Faylinn settled back in her chair, content with my answer, and began to tell me of the scrolls and books she delved into while I was arguing with Alois. Slowly, the tension she was carrying in her shoulders eased, her whole body relaxing as her eyes lit up with excitement as she discussed her findings.
She was radiantly beautiful—the spark of intelligence and intrigue made her eyes shine, pulling me further into their depths. I couldn’t look away, couldn’t stop listening to her if I tried, so caught up in everything that was Faylinn.
“Don’t you think that’s weird?” she asked, her brows furrowed with the weight of the puzzle she found in the library. I shook myself from my daze, realizing too late that I hadn’t caught the last part of her statement.
“I’m sorry, say that again,” I said, this time refusing to get lost in the depths of her soul.
Faylinn’s face softened in understanding.
“Is it your head? Making it hard to concentrate?” She was worried about me, that much was evident, and while I felt guilty for making her think my headache was worse than it was, I didn’t want to expose the truth of my desire for her just yet.
I nodded my head noncommittally, and her lips quirked in a slight smile.
“I’m sorry, I don’t have to bombard you with my theories right now,” she said quietly, moving to push out of her chair. Before I could think, my hand shot out and gripped her uninjured forearm tightly. Faylinn stalled, her eyes drawn to our point of contact.
Did she feel the same things I did? This warmth, this rightness?
“Stay. I want to listen,” I said with a gentle squeeze before releasing her arm. Reluctantly, I pulled my hand back to rest in my lap as she sank back into her chair, cheeks slightly reddened.
“Uhm, yeah. Yes, okay,” she stammered, and I bit my lip to keep from smiling.
“So, I was looking at the census scrolls from a few years ago to find any UnBonded Destruction Vessels,” she began again, and I forced myself to listen intently to her words, even as my stomach dropped at the implication. I had no doubt that Faylinn succeeded in her task and would present me with options at some point. Options that I would, now, have to consider. No matter how much my soul screamed for me not to. “And I found something . . . interesting? Alarming? About Samyr.”
I tried not to act surprised, but couldn’t help the slight hitch in my forehead at her words.
“So you think it’s interesting, too!” Faylinn said as she unfolded a piece of parchment stuffed into her belt.
“Did you seriously take part of the census scroll from the library?” I asked dryly and Faylinn’s cheeks pinked beautifully.
“Yes, I did.”
“And what did Sirak think of that?” I highly doubted the old librarian would willingly part with a piece of a scroll, no matter how convincing the thief.
“He doesn’t know. And what he doesn’t know won’t kill him. This is important, I know it,” she stated, and I barked a laugh even as the sound caused the thumping behind my eyes to escalate.
“Rebel,” I deadpanned, and she hitched one lithe shoulder.
“Careful with that accusation around here, Rohak.”
She was teasing, but her words held weight; the state of Elyria was slowly devolving, and my best friend wanted to do nothing. The memory of my conversation with Alois forced me to school my expression, the seriousness of the situation taking hold.
“So, as I was saying. I found something interesting about Samyr”—she handed me the piece of parchment and words swam in front of my eyes before I was able to focus—“what do you see?”
My eyes quickly adjusted, and I ignored the pounding of my headache in favor of trying to please Faylinn.
I scanned the document twice, nothing immediately popping out at me. It all seemed normal—until it didn’t.
“Fuck,” I whispered, and I saw Faylinn make a gesture of excitement out of the corner of my eye.
“Yes! Right? That’s weird, right? Theentireruling elite, apart from the Lord, is a Vessel.Allof them! And they have the most Destruction Vessels by a large margin. Why haven’t they been aiding the war efforts? Why are they keeping to themselves over there? Why hasn’t Alois forced them to send their Vessels for training or to Bond with his war Mages?” Excitement caused her words and questions to string together. I liked it when she got like this over information.
“Because Aloisdoesknow,” I admitted as Faylinn blinked owlishly at me.
“What?”
“He knows,” I said again as I gave her the piece of parchment back, the weight of the information suddenly too heavy for me to hold anymore. “Years ago, when Alois first took power, he made a deal with Samyr. Did you know he’s originally from there? Judging by my complexion, I am too, though my parents never spoke of their time before Vespera.” Faylinn sat wide-eyed, head resting against her uninjured hand, enraptured with my tale. “He was next in line for the lordship in Samyr, but his mother smuggled him out of the territory one night and into the belly of Vespera. No one knows why—I’m not certain even Alois knows why—but it set a lot of other . . . things in motion. Alois’ father died without naming a successor. The power vacuum that he left was enormous, and it plunged Samyr into a bloody civil war. The previous ruler of Vespera was happy to let them kill each other without stepping in, figuring, at the end, he would come in and reap the benefits of whatever ruins were left.”
I paused, waiting for Faylinn to interject, but she simply rolled her lips in thought and waited for me to continue.
