“A Talowell,” May said, mistaking her expression for confusion. “Fen has a thing for endangered species. They’re petitioning Allaster to start a breeding program.”
It took Kasira a moment to recover her voice, the memory of the tiny creature’s body writhing in her hand nearly overwhelming her. “They’re endangered?”
“Highly.” May pulled two staffs off the weapons rack as Fen set the Talowell safely atop a nearby ledge, where it promptly proceeded to hang upside down from its long, thin tail. To see one from so close after all this time, and with no one the least bit concerned about its presence, made Kasira feel as if the ground had upended.
May handed her a staff. “Their scales have a regenerative effect on human skin, making them highly sought after by Kalish and Miravi nobility alike.”
Kasira couldn’t stop the bark of derisive laughter that escaped her, nor did she have the words to explain her reaction, much to May’s confusion. She ran her thumb over the raised skin of her scarred palm and shook her head. “I’m sorry, it’s just, I didn’t expect that. We don’t have such fashions so far out from the capital city.”
In truth, it was just the sort of blasphemy that would be kept quiet among those who practiced it. If the church got wind of specific nobles slathering their skin in beast scales, the priests would have ensured the scandal ruined them. What other convenient uses had the Kalish nobles found for their sins?
“Good to know.” May’s lips quirked. “That reminds me, I have a new theory regarding my primary hypothesis. I suspect that the development of ores like vylor may also be tied to beast diets in much the same way the cloudtrapper mushrooms are. How familiar are you with beast populations near vylor mines?”
“Very,” Kasira replied. “My father ran a mine.” In truth, her knowledge came from the Malikinar, who was frequently dispatched to protect vylor mines and their workers from beasts, but the knowledge remained all the same.
“Perfect. Meet me in the library tonight?”
“Sure.” Kasira twirled her staff. “Now exactly how good are you at this?”
May’s smile bordered on wicked. “I can hold my own.”
That, it turned out, was an understatement. She was every bit as skilled as Kasira had assumed the day they met, and she truly had to work to fend off May’s attacks. While Kasira was stronger when May didn’t use her magic, May was quick and clever in her maneuvering. She had just put Kasira in the dirt when a cheer went up.
For a moment, Kasira thought it was against her, before she noticed a group of mages clustered nearby. May helped Kasira to her feet, and they watched Elyae spar with a young Miravi mage Kasira recognized as the healer May had mentioned, Warrin. The match had started out benign enough, with Warrin clearly possessing an advantage over Elyae. Then a mage called, “Release!” and everything changed. Elyae had Warrin on the ground in three moves, a feral grin on her lips.
She said something to him as she helped him up, and Warrin replied with a shake of his head. Elyae looped an arm over his shoulders with a laugh. The smile he gave her spoke volumes: soft, a little shy, as if her praise was all he’d wanted. May had said Elyae often trained some of the newer mages, but Kasira hadn’t expected Elyae to be so tender with them.
“She moves fast,” Kasira noted. Without magic, she wouldn’t be a match for Elyae if things became physical between them again. Yet another reason she needed Allaster to name her, and soon.
“Warrin is stronger and faster than Elyae, but Elyae is the more powerful mage.” May leaned on her staff. “Magic impacts people differently, strengthening some aspects above others. Elyae is … cocky, though, and doesn’t like to be reminded of it.”
As if sensing their attention, Elyae locked eyes with Kasira. “You want a turn,Assistant?” she called, but Kasira only angled her back toward her in a clear sign of dismissal.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Elyae scowl and lurch forward, but Warrin put out a thick arm to stop her. She was lined with lean muscle, but he held her back with ease, his stoic expressionunwavering. He was barrel-chested and broad shouldered, with a patchy black beard framing an olive face that bordered on familiar.
“You scared, beast killer?” Elyae demanded, and now the other mages were starting to pay attention. Fen and Carlia had left, and those who remained were unfamiliar to Kasira. “Too much a coward to fight something that can actually fight back?”
“That’s enough, Elyae,” May chastised her. “Eirlana is the Assistant Librarian of Amorlin. You will show her the appropriate respect.”
“Not yet she isn’t.” Elyae spat into the dirt, and several mages grumbled their agreement. “Come on, Corynth. Fight me.”
With the eyes of the arena waiting to see what she would do, Kasira brushed past May into the white chalk circle. Warrin stepped back to give them space as Elyae cracked her knuckles. “Don’t worry, I won’t use my magic. Wouldn’t want to break you too badly.”
“If you don’t, you won’t be able to touch me,” she replied in a voice so low, only Elyae could hear. The intensity in her tone gave the Ayadese girl pause, her head cocking to the side as she looked at Kasira with new eyes.
There were those in a con whom you won over to your side, and there were those whose refusal to be convinced became its own tool in your hand. Elyae remained steadfast, to the point that even if Kasira weren’t lying, she didn’t think the girl would ever believe her, which meant Kasira had to twist Elyae’s distrust in her favor.
Elyae gritted her teeth. “I know you did something to Benlo,” she hissed. “Just like I bet you know what happened to my bracelet.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Kasira returned. “The only thing I know is that petty jealousy is a bad look.”
And though she knew it was coming, that knowledge did nothing to lessen the pain when Elyae’s fist connected with her jaw. She let the momentum carry her to the ground, felt Elyae close the distance between them with every intention of finishing the fight before it started.
“Elyae!” Allaster’s voice rang through the arena, stopping Elyae in her tracks.
Kasira fought back her smile and took May’s proffered hand, letting her friend help her to her feet. She pressed her fingers to the warm blood leaking from her split lip, feigning a look of startlement. Eirlana might be trained to defend herself, but in her world, fights followed a decorum that Elyae had just broken. Kasira, on the other hand, afforded the mage her grudging respect.
“She is a liar!” Elyae thrust a finger into Kasira’s face. “She’s been acting suspiciously from day one, and things have begun disappearing around the Library. I’m not the only one who’s lost something since she arrived.”
