and the prospect of a fight. Helda took a heavy step closer, and it felt as though she moved for the entire city, everyone taking a collective step with her.
Without warning, Ellina’s vision swayed. She forgot her weapons, forgot all tactics for driving back a crowd. She felt suddenly chilled, as if the clouds had closed over the sun, though the clouds had been covering the sun all along. And there, creeping along the edges of her awareness: a memory.
Ellina tried to stifle the memory. Failed. Helda’s face loomed closer, and someone grinned, and the memory lifted inside her, transporting Ellina back over the plains and the tundra, back to a garden in Evov, and her prison, and an endless, suffocating black. She gulped a breath. Wheezed it out. Helda’s face seemed to warp, her features pulling apart like taffy, and Ellina’s only thought was that if she fainted beneath this woman, it would be very bad indeed.
“Give her space.”
Venick burst into Ellina’s vision, riding high atop his buckskin, the horse swiveling her blind eyes like one of the living dead. The crowd abruptly drew back, coiling away like a nest of snakes.
“—the size of that horse—”
“—friend of hers?”
“That’s theCommander.”
Venick wedged Eywen between Ellina and the crowd, using the horse’s broad body like a shield. Helda looked like she had swallowed a toad. “Commander. Apologies. I did not realize this was your friend…”
“All of the elves are my friends.”
“Of course, yes, it’s just that this elf was touching—”
“I know what she was doing.”
He was furious. Ellina felt the ripples of Venick’s fury lap against her skin, travel out in rings through the crowd.
Helda must have felt them, too. She licked her lips, eyes darting from side to side. “Then you know why we reacted as we did. It is forbidden to touch the water.”
“And how would Ellina know that,” Venick asked, “if no one tells her?”
“It is not my job to explain our customs—”
“You will makeit your job.”
Helda had gone too far, and she knew it. She babbled something about her deepest regrets, but Venick was done listening. He swung Eywen around, raising his voice to address the city. “It’s not easy to share your home with outsiders. I know that. But it looks like some of you have forgotten why we’re here. Let me refresh your memory.” His cheeks were ruddy with anger, his eyes like chips of ice. Ellina had never heard him speak like this: as if every word was set to ignite. “The resistance is here to fight for you.Your homes, your families, your livelihoods—it’s all at stake, and right now, these soldiers are all that stand between you and oblivion. Take a good look at the men and elves around you. By the time this war is over, some of them will have died for you. We will not be in Igor forever, but while we are, I expect you to treat my soldiers—” a significant look at Ellina “—allof my soldiers with the respect such a sacrifice warrants. That’s an order.”
The crowd was sheepish now. There was a murmuring ofYes, Commander,a handful of salutes. Then, like scolded children, they all slunk away.
Venick swung his leg off Eywen, came to land beside Ellina with a soft thud. He did not immediately look at her. Instead, he peered out over the river. “I’m sorry.” His voice was tired now. Worn to the quick. “I should have done that first thing.”
Now that the mob was dispersed and Ellina’s heart was resuming its normal rhythm, she felt wretchedly grateful…and foolish. This was not the first time memories had paralyzed her, but it wasthe first time they had interfered so dangerously. Ellina must learn to control them better.
But…Venick. His eyes were still hard, his shoulders tight. He was blaming himself. Again.
Ellina hesitated only briefly before reaching out to brush his hand. A light touch, three fingers along the side of his wrist. Venick blinked down at the contact. Glanced up at her. He started to say something, but stopped himself, turning back towards the water. Ellina had the sense that when he spoke next, it was to distract from the fact that he could not seem to hold her gaze. “You’ve found the Taro, I see.”
A stab of disappointment. She let her fingers drop.
“All humans name their rivers,” Venick explained, “but only the plainspeople have any true ties to the water. Every plainsland city is built along a river like this one. It’s believed that the rivers belong to different gods, and that each river is the god’s lifeline to the city and its people. The Taro is one of the largest. You can follow this water straight to Heartshire Bay.” He peeked a look back at her. Though his voice was still tired, his expression had gentled, his mouth quirking around the words. “The citizens tend to get fussy about it, as you’ve seen. So, no swimming lessons here, I’m afraid.”
This time, his gaze lingered. Ellina felt his gaze like sunlight on stone, warming all of her shadowed corners. She wondered if he, too, was remembering the day he had taught her to swim. The sky had glowed white. The everpool was a deep mirror. His hands had come to her elbows, then to her waist, his instructions rising and dipping like a lullaby. Ellina had been hypnotized by them. By him. She wondered if Venick would ever choose to go back, knowing now what they both knew: that every day after was doomed.
“We should be getting back,” Venick said. “There’s a welcome dinner. We’re expected.”
