Still. There had to be a better way to wake a person’s magic. “Isn’t there another way?”
“Yes, there are plenty of ways, but they’re cruel. Stress and fear are the triggers. When people are pushed to the breaking point, they tap into that inner spark of survival. Our way allows the person time to experiment and then we’re there to teach them.”
Not many people were in those dire situations. “The people in the prince’s special rooms are terrorized.”
“And some of them do access their magic. But, unfortunately, they don’t know how to use it and no one survives the torture.”
“What about the deacons’ confession rooms? Those people live through it and are forced to become deacons. Do some of them have magic?”
“It’s possible,” Jayden said slowly. “Although we haven’t heard any rumors.”
“Might be why the Heliacal Priestess started having her Arch Deacons wear those torques.”
“An interesting theory. We don’t know when she stole them, or even if she did. It could have been one of her predecessors who passed them along. Or Banqui could have discovered their location and sold them to her.” He frowned.
Jayden suspected Banqui had betrayed the Invisible Sword by telling the priestess’s Arch Deacons where to find their hideout, but he had no proof. Shyla’s new information from Fadey would support his suspicions. However, she just wasn’t convinced it’d been him so she didn’t share it with Jayden. Not yet. Instead, she asked, “Who had the torques before they were stolen?”
Jayden gazed at the rolling sand dunes. “The Invisible Sword leaders.”
Good thing they didn’t have The Eyes as well. Shyla debated whether she should press him for more information about the old leaders. Instead, she considered his comments about magic. “What about Mojag?”
“What about him?”
“I think he’s using magic, but he hasn’t been through the test.” Nor would he or anyone since the “testing cavern” was part of the old hideout and off-limits.
“That’s ridiculous. Mojag hasn’t shown any potential.”
Really? She’d thought he’d be an ideal candidate. “Then explain how he followed you to the Invisible Swords’ hideout. Explain how he’s so good at avoiding people and getting around without being seen.”
“I’ve been training him. Most vagrants are adept at hiding from the guards and deacons. It doesn’t mean they have magic.”
She wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t want to fight about it. They’d been having a perfectly civil conversation. It was nice.
“We should go. The velbloud caretaker has noticed us standing here,” Jayden said.
“You go on to headquarters. I’m heading to the monastery.”
He frowned. Shyla waited for him to figure it out.
“You’re giving them the torques.”
“For now. It’s the safest place. If we think the priestess is using magic, we’ll get them back.”
“That’s a good idea,” he said.
Was that an actual compliment? Shyla didn’t let it go to her head. They walked together for a bit before Shyla headed south. Without Jayden, she had to stop every ten meters, turn around, and erase her boot prints. It wasn’t ideal, but it worked.
When she was within a kilometer of the monastery, she slowed. At least a dozen monks would be on the surface, blending in with the desert and keeping watch for any visitors. Not many people could spot them, but since she’d grown up with them and had taken her turn as sentry too many times to count, she noticed them.
This time she wondered if she could slip past them unseen. Plus she needed the practice. Thelook awaycommand would work, but she’d have to smooth out her tracks with every step.Sleepmight work, but when the monks woke, they’d be alarmed.Gonerequired more energy and they had to see her first, which would ruin the fun.
Reaching out, she sensed the hidden monks in the distance. Before she crested the next dune, she pushed her will forward.
Look away.
Then she pushed it back to her tracks.
Return.
