“Doubtful.”
Seeing his smirk, I fling the dagger back at him.
After snatching it out of the air, he sheathes it at his waist. “I’ve been sparring with you, Laïna. No one ever learns that fast, and certainly not a human. And”—he strokes his wolf—“Gray may have sensed something was amiss.” The wolf lets out a deep rumble. “I don’t know what Llyr told Calix, but from what I understand, Calix believes you were already a skilled fighter before you came to the Arc.”
“You are being kind,” I say. He can’t be serious. “You go easy on me when we spar.”
“Easy?” Vilder sputters.
I shrug. “Yes?”
He gives me a deadpan look. “In the beginning, of course, but fuck, Laïna. You aregood. Why do you think Calix always pairs the two of us?”
I have no answer.
Seniia taps her pursed lips with a finger, a slight frown on her face. “This explains why you were still alive when poisoned with godsbane,” she says after a while.
“As well as that slippery scent she was wearing,” Vilder says.
“And her dancing skills,” Seniia adds.
Vilder gives a thoughtful nod of agreement. “There is certainly a lot of muscle memory stored in her.”
“Can’t believe she wore a glamour.” Seniia shakes her head in bewilderment.
They stare at each other in what must be their first-ever agreement.
“I don’t understand,” I say. “How could I have been wearing a glamour all these years? I thought magic didn’t work inside the Void? And what do you mean, muscle memory?”
“Humans die, Reans are reborn, remember?” Vilder says, as if that should explain everything.
“And?”
“And although we usually don’t remember who we were the last time, we are born with the same skills when reborn. It is possible to go a whole life without brushing the topic of your expertise, of course, but fate will usually bring us to it sooner or later.”
Nana must have been a better fighter than I thought.Imust be a better fighter than I thought. On the other hand, shedidbest Aster in hand-to-hand combat the first time I dreamed about them. It makes me wonder what other skills I may have that I’m unaware of.
“In regards to your glamour, all Llyr had to do was tie up the weave before you entered the Void, and it stays put. It’s the same with a magical item, like your shadowshard, or a brace. But you cannot access elen. Gifts, on the other hand...” He tilts his head. “Without ever having been inside the Void, my guess is that they should work, since they are a part of your physique and don’t require access to elen.”
He draws back slightly, eyes thoughtful as they sweep over me.“Quite the powers you’ve got there though.”
Seniia abruptly halts the pirouettes she’s been performing to stay warm, her breath forming frosty puffs. “How could I not notice that? You’re practically humming, Laï. How many glyphs?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “Like the two of you, perhaps?” I brush it off with a shrug, although I’m almost certain there are more.
I can sense their powers now too. And I also notice the clear difference between them and the omnipotent powers that surround Aster.
Vilder doesn’t seem too convinced, but he lets it be. Gaze fixed on my face, his eyes trace every detail. “No wonder he looked as if he wanted to devour you,” he mumbles.
“What?” Seniia gives him a playful shove. “You fancy Laïna now, Vilder?”
His eyebrows shoot up toward his hairline. “Don’t be ridiculous, Seniia.” He snorts. “I don’t have a death wish.”
She frowns.
“Have you never seen paintings or drawings of Aster and his mate?”
Seniia shakes her head, but then her mouth forms a silent O.
