Warmth spread through my chest at the memory, and I dug my nails deeper.Stop it, Sera! This isn’t the time.
“Thorne can do as he pleases. I’m not his keeper. We’ve simply gotten to know each other better during our travels.” Nor did I desire any kind of relationship that would inhibit my independence. Thorne and I were alike in this.
“Good. Very good. I’d hate to see you get your heart broken. While you and I may have gotten off to a rough start, I’ve come to care about you and only want what’s best.”
Little did he know, my heart was safe. I’d had it stomped on one too many times to ever give it away.
Eager to change the subject, I gestured down the hallway. “Why is this corridor largely untouched?” Whereas several of the other spaces we’d passed through had been ransacked. Furniture smashed, skeletons littering the floor, this hall remained intact.
“When Pyrrhus was attacked, it was as if the creatures possessed a map to both the tunnels in the mines and the castle. Places of little import were often skipped over, as if they’d been told where to focus their attack. They knew all our strengths and weaknesses. The location of our soldiers, as well as our people, knew exactly how and when to strike.”
“But how could they have known all of that unless…” I trailed off, reluctant to continue.
“Unless there was a traitor in our midst.”His voice dropped.
“But who?”
“Somebody who hated the kingdom, and all it represented. Who despised their circumstances and was willing to do anything to change them. Someone with ample contacts in the outside world.”
I pressed my lips together. Someone like Thorne. SweetGoddess, did Alaric suspect his own brother was the traitor? That wasn’t possible. Was it?
Thankfully, we’d arrived at our destination, and I wasn’t forced to comment.
“Here we are,”he shoved his forehead into a partially open door, guiding me into an expansive arena.
High above was a domed ceiling with soaring pillars supporting the walls. Glowing solar crystals twinkled like stars in a night sky, illuminating the space. Between the pillars were stone statues and carvings of warriors wielding weapons, fierce expressions on their faces. Like the rest of the castle, dust, dirt, and cobwebs coated every surface.
At the center was a large pit with segregated spaces for various types of training. One contained an obstacle course, another circular targets and straw-stuffed dummies. Racks teeming with swords, axes, staffs and the like rested close to the walls.
I followed Alaric several feet into the massive circle where he stopped, sitting back on his haunches.
“Now what?” I set my hands on my hips, my waistband puckering beneath my belt. I’d borrowed clothing from the blue room for the occasion, not wanting to damage the finer things Thorne purchased for me.
“First, tell me everything you know about your magic.”
“That’s easy. Nothing.”
“That can’t be true. Describe any unusual events you’ve experienced.”
I huffed a sigh. “Very well.” I listed them: the blooming plants, healing, and the blast of light I’d used on Mortis. Yaga’s claim that the stone would act as a conduit.
“Hmm,”he hummed.“Interesting.”
“In what way?”
“You see, Goddess Hathor possessed the gift of life. With it,she created the sacred arbors. I suspect your magic is similar, giving you the ability to grow, nurture, and heal. But it can also be a weapon. Light being the antithesis of darkness. When you defended yourself against Mortis, that power erupted without direction. Now you have the stone, you could use it to channel that energy.”
“What do you propose?”
“Start small. See those large urns against the walls? Try to direct your magic. Strike from a distance.”
“Instead of using it to heal, you want to turn it into a weapon?” I asked, uneasy. When I’d spotted so many weapons lying about, I’d hoped my training would be more traditional.
At his nod, I shrugged, saying, “Very well. I’ll give it a try.”
I gripped the pendant that hung around my neck and aimed my hand at the pot. Even now, this felt weird and unnatural. Nothing like healing Alaric’s injury. I closed my eyes, picturing the urn shattering.Break. Come on. Break already.I cracked one eye open. Nothing.
What was it that Yaga said? Breathe deep. Cast my senses outward. Feel the power flow.
