“Bravo!”
“Fantastic!”
“Wonderful!”
“It’s a miracle.”
The artist smiled and set his brush on the lip of the easel. “It’s merely magic, my friends, and magic is a common gift in these lands.” He removed the painting from its place and held it out to the lad. “Please keep this as a souvenir of your bravery, young man.”
The boy happily took the paper and pressed it against his chest. “Thank you!”
The artist swept his eyes over the crowd. “And now, my friends, there shall be no more for today-” He paused where I stood, and his eyebrows seemed to lift just a little. The man shook off his strange attitude and continued. “The magic is quite taxing on my frail health, and I can’t do more than one a day.”
The crowd dispersed, though some gathered around the boy to admire his prize. I strolled around them and over to the decorative cart.
“Do you like my little traveling advertisement?”
Chapter 24
I jumped at the voice and spun around to find the blind Velario standing only a foot away from me. He was tall, nearly as tall as Cassian, and those empty eyes didn’t stare ahead. They stared directly at me.
I swallowed hard. “Y-yes. It’s very nice. Did you use magic on this, too?”
He chuckled and patted the wall. “No. I merely took a few cans and tossed them at my home.” The artist cocked his head to one side. “You have an unusual air about you, Miss-?”
“Grace,” I told him. There was something about the man that put me on my guard. Perhaps it was those filmy, pale eyes, or maybe it’s because in a world of magic, I’d only dealt with the bad kind.
He inclined his head. “A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “How do you know I’m beautiful?”
“By your voice, of course,” he revealed as he waved a hand at me. “Does the woman with the beautiful voice wish to have her portrait done?” I blinked at him before I leaned forward and waved my hand in front of his face. His chuckle interrupted my fanning. “You are trying to see if I’m truly blind, aren’t you?”
I jerked my hand behind my back. “Um, well, yes.”
His smile broadened. “You do not need to worry. I can’t see so much as a speck of light. There is only darkness in my world, but my constant gloomy companion sometimes makes way for the joyous ringing of beautiful voices.” He gestured to his covered wagon. “Now, would you like to have your portrait done?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I thought you said you could only do one a day.”
“I say that so I might reserve my strength for those with particularly interesting voices,” he admitted as he held out his hand to me. “Shall we?”
I stared at the hand while I took a step back. “I think I’ll pass, but thanks for the offer.”
He stretched out his hand closer to me. “Are you sure? I’ve been told it’s quite an honor to have a portrait done by me.”
“I’m sure it is, and you do a good job, but I really should be going.” I spun on my heels and hurried away as fast as was politely possible.
I didn’t dare look back until I was nearly at the other intersection, where I paused and half-turned back. The man stood just where I’d left him, his lifeless eyes still staring at me. I shivered and continued on my way.
Suddenly, the day didn’t feel as warm as before.
“Get off! Off, I say!”
The shout came from my temporary residence. The squire stood on the doorstep, waving his arms at Niveus. The horse raised his head and snorted at him before he continued his breakfast.
“Shoo!” Torquatus screamed as he risked a few steps toward the horse. “Go on! Get out of here, you filthy animal!”
Niveus’ head shot up, and the horse gnashed his flat teeth at the squire. Torquatus yelped and slammed his back against the door. The portal opened, and he disappeared with a soft scream.
