“Is there anything new to report?”
Idris shook his head. “The Watchmen have retreated to Castle Rime, save for a few to ensure no one has any ideas to form a coup of sorts. After their little stunt yesterday, it’s highly likely the impoverished folk will start to have the senseto stand up against the king’s orders. The Vedrans weren’t the only ones affected by yesterday’s attack. In spite of that, it would appear the rebels did a significant amount of damage to the king’s most elite guards.”
“We’ve spread the word that the captain has been hunting down a lead to one of the rebels’ hideouts on the east side of the city. Should buy you time to return by sundown,” Adan said, and the mere thought of having to return to that place must truly be abhorrent to him for he glared down at his untouched cup. “Just in time for the preparations of the Senin to commence.”
Aeric’s hand closed into a fist, his words sharp with intent. “Good. We’ve waited long enough.”
Henry and the others nodded in agreement.
“Gabriel and I will lie in wait for the ceremony to commence and keep watch should anything go awry,” Henry said, and Aeric nodded, clearly the two having discussed this before.
In case she failed and sent their entire plans down the gutter.
As if sensing her worries, Aeric’s hand reached beneath the table and took hold of hers. A silent reassurance that everything would be all right. It had to be.
Zara noticed their hands as she finished healing Anelize but merely smiled before retreating to her chair beside Henry.
Castian looked between the two of them before he said, “Are you sure you’re all right now, Aeric? Zara told me about what happened to you. You should still be in bed recovering.”
Aeric smiled at the prince in reassurance. “I’m all right. Though, I can’t say I have much of a choice on the matter, all things considered. The Senin is quickly approaching, and withit, our plans for destroying the book. Just a few more days, then this will all be over.”
Anelize watched hope shine in Castian’s bright eyes before he nodded. “I hope you’re right. I’ve had enough of lying in wait for all of you to do my fighting for me.”
Henry patted his shoulder. “Soon, my boy. Everything will fall into place soon. We should all think that way moving forward.”
“Thank you, Henry,” Castian said, his admiration for all of the men in this room unmistakable. It brought a smile to her lips at the sight of it.
“Still, I’ve been running my mind mad in circles since last night,” Zara said as she looked at Aeric with a puzzled expression. “From a healer’s perspective, your heart should have stopped beating the moment that arrow struck you. It was difficult enough keeping you from bleeding internally the entire time we treated your wound. I’m still uncertain how you managed to survive it.”
Aeric and Adan simultaneously glanced at Anelize, and she grew all too aware of everyone else’s attention shifting to her.
“Anya? Did you have something to do with this?” Zara asked, her tone hopeful and in awe, as if she couldn’t believe anevitof all people could do such a thing.
Shaking her head, she hesitated before saying, “I can’t be entirely sure. I managed to kill that Watchman who shot Aeric before he could do anything more. By the time I reached Aeric, I couldn’t…couldn’t hear his heart. He wasn’t breathing at all.”
“You mean to say that he was…dead?” Castian asked, eyes wide as he looked to Aeric as if seeking his confirmation.
But Aeric was looking at her, and only her, asshe continued.
“I don’t know. Perhaps he wasn’t, and in my panic, I just couldn’t hear his heart. So, I conjured.” Her eyes met Adan’s, and he granted her a grim nod to continue. “I searched for the sound of his heart, for any sign of life. All I knew was that, suddenly, I found it. His heartbeat. It was weak and fading fast, but there. I called upon it, and it came to me. Sounding louder and louder before suddenly he was breathing again.”
“Impossible,” Henry breathed out. “There has never been anevitwho could do such a thing before. Right, Zara?”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing. Even the most skilledavitcan’t bring back someone from death. It has never been done before.” Zara shook her head, marveling at Anelize as if she were a great healer. When she was the furthest thing from it.
“We’ve all heard ofnevitstaking life, stopping one’s heartbeat with a single flick of a wrist. Who is to say they can’t also preserve life, or give it back?” Adan challenged.
Zara and Henry shared a glance, not looking convinced, before the latter said, “It would seem Anya is stronger than any of us could have anticipated.”
Regardless, everyone’s approval was there, and they granted her nods of thanks for what she’d done.
“Incredible,” Castian breathed out, looking winded from the mere revelation, and she had a thought to tell him to settle before he overexerted himself again. The sound of his heart beating much too fast. “You are truly remarkable, Anya. Such a power is truly a gift. I hope you know that.”
A gift that had come at a cost, though she didn’t feel the need to tell him that. Not when it was enough that only one person knew.
Aeric’s eyes shined as he looked at her. His hand tightening around hers, until she faced him. A silent confirmationand answer passing between them. An affection so clear that she had to force herself to look away and hide the flush that started to bloom on her cheeks.
“Let’s hope there will be no need for such a gift again on the night of the Senin, and that we will all return home safe and sound,” Henry asserted as he smiled at her from across the table.
