My ears gently popped as he threw up a sound barrier, shielding our conversation from spying ears. “Do you truly wish to learn more?”
There was no way in the hells he could stop now. We all nodded, angling ourselves further toward the sound wielder.
“What I know comes from information passed along by the nymphs. Astrals and Nokts both have higher magics. Astral magic descends from the ethereal firmament. It is light magic—moonlight, sunlight, lightning, starlight—which used to abound in our world. It disappeared at some point along with most Astrals and their sentinels.
“Higher magic requires stronger sources to be maintained. The ability to access higher magic has mostly disappeared. It canbe harnessed in small quantities in the right conditions, but even then, it taxes the wielder. Legend says that a sign of Astral magic is strange coloring, not unlike your hair.” He paused, assessing Liora. She blanched.
Her mother seemed aware of what the color symbolized. I wondered at who she must have been to have known about such things.
He continued, “Nokt magic is a distorted version of higher magic. It is light magic that has been stripped and deformed, turned inward on itself. Each type of magic leaves a signature. Light magic often leaves a glaze behind. A kind of shimmer, if you will. Dark magic leaves?—”
“Char,” Liora whispered.
He nodded in confirmation. “Some believe light magic hasn’t necessarily disappeared, but rather lies dormant. Meanwhile, dark magic spreads.” He shifted his gaze northward, undoubtedly in the direction of the glacial caves and the dying hinterlands.
“What are sentinels?” I asked.
“The original guardians of this world.”
I retreated into myself at his words. I knew of the guardians, and had dreams of their return. They were massive beasts with scales and wings. Though, unlike Nokts, these were natural creatures, not a disturbing mimicry of one. Hearing someone speak of them left me strangely unsettled, as if the situation we found ourselves in held a history and a depth far greater than we realized.
We neared a small village, chimneys releasing opaque smoke into the chilly morning. Our conversation ceased when Evander dropped the sound shield.
A Lavender Starling circled overhead, stealing my attention. I leaned down to point it out to Liora. “This is the second time I’ve seen the elusive Lavender Starling. Do you remember whatI told you about them? They are portents of hope, and as we venture into another unknown, I can’t help but think you’re the reason they’re appearing. Their presence makes me think, if nothing else, we’ll always have the dawn,m’est kisertes.”
She preened under the nickname. “What does that mean, General?” she asked.
“One day perhaps I’ll tell you, Spy.”
She eyed me dubiously.
“Dom, ahead.” Bowen pointed at a group of horses further down the trail, heading straight for us.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
THE SPY
Swirling clouds of dirt erupted behind a trio of horses. Our group hustled into the tree line that bracketed the road. Weapons unsheathed, and magic coursed through my veins in preparation for the oncoming group.
Familiar voices hailed us. A man and a woman rode on two large steeds, with a third riderless horse tied to the back of the second. I smiled as Xuri and Finn dismounted, the sound of Finn’s laughter singing in my ears. The other two mounts conspicuously missing.
“Where are the other horses?” Bowen asked, while Xuri mother-henned Dom.
She turned at the question. “Some dreki stole two horses in the night, along with a lot of our supplies. I never even heard them. At least we still have three to ride on, right?” she asked rhetorically, sheepishly.
Bowen assessed his options, quickly claiming Xuri’s horse. She huffed without real bite to it. Someone had to share her steed.
Evander interjected, “My journey ends here. I have a friend in this town I want to check in with. I’ve given my stash of elixirsto Bowen for safekeeping, and I’ll put together a larger supply to have delivered later. Bowen knows how to contact me.”
I offered the soldier’s sign of respect, as did Dom, and Evander quietly departed.
Finn returned his attention to the horses, then darted between Dom and me. He patted my shoulder, then spoke genially in my ear, “Good to see you, Rebby.”
Dom cleared his throat, a dark expression cuing Finn to back away.
“I’m sure Finn and Dom have much to discuss. I’ll take the third horse.” I strode confidently in its direction.
Shadows coalesced in front of me, forcing me to an abrupt stop. I slyly glanced over my shoulder.
