Alaric pressed his lips together, and said nothing.
“It is decided,” Evelyn said, her voice carrying finality. “We will call them.”
Alaric got to his feet so fast that his chair fell hard against the stone floor. “Do as you wish,” he sneered. “But do not ask me to stand beside them. I will not.”
“You’re a disgrace,” Tobias spat.
Alaric strode from the chamber, his green cloak billowing, slamming the door behind him. Elias half-rose, as if to follow, then sank back down. There was nothing more to say.
“We need Healers–” Galen began.
“And Healers will come,” Tobias assured him. “Not all Healers in Vallenna are under the rule of Alaric Hale. There are those who live and work in your regions, under command of all the others on this Council, those stationed on Navyrian ships–”
“That’s hardly enough, Tobias–” Evelyn began.
“No. But we will make do if we have to. In any event, I do not actually believe that the rest of Hale will stand idly by when Vallennan lives are at stake,” Tobias said. “It’s not in their nature.”
Elias nodded. “Alaric will come to his senses.”
“I will send the hawk immediately,” Tobias told them, and with that he swept from the hall, before anyone could change their minds.
Sebastian. Kara.You can come home.
Let’s hope we all survive what’s coming.
CHAPTER 39
SHARDS OF THE ARCANTH
After the Dark War, in recognition of their neutrality, the Arcanth allowed Occarlia’s ancient time magic to endure. To Vallenna, it gave the blessing of the Four: Earth, Water, Air and Fire.
–Arcanthys Mythology
A sharp, nagging throb in his knuckles pulled Sebastian from sleep. He lay there for a moment, groggy, entwined in Kara’s arms, frowning at his hand. Then he remembered the Fatàn monument two nights ago, smashed beneath his fists in a haze of anger. His knuckles had paid the price for his lack of control. Split skin, swollen, bruised to hell. Fuck, they hurt like fire. He sat up slowly, eyeing the basin, thinking vaguely that the cold water might numb them a bit. He flexed his fingers gingerly. They were stiff, ugly. One cut opened again, droplets of blood oozing from it. He rubbed his hand over it absently, and without calling for any magic at all, emerald light flared from his fingers, warm and dazzling.
What–
He jerked his hand back. The pain vanished. The bruises faded before his eyes, the cuts sealed over. Completely healed.
No. That’s not possible. That’s her magic.
Sebastian froze, staring at his hand. “...what the fuck.”
He clenched his fist. Opened it. Emerald bloomed.
He did it again. Emerald.
No denying it.
Fantastic. I’m glowing Hale green.
“Oh, brilliant. Perfect. Just what I need.” He flung his hands upwards in defeat. Then he started whisper-yelling at the ceiling as if theFour themselves might bargain with him. “I’m a Healer now. Gods save me.”
He glanced at Kara. Still asleep. Smiling faintly in her dreams, completely unaware he was losing his mind.
“Kara.”
She rolled away from him. “Sebastian, it’s too early.”
