We took our seats and dug into the spread of thick soups, meats, cheeses, fruits, and bread that had been delivered to the meeting room. There was one thing I couldn’t complain about at the Consortium, and that was the food. We’d eaten fairly wellon the ship, considering our line of work kept us away from society longer than not, but taste hadn’t been a priority as much as nutrition had. What we were eating now was a King’s feast by comparison.
“Please, someone enlighten me on what it is you all have been doing,” I said, after gulping down a mouthful of juice from my goblet.
Kaelias and Makatza turned to Lorian. When in doubt, let the Captain answer—a fair strategy.
“They recovered our ship, and the rest of the crew is safe. They are docked here on Nil’Faerith—for now.” He sucked in a breath. “Alandris cleared our bounty, as promised, and we’ve also received additional protections.”
My face grew hot. “What do you mean by ‘for now’?”
“There was another stipulation—”
“I thought I was the stipulation—being forced to stay here and train as a Mage against my will.”
Lorian rubbed his forehead. “Alandris has asked that we assist him with his search for a particular item—or perhaps a place—I’m uncertain. We are set to sail to some of the unmarked islands around Nil’Faerith. We leave tomorrow morning.”
I glanced between Kaelias and Makatza, but neither of them would meet my eyes. My meal was souring in my stomach. “You’re leaving me here. Alone.”
“This is only temporary. We will come back in between searches. I know you don’t enjoy it, but you are in good hands here.”
“You don’t know them!” A painful tightness formed in my throat. “How can you know their intentions or what they want from me? I am nothing like the Mages here. I am nowhere near their level, and they know it.”
“I trust my sister, Zorinna. I wish I could explain more, but there are circumstances preventing me from doing so.” Lorianplaced his hand over the top of mine. “I’m asking you to trust that I would never put you in harm’s way. You’re important to us, Nairu. You are my crew, but beyond that, my friend, my family. The Consortium is the safest place for you right now. The other students will come around.”
Of course, I trusted him. It didn’t change the feeling that he, Kaelias, and Makatza were abandoning me. I even understood that we weren’t exactly in the position to bargain with Alandris, given that he’d cleared our bounty, but that didn’t stop it from frustrating me, sticking me like a knife to the chest in a way that felt all too familiar to how I was treated my entire life before The Phoenix Heart.
I’d joined the three of them because they’d saved me, and traveling with The Phoenix Heart had provided me with the one thing I’d always wanted—freedom. And now, I was going to have to willingly watch them leave me behind in order to protect everything we’d built. To ensure our bargain with Alandris was fulfilled, and that we could one day walk away, I had to sacrifice the treasured freedom I’d so desperately sought. I would have to do my part while they did theirs, and trust that we would always come back to each other.
I curled my fingers around Lorian’s hand. “I’m trusting you.”
He smiled, and I was in the middle of rolling my eyes when the door creaked open.
“A bit friendly, aren’t you?” Zorinna’s voice caught my attention, and I shifted to look at her, staring down at mine and Lorian’s linked hands. “Were you always so sentimental with goodbyes, brother? I don’t recall ever being on the receiving end.”
Lorian pulled his hand back from me, balling it into a fist. “I don’t have time to explain to you the reasons why I left, nor would you indulge me by listening if I tried. Why are you here?”
“I am collecting Nairu.” She motioned for me to go with her. “There is someone who wishes to meet you.”
Lorian stood, his hands gripping the edge of the wooden table. “Why aren’t you—why can’t you just explainsomething? Would that not be better for everyone involved?”
Zorinna’s back straightened. “Do not question me about something you have no idea about. I’ve been dealing with this for—” she held her palm up in front of her and her eyes wavered, “—just stop, Lorian. You don’t have a damn clue. You’ve only ever worried about the here and now—never the bigger picture.”
“You don’t have a clue either, sister. How alike we are.”
“Lorian?” I looked up at him, brows furrowed. This argument felt far bigger than Zorinna’s involvement in hiding the Grand Arch Magus’s intentions from me, but I knew better than to question such. I only wanted to be sure my friend was OK.
He turned his face away. “I’m fine.”
I stood to follow Zorinna, offering a nod to my companions.
As for whatever they were keeping me in the dark about regarding Alandris, I would figure it out on my own. I’d decided to fulfill my part of the deal, so that was what I was going to do. There was no use arguing over it anymore or pressing for answers I would never get. If they wanted to be secretive and deceitful, then so would I. Years of sneaking away from my Keeper had made me a master of blending into the background. Plus, I was sharing a room with a walking, talking history book. Game on.
Zorinna led me out of the guest wing, through the halls, and into an empty training room, save for one giant of a male standing in the center, waving his sword at invisible targets. The strength with which he brought down his blade was so ferocious you could hear the very air around it splitting as it resisted. His focus was incredible. He hadn’t so much as spared a glance inour direction when we’d entered. I watched him, mesmerized, waiting for him to win his mock battle.
With a final swipe of the blade, his eyes softened, and he rejoined our reality. Upon recognizing our presence, he locked onto me like a predator and ran at me, quick as a blur. While I was cowering in on myself like a startled cat, bracing for the impact, he lifted me up into his arms.
“My girl!” His voice boomed.
I could feel the life being squeezed out of me. Every bone in my body was being crushed to dust. I squirmed and wiggled, trying to free myself from his grasp, but I stood no chance against him.
