“What did Alaryk say?” I wondered.
I wanted to know exactly what he had revealed about Samryn, about what I was doing.
Tarkosh’s gaze darted to Syris, but she was too busy peering at me in worry to notice.
“That there is a Grymian Elthika who’s been sick. And that you are helping to heal him,” Tarkosh finished. I had a feeling she knew which Elthika it was, which would explain Alaryk’s presence in all of this. But she likely didn’t want to betray herKarath’s trust.
“That’s right,” I said quietly. I looked over at Syris. “I…I possess heartstone magic.” My friend blinked, straightening in surprise. “I can help to heal creatures. I can draw out sickness and pain, so they can recover.”
A flash of surprise crossed Tarkosh’s face, and I realized that Alaryk hadn’t told her everything. I didn’t know why that comforted me. Because…perhaps he had been respecting my privacy to keep my trust?
“You can?” Syris breathed. “But that’s wonderful!”
I didn’t tell them that it worked on people too. I preferred to downplay the extent of my ability. There was a reason I had used it in secret, mostly onpyrokis.Mymrikro—thepyrokimaster I’d apprenticed under—had had his own suspicions, I knew. But he’d never said a word, and I knew he never would.
But I’d apprenticed under Halna for nearly a decade. I’d known Tarkosh and Syris for not even two weeks. And while I knew no one here in the Arsadia would capture me in the middle of the night to ship me off to the priestesses forexperiments…there was still a good reason for me to worry with Ryak and Nevin roaming around, who both had close ties with theDothikkar.
“That’s an amazing thing during hatchling season,” Syris breathed. “Oranyseason. On Muron’s blood, Amaia, do you realize how rare, how powerful an ability like that is?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted quietly, sitting unmoving in my place across from them, my eyes darting back and forth between them. “I don’t know at all. Because in Dakkar, heartstone magic is never spoken of. It’s a dangerous thing to have. I’ve kept it a secret all my life.”
Syris blinked, her brow furrowing. Sobering. Tarkosh understood it a little better, I thought, because she inclined her head. Listening to me speak, saying little.
“So…lysi…I saw an Elthika fall into the forest the night of the feast. I tried to help it. But what’s ailing it ispowerful. Alaryk found me. I’m determined to help the Elthika, but it’ll take time to heal. And it takes a lot of my own energy, which is why…”
I gestured to the state of me with a half smile. A nervous one.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been in the hatchery. Watching Kyr, helping with the nests?—”
“Don’t worry about that,” Tarkosh said, interrupting me. “Do what you have to do for the Elthika. But watch over yourself, Amaia. You were in a terrible state when Alaryk brought you here. I don’t want to see you like that again.”
I swallowed, struck by the soft honesty in her voice. “I can’t promise that,” I said quietly. “But I’ll rest more between our sessions. It looks worse than it is. It really only hurts me in the moment.”
“Does it?” Tarkosh asked, her question pointed.
Then she surprised me most of all by reaching across the table to take my hand.
My lips parted.
“You’re wise to keep knowledge of your ability quiet,” she said. “I wouldn’t tell anyone here.”
My brow furrowed. “I thought…”
“You’re right in believing that Karag are more accepting of heartstone magic. But we also valuestrength. And if you knew how to protect yourself—like ourKarath, for example—or if others feared you enough to never try touseyou…you would be safe.”
Syris sucked in a deep breath.
“But you, Amaia…” she continued quietly, her voice making me lean forward. “Your ability is highly valuable. To anyone, but especially to a Karag with a bonded Elthika. I would like to say that any of the territories would respect that you are protected under Grym…but I’ve lived long enough to know that greed makes people dangerous.”
“You…you think I would be in danger here?” I asked softly.
I thought back to Alaryk’s annoyance that I’d left his dwelling. I’d teased him that he thought I’d be in any danger in the Arsadia—other than perhaps from a passing wild Elthika, which I thought I could handle regardless—but now I wondered if there had been more behind his insistence at keeping me safe.
“If word got out about your ability,” Tarkosh said, glancing at the open door, “then yes.”
Syris sat, nibbling on her lip again. “Surely you don’t think another territory would try to steal her away. She’s still a Dakkari.”
“I have no doubt,” Tarkosh said, her words final. “TheKarathis right to be worried.”
