“I think he feels guilty,” Lucenna muttered. “I keep finding that damn clover everywhere, no matter how many times I return it.”
A teasing smile rose to Dyna’s face. “I think he feels more than that, Lucenna. And so do you.”
It would be a lie to say she hadn’t imagined kissing him again, but it was pointless. They couldn’t be together for many reasons. Even if she proposed a tryst with no commitment, she would be in denial to believe it didn’t mean anything.
“How long are you going to keep avoiding him?” Dyna asked.
“For as long as Raiden keeps avoiding Rawn.”
They exchanged a frown.
“Have you spoken to him?” Lucenna asked.
Dyna sighed at her hands, empty of any rings. “He hasn’t been around, and well, I have been busy as well.” She glanced at the Estate. “I must go check on Cassiel.”
She never left him alone for too long.
Rising to her feet, Dyna tucked the journal back into her satchel. She took a step to go but paused. “Lucenna, I lent Klyde the map because he wanted to mark a path for us to best reach the train station in Ledoga.” She hesitated, biting her lip. “He’s leaving.”
Lucenna inhaled a faint breath.
Of course he was.
When they had all reunited again, Dyna told them Tarn was alive. That meant Klyde had to take Tavin back to Skelling Rise for his protection. She didn’t expect him to stay as long as he did, yet the news settled like stones in her stomach.
“Good,” Lucenna retorted, as she looked away. “Now I will no longer have to suffer his countenance and crude jests.”
But the statement sounded flat even to her own ears. Dyna said nothing more, and her soft steps faded away.
Getting back to her feet, Lucenna stretched as she eyed the targets again. She tried and failed to push Klyde from her mind. Who cared that he was leaving?
Her veins hummed with her pent-up Essence, and her hands flared purple with coils of electricity. She was glad he was leaving. He would only get in her way.
Volts shot out of her hands and obliterated the target, scorching a large hole in the field. She cringed. Oops.
“Was that intended to be a spell?”
Lucenna rolled her eyes and glowered at Eldred standing behind her. To her surprise, two little Elven boys with dark hair held his hands. Sylar’s children. She recognized them from Dwarf Shoe. The grumpy old mage beamed with a rare smile.
“Oh, you’re back.”
He gently patted his grandsons on their heads. “Go on and return to your father. I have a lesson to teach.”
The boys ran off giggling toward the estate where Sylar, Elon, and Garaea were speaking to the Norrlens. Rawn had graciously invited them to live in Sellav. It was a peaceful and secluded place to raise a family.
Eldred came to her side. “You have much to learn, young one.”
Pursing her mouth, Lucenna crossed her arms. “I told you. I already know how to use magic. Clearly, you see I’m powerful.”
“Wielding magic is not what makes you powerful. True power lies in mastering yourself. I have observed you since your arrival, Lady Lucenna. Yes, you are quite strong, but what you lack is finesse.”
Gray light spiraled around Eldred’s hand as he pointed it at the next target, and he murmured soft words under his breath. Lightning speared out like a rapid snake and pierced the target perfectly. The spell burned a hole clean through it without destroying the target or the field.
Such a simple but effective example of what he had been trying to tell her before. Lucenna was used to casting her magic in a raw, uncontrolled blast. Powerful, yes, but compared to him, clearly untrained. She’d been fortunate to win her battles by sheer power alone.
“How much you despise your enemy does not make you stronger or weaker, for a battle is not only won by strength but by strategy,” Eldred said. “When you are to attack or defend, one must consider the individual elements of the spell and your intent. Something yet to be learned.” He folded his arms behind his back as he canted his head, studying her pensively. “Have you considered speaking your spells?”
She frowned in bemusement. “I’m not an elf, Eldred. We do not cast incantations. Whatever spells you’ve mastered are Elvish spells I cannot wield. Mage magic and elf magic are dissimilar. You know this.”
