Cal gave a sharp nod.
“Everything else was destroyed in the fire, though these somehow survived.” He shook the little vials, and I took both from his hands along with the leather satchel. I stuffed the two blackened vials into her bag before cinching it shut.
“Now we help them clean up. Air Mages, Earth Mages, refill your reserves. We’ll need your power in abundance before the day is through. I want debris cleared, graves dug and marked, and the bodies of all the deceased gathered in that clearing.” I gestured to the small valley just beyond the gates. Not next to the farms, but a bit beyond. It was a little patch of grass surrounded by wildflowers and bathed in the sunlight—a beautiful spot for eternal rest. Someone else must have thought the same, as I saw two markers in the distance.
The Mages voiced their assent as they dispersed to carry out my command. The only Mage who remained was Lex, his Vessels, Ilyas andSasori, by his side. They looked worse for wear—blood coated their clothes, skin, and matted-down their hair. Lex looked particularly disturbed, like he was fighting the ghosts of his past, the dark circles under his eyes betraying the lack of sleep and immense amount of stress the last week had brought.
“Lex, I need you to refill your Pleasure reserves, if you can. I’ll need you to try and calm the population, if necessary.” Lex gave a short nod.
“How do you expect me to do that, sir? I highly doubt any of them”—he gestured tiredly to the inn—“are giving off any type of happy emotion right now. And Ireallydoubt any of them are going to start fucking so I can watch and refill my reserves.”
Ilyas snorted but quickly schooled his features when he saw my expression.
“There’s a pleasure house in the next village over. It’s a half-day ride to the east. Take Ilyas and one of the horses. Leave now. I will keep an eye on Sasori while you’re gone. I have some investigating to do, and she can help me search.”
Lex closed his eyes and cracked his neck before agreeing and motioning for Ilyas to follow him back toward the gate and the forest where the horses were tied.
As soon as they were out of earshot, I turned to Sasori.
“You’re with me. We’re going into the inn, I have some . . . questions to ask.”
She looked at me skeptically. “What makes you think they’re going to let you in?”
I held up the bag in my hand. “I have supplies for their Healer. Plus, I have you.”
She looked at me quizzically.
“Those who have suffered a trauma such as this tend to find more comfort in women, I’ve found.” Sasori rolled her eyes.
“Been in many of these situations, General?”
“Yes.” I was curt and Sasori straightened at my rebuke. She wiped uselessly at the blood that covered her uniform and face before giving me a nod. We passed the wards easily, the runes either sensing that we meant to help, or they had run out of magic. I wasn’t well-versed enough to truly know if Blood Magiccouldrun out. It’s a question I’d have to ask Faylinn later.
I knocked twice on the inn door before it finally swung open, revealing a haggard looking man with two children clinging to his legs, another standing like a shadow behind him.
“What?” he barked. His posture was stiff, his arms blocking the door.
“I brought Faylinn’s supplies,” I said as I held up the bag, the vials inside tinkling slightly as it shook in my fist. I kept my tone even and low, placating even, as if I was coaxing a wounded animal from its hiding spot.
The man grunted before snatching the bag from my hand.
“She won’t be needin’ these for a while, I reckon.” His tone was still harsh, but the words sparked a conversation.
“She sleeps for a long time after using her magic?” The man only gave a curt nod before regarding me with a cool look.
“You’re not really welcome here. Especially right now.”
“I can understand that. You just had your village destroyed, your lives upturned. You’re wary and mistrustful, it’s not uncommon.”
“Seen a lot of this to know what’s common, eh?” His voice took on a sharp quality to it, his body vibrating with anger. I held my hands in a placating gesture, but Sasori stepped in before the situation could escalate.
Thank the gods.
“What he means, sir, is that there’s a lot of sadness, anger, and pain in your people right now. You only trust your own. We’re outsiders. And outsiders are what caused the destruction of your village.”
The man sucked his teeth, the children still clinging to his legs.
“Aye. Andyourpeople are the ones who started it.” He thrust a finger in my direction.
