“Couldn’tsleep?”Shecrossed her arms over her chest, looking at me.Isaid nothing but nodded. “Wellthen, perhaps we can sleeplessly wander together.Kaleos, you andRaulaget some rest.I’llsee you in the morning.”
Thebrute gave her a salute and immediately turned on his heels and fled.Toristill had her arms crossed as she looked me up and down.Ihated how it made my skin crawl.
“Well, let’s wander,” she said.Shegestured for me to lead the way, andIdid.Fewerthan five breaths had passed, andIknew she was about to speak, soIcut her off.
“You’replaying a dangerous game.”
Sheraised her eyebrows at me.
“Whatyou did forJunearlier.”
Herface only grew more confused. “Ijust used my magic to heal him.Isthat so wrong?” she asked.
“Youdon’t have fae magic,Tori.Thatwas your life force.”
Shefrowned and put her hand over her heart. “Yes, it felt like… it felt like a part of me.”
Ishook my head. “Itwon’t end well if you keep that up.Itwas the first lesson all magical adepts learned.Neveruse your life force to fuel magic, lest you overexert and, well… die.”
Shelooked at me a long time beforeanswering. “It’sthe only wayIcan helpJun.It’sthe only thingIhave that works against whatever is clinging to his heart.”
Iknew all too well what she meant.Imay not have magic, but only a fool wouldn’t see whatJuncarried. “Thatmay be true, but it’s too risky.”
“Anyrisk is worth it forJun.”
“Doyou think he would agree with you?”Shesaid nothing. “Wewill find a way to help him, but this isn’t the way.”
“Suddenlyso attached to me,Pallas?”
Icouldn’t stop a laugh from escaping. “Nota bit,Princess.But…Junwouldn’t survive losing you again.Notright now.”SheknewIwas right.Logicalways prevailed, even in those who seemed to ignore it, likeTori.
Shesighed, “Alright, but we need to find another way.”
Ihad nothing more to say, so we walked another two hallways before she let out a loud yawn. “Idon’t thinkI’veever been so tired in my life.”
“Andyet you aren’t sleeping… are you afraid of dreaming?”Iasked.
Shejolted at my bold question, andIsaw her hackles rise, but then she released a sigh. “Yes.”Itwas all she said.
“Youcould take a sleeping potion, you know, prevent dreams.”
“No.”Therewas no hesitation in her voice.Iremembered the informationHadeonhad been given about her attempt on her life in her youth.Shewas not so afraid of her dreams to risk it.
“Thereare other potions, medicinal mushrooms that calm the mind.Perhapsthat could help?”
Shegave me a quizzical look, then nodded. “Yes,AbraxasmentionedOryxwas working on something.Iwill consult with him.”Hergaze glazed over in thought for a few moments before her eyes jumped back to mine.
“Thankyou.Itseems you have quite a wealth of knowledge on medical herbs, runes, and ancient magics.Wheredid you learn all this?”
“Mymother wasRunyaMorvavare.”Tori’seyes widened.Mymother’s fame as the age’s greatest enchantress preceded her even after all these centuries.
“Ididn’t knowRunyahad a daughter.”
“Mostdon’t.”BeforeToricould give me another pitying look,Ibarreled on, “Shewas an academic to her core.Whilesome youths were spent playing and sword fighting, my mother had me spend hours studying every book she gathered for theGoldenKingdomlibrary.Allthose lessons stuck.”
Shegave me a searching look as if she didn’t quite buy my story.Butshe let it drop.Ididn’t need to tell her that for the first few decades,Hadeonhad hardly let me out of his chambers.Onlythe kindness of slaves bringing me books to read had kept me sane.Andmy mother had amassed the greatest collection of tomes on magic in her time as the library’s keeper inKoronbefore her death.
Wewalked a bit more in silence before she asked, “Andyou,Pallas?We’vehad a trying few days.Whatkeeps you awake?”
