I could tell you which vegetables were the latest to be waning when I left home. I could tell you the best time of year to plant potatoes and which words to whisper to the seedlings or which stage of the moon produces the best crops.
But I’ve never seen anyone using magic like they do in this city. Like it’s a mundane thing they have no limits to.
“It’s like a tiny book, powered by magic,” Reva says softly.
Jack hands the thing over to me, and I stare at it where it’s pinched between his fingertip and thumb with the list of words still visible in the air. When I don’t instantly take it from him, he taps the base and images appear beside the text.
“He says, ‘Knock yourself out’,” Reva tells me. She then plucks the thing from Jack’s fingers and hesitantly wiggles her fingers, causing the images to grow until still images of people are staring up at me from the tabletop.
“It’s a list of all the registered sorcerers and their pictures.” She licks her lips and screws up her nose adorably. “Are you happy to take a look through them?”
“That’s what we’re here for.”I stare down at the first couple, discounting them immediately. “This might take a while.”
“How long is the list?” Reva asks Jack.
“There are a few hundred at least.” Jack shrugs, kicking his feet up onto the table and leaning back in his chair. “Don’t your people have something similar?”
“Farmers?”I joke weakly to Reva.
She snorts and translates, earning me an eye roll that’s softened by a grin. “Witches.”
I shake my head.“I don’t think so. Unless there’s a witch high society I know nothing about.”
Which is... actually pretty likely. The past couple of days have slapped me in the face with just how ignorant I am about the wider world.
“I’ve never stayed long in a place that requires registering,” Reva says.
“Seems our king is a real fan of knowing what everyone is,” Torin says. “I’m surprised he doesn’t make us all dress in special colours to denote our status.”
“You never know. Maybe they do in Ashwick.”
The capital. I pick that last word up even without Reva’s translation.
I’m quite glad when everyone stops talking for a moment so she doesn’t have to keep translating the conversation for me. Every word she says has to come out twice, once for me and once for everyone else.
Focusing my attention on the task in front of me, I shift in my seat, getting comfortable right as Jack jumps to his feet.
“Right, well, I’ve got some errands to run.”
It’s not long before Torin follows him out, muttering something about books.
Reva keeps me company, crossing her legs under the table and leaning against me. Glancing up at her, I gesture to the door with my eyes.“You don’t have to stay here with me,”I tell her.“This could take hours.”
She hesitates for just a moment before nodding and getting to her feet. “Since we’re here, I want to see if they have any books on mate bonds.”
The next few hours pass with Torin and Reva popping in and out with an ever-increasing pile of books that they both flick through while I scan image after image until my eyes blur. Name after name, face after face get discounted, and with every unfamiliar image, I feel my despondency grow.
I can’t tell how much time has passed when Reva nudges me in the ribs, holding up a cup of steaming, fragrant tea out to me with a knowing expression.
“Are you doing okay? Need to take a break?”
I rub my eyes, shaking my head. I have to be over halfway by this point, and I just want to keep ploughing through.
When I next pause and take a minute to look up, everyone has shifted around. Jack has taken Reva’s seat beside me and is looking at me expectantly.
Based on his expression of amused impatience, I get the sense he’s been trying to get my attention for a while. He holds his hand out, presenting a tiny black square the size of my fingernail just inches from my face. Unease twists my gut, and I glance up, searching for Reva to translate, but she’s not here.
Not that she should have to stay by my side just because I’m useless.
