“What?” I gaped at him in shock.
All this time, I’d been hiding either in a shack on the beach or in the cave, sneaking out only when absolutely necessary during the most deserted hours of the day. Now, he was taking me inside the Wall? Into the tunnels and caves that were always filled with people? Where escape wouldn’t be easy, even for someone with wings.
“Why, Timur?”
He took my hands in his. “I want you to see a mage. He recently moved here from Kalmena. They say he’s skilled in the healing magic of hags.”
“He is? But only women can be hags. Even I know that. Only the members of the hag covens can practice their magic. It’s forbidden for anyone else.”
I learned all I could about the Alveari Kingdom from the Joy Vessel Keepers back in thesaraiin Teneris. I liked talking to the Keepers. There was so little else to do otherwise.
Timur shrugged. “Well, his knowledge is obviously stolen. That’s why he ran away to Ashgate to escape the prosecution of learning and practicing what he wasn’t supposed to. But I’ve been watching him do things for Ashgate dwellers, and I believe he can help us too.”
“Help us with what?”
“I want him to make new glasses for your eyes.”
“New glasses…” I raised my hand to my mouth as a wave of emotions rushed me.
“You need to be able to see, Elaine,” he said softly. “You have to see the danger in order to escape it, especially when I’m…”
He didn’t finish, but I knew what he meant.
“…when I’m no longer here.”
My hands trembled, and my chest tightened at the reminder of the future that waited for us.Myfuture without Timur because he didn’t have one.
He cleared his voice, as if getting his own emotions under control.
“His name is Suhai. He arrived in Ashgate less than two weeks ago. I’ve watched him to figure out how well he knew his craft. I’ve seen him help people, and I’m confident he can help you too.”
Not trusting my voice to speak, I nodded, squeezing his hand in mine.
“He lives in a lower level of the Wall, with no access to a patio,” Timur continued. “We’ll have to walk through some of the busiest corridors of Ashgate to get to him. I can’t fly there. I’ll be in my chair, and you’ll walk next to me, alright?”
I nodded again. Normally, Timur had me on his lap when he was in his chair. I loved that, and I knew he preferred having me close like that too. If he wanted me to walk this time, there must be a good reason for that. I trusted him. Still, the idea of goingout into the crowd rushed me with the memories of the auction, filling me with apprehension.
“I’ll need free access to my knives,” he explained grimly and added, “Just in case.” He glanced at my hand, clutching his hand so hard, the skin over my knuckles turned paper white. “Elaine?”
“I’m okay,” I tried to assure him. “I’ll be fine.”
He brought my hand to his lips and touched my palm in a gentle kiss.
“I wouldn’t take you if I thought you’d be in imminent danger, sweetheart,” he murmured soothingly. “Ashgate has no respect for the kingdom’s laws, but it does follow its own rules. According to these rules, you belong to me. Many would steal you if they could. But attacking us in public would be an act of open rebellion against the established order. Even the most hardened criminals would consider the consequences of that. Hold my hand at all times. And…”
Thin, black filaments of shadow magic emerged from his left upper arm, reaching for me.
“The more that connects you to me, the better,” he explained as two tendrils aligned with theleilathason my right arm.
“You have two tendrils?” I exclaimed in surprise.” I thought you only had one.”
“I have three.” He gave me an indulgent smile as the third tendril curled around his neck from behind. “For now, anyway,” he added as the smile slipped from his face.
I’d never seen him release all three at once. All this time, he’d been restraining himself, allowing only one single tendril to connect to me. Timur had the strongest self-control I’d ever seen in anyone.
“Okay.” I made an effort to chase away the sadness and apprehension before he connected to me.
He so rarely did this, I wished to share my best emotion with him while I could. I wanted him to feel the things I probablycould never accurately convey in words. I gazed at him, took in his beloved features, and focused on savoring this moment of the evening peace.
