She groaned, dropping her face into her hands. “That was supposed to be intimidating.”
Sebastian stared at the little carpet of flowers, and smirked. “Terrifying, Healer. Truly. I’ve never been so afraid of petals.”
“Shut up,” she muttered, her face hot as she swept the petals away with a brush of her hand.
“You both wrestle with what is not natural to you. That is expected,” Veyra said, not unkindly. “Practise. You will overcome it.”
But mind magic... that was the worst of all. It came too easily to Kara – she’d fallen deep into Sebastian’s thoughts by accident. A hidden memory hit her without warning – a battlefield, bloodied snow, a friend taking his last breath in Sebastian’s arms as blood bubbled at his lips.
“Tell–tell Freya... tell her I–”
The light in his eyes went out.
Kara yanked back with a gasp, shaken.
Sebastian’s face had gone white but he only grunted, and said darkly, “You don’t want to look there, Kara.”
She nodded, throat tight. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean–”
“I know.” He didn’t sound angry, more guarded. “Stay away from the Ice Lands. There are things there I don’t want you to see.”
He lives with those memories. Every day.
Kara nodded as their bond trembled, and she felt him force the memory down, shaking with the vulnerability he hated, the exposure he couldn’t avoid. Accident or not, this wasn’t the first time she’d violated his mind.
She would have to be careful. Much more careful.
But they continued. Pushed through, together. Hours passed. They spent the whole day with Veyra patient, them determined. And by the time night had fallen, they were both drenched with sweat, bruised, and utterly exhausted. When they collapsed side by side on the stones of the training circle, Kara was smiling. They were clumsy, but powerful, and throughout the day, they’d improved, little by little. At least, Sebastian’s most recent shield hadn’t knocked her over, and the last flowers she’d conjured had thorns rather than petals. Veyra stood at the edge of the circle, watching them with approval.
Then the hawk arrived.
The ruby shield shimmered once to admit it. It landed straight in front of Sebastian, feathers ruffled, a small message tied to its leg. They shared a look of surprise before Sebastian removed it with a practised hand, tearing it open with his soldier’s efficiency. Kara watched the change in his face as he took in the words. All the warmth, the laughter of their training, bled out of him.
“What is it?” she asked.
He didn’t answer right away. The golden bond pulsed with his unease, before he passed her the letter. It bore his father’s seal. She read it quickly, her heart beating faster with each word:
Sebastian,
Draknor are coming. We captured a scout. He confirmed it under Caldris interrogation. Three weeks. Perhaps four.
The Council has voted to pardon you. They believe you. You and Kara are to return at once.
I pray you have been able to unite the Arcanth.
We need you both.
Your father
CHAPTER 40
A CALL TO ARMS
A pardon granted by the High Council is absolute. All charges are stricken from the record. Standing and reputation restored.
–Vallennan Judiciary Code, Article XXVII
They stood still in the training grounds, neither of them speaking. The letter still clutched in Kara’s hand. She stared at the words, absorbing them. People forged seals, faked letters. It could be a trick.
