Brela’s notebook.
Fire crept up his arms, lightning trickling down his spine. Brela just couldn’t help herself, could she? One mockery after another. Reminding him that she was always one step ahead. That she would always have the upper hand on him. She was the smart one, he was the fool.
And four hells, it was working, because he was curious.
She’d snuck her notebook into his bag. It wasn’t in hers, it wasn’t back in Averlyn with Farrah and Elias, and it wasn’t with Serill who might actually understand what the hells she was writing inside. It was withhim.
Shoving the magic back inside his skin, he took a breath. Another.
When his hands were no longer smoking, he reached down and turned the cover. Shadow magic here and there. Some symbols of smoke and shadow, but mostly just her trying to figure out what the wall was made of. How to keep it up.
Such beautiful artwork. Even angry, he had to admit that the liquid-looking smoke and fire was incredible. Brela had talent, which might have been an understatement. It was unparalleled. She really did deserve to be the Shadow Speaker.
Oh, four hells. Shewasthe Shadow Speaker, wasn’t she? Her ability to understand the magic, draw it… just another thing that went over his head.
Cason paused as he realized one of the pages was sticking out of the binding. He tugged the paper free. A few papers, he realized, neatly folded with writing inside and a carefully printed letter on the edge.
C.
He dropped it back to the book. No. He wouldn’t read it.
But maybe he could.
No, he should burn it and just forget he ever saw it. The book too.
He unfolded it instead and began reading.
* * *
Hello Dragon,
I’m writing this on the first night in Severina, so it’s possible I’ve made some incorrect assumptions about how much information I will have told you by now or how far we’ve gotten on this trip, but it’s important that you know them.
I suppose there are really only three ways that you would be reading this. Normally, I’d write separate letters and arrange it so you got the appropriate one based on the circumstances, but since I don’t trust anyone here in Severina and I can’t guarantee that Elias or Farrah will be able to give them to you, I’ll just write them all here and let you read the relevant one. Though I’m sure curiosity will get the best of you and you’ll read everything.
The first two circumstances are that I’m dead or captured, which is basically the same thing as eventually not being alive. I’d go off on a long tangent about asking you to kill me if the latter were the case, but that would just put you all in more danger, so this is me begging you to let me go.
Don’t let Elias or Farrah follow me. If they argue, remind them they have people to take care of in Averlyn and I’ll haunt their asses if they do something stupid. They’ll know how to handle Ovir when they return.
They also know that I don’t do anything without a reason, so while me sharing this plan with you will piss them off, they will help you.
I’ve given Farrah a map to Valisea and I’ve outlined the path to follow, but I’ve left it up to her to share it with you, unless I die. Do not stray from it and I promise you will be safe.
When you get to the Crystal Desert, offer up a flame and crack of lightning and Oni Yulsef, Crown Prince of the Sand Sprites, will find you. He’s an old friend and will protect you. Let me make it perfectly clear that he isnotmy betrothed, but he’s a territorial bastard so just let him believe it.
He’s not going to trust you, so before you both end up killing each other, tell him that you aremy qigriand he’ll back off. Still, stay clear of the Wilds. He’s going to be quite interested in your lightning, and he has a history of shoving things he likes into the pits. Lesnibhol will tell you that story, I’m sure.
It’s also important to leave Night Carver with him. The Veil Scholar’s dagger will only put a target on your back, and I trust Oni to keep it safe until the Veil Worshippers rise again. If not, the weapon will just become another lost relic of my people. At least Gerrart won’t have it.
Elias will tell you anything you need to know about myself or Valisea to get you through the kingdom. If you run into any of my people, please don’t kill them. Tell them what I told you about Lilla and Tybost, tell them my story, and they’ll let you go. I can’t promise they’ll help, but they won’t get in your way.
That brings me to the third reason you might be reading this, the most likely reason—you’ve learned about my shadow magic. If this is case, you’ve probably already burned this letter and I’m really only giving myself a useless hand cramp by continuing, but some part of me needs to write it, if only for myself.
I know you hate me. I don’t blame you. I know I lied and deceived you and did the exact same things the shadow-kind did hundreds of years ago that led to such hate toward them. But I am not shadow-blessed by Ryia. This shard is what has given me shadow magic, and it also plagues me with its curses, like hellthorn. I don’t know what that makes me except a Veil Worshipper to torture in new ways.
I will not apologize for protecting my secrets because it protected my life.
Iwillapologize to you, and you alone, for lying.
