“Okay, let's start with the basics,” I say, trying to put some order to my thoughts. “Why are you working for that lunatic?”
Another round of uncomfortable looks.
“It's not like we have many options,” Sylara responds, her rhythmic voice marking pauses between phrases, like she's measuring time. “Kaelisar... has something that each of us... needs. It's the same thing that's happening to you.”
“What does he have on you? Okay, if you don't want to, you don't have to tell me.”
“I'm looking for information about my brother's killers,” she responds, and her voice is tinged for the first time with something like emotion. “Kaelisar has those names and will give them to me when we complete the missions.”
“Your turn,” I say, pointing at the Kobold with my chin.
Althea sighs, and for a moment, I could swear the air around us heats up.
“My mother was dying,” she explains, the obsidian now spinning faster between her fingers. “Kaelisar is one of the few Fae with exceptional healing powers. He agreed to give her a healing potion in exchange for me working for himfor five years. I still have three years left in his service, and it hasn't been easy so far.”
I look at Sabina, who seems suddenly very interested in stirring her coffee.
“He has my sister,” she murmurs finally. “He only lets me talk to her on rare occasions and always under surveillance.”
The waitress returns with a mountain of food, mainly for the Kobold, interrupting the tension. I, for my part, try to process the information while devouring some fries.
“So basically you're all screwed, just like me,” I conclude with my mouth full. “And how am I supposed to help? How will we find that arrow?”
“We have a pretty good idea where it is,” Althea responds. “But we need a plan to get it.”
“Okay, and why me? I'm not trying to be offensive, but I look out for myself, it's a habit I've had since I was little.”
Sylara pins me with her gaze.
“Kaelisar doesn't do anything randomly. He chose you because you're good at what you do, I mean stealing. Though I suppose mainly because you're an air elemental. They're not easy to find outside of Aifshara, and even there they're scarce.”
“And what does that mean exactly?” I ask, taking a bite of my burger while drops of grease run down my chin.
Sabina leans forward, her green eyes seem to glow as she wipes me with her thumb and Althea grumbles again and rolls her eyes. The contact lasts barely a second, before she pulls her hand back abruptly, like it burns.
“Sorry,” she murmurs, rubbing her fingers. “Prolonged contact makes me feel...” She pauses. “Going back to your question, it means you can control and channel air,” she explains. “Manipulate oxygen content, create currents, even amplify your natural physical abilities. You're a wind whisperer.”
“You think a normal human can escape from me that easily?” the Kobold scoffs. “You can run faster, jump higher... and that's without controlling your powers.”
“Exactly,” Sylara confirms. “It's no coincidence you're so good at climbing or escaping complicated situations like when Althea was chasing you. Your body has been using your elemental magic instinctively, though in a very limited way due to the seals your mother put on.”
“You mean I can fly now?”
“No, not fly,” she responds calmly.
“Yeah, yeah, I was just joking. Damn, you three have no sense of humor,” I complain.
“Speaking of which,” she adds, rummaging in her backpack. “Kaelisar asked me to give you this book.”
She places a thick book on the table. It looks ancient, leather-bound, with strange symbols carved into the cover.It weighs so much it makes the table vibrate when she drops it.
“What is this, the Fae Bible?” I joke, though nobody laughs.
“It's a compendium of knowledge about air elementals,” Sylara explains very seriously. “Spells, techniques, history... everything you need to know to control your power.”
I open the book to a random page. It's full of strange symbols mixed with what looks like an ancient language. Some parts are in modern English, as if someone added translations.
“I'm not a big reader,” I protest, closing it with a sharp thud. “Isn't there someone who can help me? You know, in the movies there's always an old master who teaches you and stuff. Nobody learns from books.”
