“I’m not bonding anyone,” he grumbles, “and certainly not you.” He stalks off to sit next to Gray in the shade, and his obvious frustration makes me laugh even harder.
“Wait a minute,” I say as I dry the tears from my eyes. “Doesn’t that mean that you too will be one of the most powerful C’elen on Rea?”
“Of course.” She smirks. “But I already knew that.”
I stare at her, the weight of it settling over me. The thought of their magic should terrify me. Make me want to run. Instead, I feel safer with them than I ever have.
“Why do you think they will bond the two of you?” I ask Seniia.
“You have to bond within your first year of training, and they will always bond you with someone of equal strength.”
“I said I’m not bonding anyone,” Vilder mutters, the words barely audible.
Seniia’s pretty brows pull into a deep frown. “But you’ll—”
“I’m not,” he says, cutting her off.
Seniia studies him carefully, stroking her serpent in slow, deliberate motions, but says nothing.
“So, how many glyphs can an elen have?” I ask, mostly to change the topic.
“Twenty-seven, but that’s more or less unheard of,” Vilder says. “Only the gods have more. Most elen will have between seven and fifteen, with eleven being the average. There has been a slight increase over the past decades though...”
Seniia rolls her eyes. “Is there anything you don’t know the answer to?”
Vilder keeps his gaze fixed right in front of him, and though his jaw flexes, he doesn’t give a reply.
She purses her lips in thought. “Didyougrow up in Arià? Among the singers?” She stares at him with curious intensity.
Vilder shifts slightly but says nothing.
A smile stretches across her face. “Youdid, didn’t you? I mean, youdolook like them, and although I hate to admit it, you know an awful lot. But, you know, as I said, it’s rare, so...”
Vilder stares at her, his expression impassive. “Do you ever shut up?”
She claps her hands. “Iknewit.”
“Nosy empaths,” he mutters.
I snort and shake my head at their antics. I don’t think he minds Seniia nearly as much as his sarcastic remarks suggest. Still, I search my mind for something that can take Seniia’s focus off of him, knowing firsthand how difficult it is to hide anything from her. It has become clear to me over the last couple days that Vilder is running from something, not unlike how I am, and I understand his hesitance to share his past better than most.
I take in the many glyphs that cover his upper body. Am I imagining it? No. “Your glyphs are glowing,” I say with excitement.
He’s back to his unaffected self. “It’s the proximity to the source,” he says with a shrug, gesturing toward the glowing crater and the frequent jolts of lightning. “Come on. We’ll be in port soon.” He grabs his twin swords and whistles for Gray to follow. “Let’s move.”
STREAKS OF POWER ZIGZAG BETWEEN the deep crater and the floating island of the Arc several thousand feet above it. Stretching up onto my tiptoes, I strain to peer over the fence encircling it, glimpsing the swirling vortex of golden energy churning far below. Its power is palpable, a low hum that vibrates through the air and into my bones. As I push my hand forward, my fingers graze an unseen barrier, causing a slight tingling sensation. I frown.
“You think the C’elen would leave their source unprotected?” Vilder says in amusement.
I shrug. I hadn’t given the source of their magic much consideration up until this point. I crane my neck. “How do we get up there?”
“Through one of the five gates,” he says, grabbing a couple of Seniia’s bags as he follows her toward a white structure that looks to be made of heartstone. It bears a resemblance to the Arc in shape, but the way its twisted edges defy any attempt to discern its outline creates an unsettling effect.
Seniia turns toward us, excitement on her face, and I wish I could share their enthusiasm about where we’re going. “Come on now.” She stomps her staff, her serpent seemingly unaffected by the movement. “You’ll have time to explore the city later.”
I nod, praying she’s right. In and out, I remind myself. In and out. Or, if I’m lucky, just going through the gate will be enough, and I’ll be free to roam. My stomach flutters in anticipation of the freedom I’ll have once I’ve seen this through.
Making sure my hood is covering my face, I step closer to the two of them.
