“I don’t need you to.” His voice is low.
“Then what do you want from me?” I rip my wrist from his grasp. The sensation of his magic fades from the broken connection. I hate this mark. There must be a way to rid me of this shackle, or I will never be free.
Wrath doesn’t answer my question.
CHAPTER NINE
“But how does itwork?”I ask Barnham for the fifteenth time today.
Barnham and I have been riding together the past few days. Unlike Taryn, he converses with me very little. Five days of travel have worn me down. Fatigue creeps up on me from lack of sleep, as the Elvarran wake at dawn. My body feels slow, my mind dull.
He lets out an exasperated sigh. “You’re not going to let this one rest, are you?”
“Come on, Barnham,” I plead. “I’ve never even seen magic! Can’t you make something disappear or shoot a fireball for me?”
“You saw magic when you made your deal with the king,” he deadpans. “It’s on your skin.”
“That’s not exciting magic,” I counter. “We’ve been riding fordaysnow. At least tell me how it works?”
“I’ll answer your questions, Princess.” A lively voice cuts in.
I turn my attention toward the sound. A man pulls his horse's reins back, slowing his horse to my left. He has tall ears that protrude from his golden, curly, blonde hair. The manwears dingy, tarnished armor that appears to have been through numerous battles.
“And who might you be?” I ask curiously.
“Knight Kieran Hale of Salasyr,” he replies confidently.
“Please. You are a soldier, not a knight,” Barnham says coldly.
“Barnham!” Kieran’s blue eyes narrow. “The one time we get to travel with a beautiful woman, and you make her miserable the entire time.”
He has a point.
“The only women who enjoy your company are those you pay with coin,” Barnham taunts.
Raucous laughter erupts from up ahead. A man turns to the side on his horse, looking back at us. His dark eyes hold an air of quiet power. He has a long, jagged scar that cuts across his right eyebrow at an angle. His dark brunette hair is shorn short on the sides, revealing pointed ears. If I were not stuck in a court of enemies rooting for my downfall, I’d find him attractive.
“Well struck!” he calls out.
Much to my surprise, Barnham laughs. I didn’t know he was capable of joy. He is always stoic and critical when speaking to me.
“Thank you, Marek,” Barnham replies.
“Buncha bastards, you two,” Kieran grumbles under his breath.
“Rank, my good fellow, rank,” Marek reminds him, turning back around on his horse.
Kieran scoffs, kicking his horse and riding off. I watch him disappear into the pack, returning me to my isolation. What an interesting man. Bold, but a bit dense. Marek is correct. I am a princess, and he is a soldier. Our ranks do not allow such indulgences.
“There are three types of users: Verthari, Remedari, and Evokari. There, happy?” Barnham relents, finally beginning to answer my question.
“You’re not going to tell me what they do?”
Barnham’s eye twitches. “Verthari can manipulate various elements like fire, water, earth, and air. But can only specialize in one type.”
“Are you a Verthari?” I ask curiously, wondering what type of magic he uses.
“Yes, water,” he replies. “Remedari are healers. They can seal grievous wounds and take pain away from others.”
