That stung.The only saving grace was that Darion had admitted to it.At least he was finally being forthright.But I wasn’t sure I was ready to accept his apology.I’d have to think about it.
“How did you know I wouldn’t get caught?”I asked.
“Are you kidding?The infamous Cas Nightbrook?You’re practically a celebrity in the Underworld.”
“I’m what?!”
Darion nodded.“Among thieves, you’re a bit of a legend.Think of that night as your first Emberlight Trial.”
“But it was a trial I didn’t ask for.I try to remain unnoticed for the sake of my sister.”
“And yet you chose to do the Trials,” Darion said, speaking delicately.“And you still plan to.”
That I couldn’t dispute.He was right, of course.I couldn’t claim I didn’t want to join the Order of Emberlight while continuing to do the Trials.
“We knew from your reputation that you were the best and that you’d escape Orlik’s house with a hefty sum,” Darion said.“It was a golden opportunity to keep the Order of Emberlight above suspicion.It seemed like a scenario where everybody would win.”
“Well, now Sentinels are showing up at the Charred Snake and chasing me through the streets of Analon,” I said, anger still just under the surface.“And also the Order invited me to the Trials?How does that keep them above suspicion?”
Darion flushed.“Well, that wasn’t exactly part of the plan.A bit of improvisation by me.I wanted to give you more than just a fighting chance.We protect our own.When I saw for myself what a skilled thief you were, I knew we had made the right choice.Honestly, I’ve never met a thief as talented as you.”Darion paused as if contemplating his next words.“But something else happened that night that Ididn’texpect.The moment I saw you, I couldn’t stand the thought of not seeing you again.”
That caught me off guard.The look on his face was so genuine, almost pained.My anger softened a bit.
“So following a recruit around isn’t a normal part of the Trials?”I quipped.
“Not at all.The most we usually do is watch them from afar.Some of the Emberlight Council hasn’t been happy about how involved I’ve been, but I’ve never stepped over the line.I’ve let you interpret the clues and solve the problems on your own.But I need to be hands-off from now on.”Darion paused, then smiled.“Hands-off as far as the Trials are concerned, that is.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I said.I was still upset.“I have more questions.”
Darion nodded, his smile fading.“I’ll try my best to answer.”
“How do you disappear?”I asked.“Is that your Ember?”
Darion raised his eyebrows.“I guess you know more about Emberborn than the typical Velmorrian.”
“I’ve learned a lot recently.”
“Apparently so.To answer your question, I have a connection to time.I can manipulate it,” Darion said simply, like it was the most normal thing to have said.
“What?!What does that mean?”
“I can do different things, like slow down time for everyone around me while it’s still normal for me.It’s how I snuck in and out of the study without you seeing me.How I escaped the alley and knocked over those guards.How I left you those notes.It’s called Chronothene.”
“So doesn’t that makeyouthe best thief of all time?”I asked.
“It has limits.I can only do it for a very short time.Not long after using it, I’m exhausted and barely able to move for hours.”
Slowing down time should have been hard to wrap my head around, and yet I could understand it because I had felt it.Part of me understood his Ember in a way I couldn’t articulate.
“You don’t seem that shocked,” Darion said.
“It makes sense.I could feel it as you were doing it.”
“No one can feel it,” Darion said, eyes narrowing.
I paused.Knowing I was Emberborn was new to me, and revealing it should be a calculated decision.I didn’t know how people would react.But since Darion was being truthful to me, I at least owed him the same.
“I have Veilsense.I’m Emberborn, too.”
