“As long as you're with me, you are.”
“Great,” I muttered.
“Come on, you'll love this.” He steered me through the throng of gorgeous people, their exotic clothing flowing around them as they walked. “I'm taking you to my favorite restaurant.”
I tried not to stare, but it was difficult. Magic was used casually in Levari, Varraen men and women employing Air to carry packages for them, Fire to light delicate tobacco pipes, Water to clean shop windows, and Earth to summon plants to adorn the storefronts. It was small magic, but still so shocking to me. Humans had to use elemental crystals to experience magic, and those crystals were also used as currency on Varr, so only the richest people used them frivolously. And there are no rich humans. But the Varraen didn't need elemental crystals to warm their homes or water their fields during a drought. The elements came to them freely, and they used them to improve their lives, not just as weapons or for survival. Maybe I could too. I was a Master of Earth now.
I stretched a hand toward a plant as we passed and summoned a flower. I was delighted to see pale yellow petals unfurl. After plucking it, I handed it to Rath.
Rath smiled at first, then snatched the flower away as his stare darted around. “Don't do that here, Ember. We're not ready to expose you.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“It's all right.” He tucked the flower into a pouch on his belt. “I want you to use your magic. Just not here.”
“Sure.” After a few moments, I asked, “Do you think I'll be able to make elemental crystals?”
“It takes a team of mages to create elemental crystals,” Rath said. “And they're all employed by the Emperor.”
“That's not an answer.”
He grinned. “Because I don't know. After seeing you wield Earth, I can't put anything past you.”
“I could make my own money.” I puffed out my chest. “I'll be rich.”
“One step at a time, Ember.” Then he waved ahead of us. “Speaking of steps. We're heading up.”
I followed Rath's wave to a staircase that wound around the massive trunk of a tree. As we climbed the wooden steps, the city spread out below us, larger than I expected. In the distance, homes rose among the trees, great palaces of pale stone and glossy-tiled roofs. Everything sparkled with light, most of the light the bright white of magic that I'd seen in the Emperor's palace and the Wraith Citadel. The climb took a few minutes, but we only saw one other couple coming down the stairs. They nodded at Rath as they passed, ignoring me completely. Rath didn't seem to notice.
“Couldn't you have faded us to the top?” I whined.
He looked over at me in surprise. “Are you that out of shape?”
“It's a lot of stairs, Rath!”
“Look, we're here. Stop complaining.” He waved ahead of us to where the stairs ended in a landing.
The landing fronted a building that curved around the tree trunk and extended over one of the giant branches. The dining area was covered but there were no walls, only low railings. I gaped at all the pointed-ear people, dining at elegant tables, and lifting delicate crystal glasses to each other. I did not belong there.
But Rath took me through the front door without hesitation, into a reception room with benches along two walls and a woman standing at a podium. She smiled warmly at Rath, then her gaze coasted over to me and froze.
“Hello, Lacinda,” Rath said. “Two for dinner, please.”
“Oh, Lord Ratharin, it's always a pleasure to have you dine with us, but I'm afraid your servant will have to wait here.”
My cheeks instantly heated.
“My servant?” Ratharin frowned. “This is my dining companion and friend.”
The woman cleared her throat. “I'm so sorry, my lord, but we don't serve humans here. Even those who are . . . friends of Varraen.”
“What did you say?” Rath growled.
“Let's just go, Rath,” I whispered. “I don't want to make a scene.”
“No.” He stepped up to the woman and glared down at her. “This man is no ordinary human. He's chosen by the Goddess herself to—”
“Rath!” I snapped. “You said we weren't ready for that.”
