“Nope. Not for me. Dev, on the other hand.”
Elliot studied me. “He’s good at what he does.”
I looked out over the soldiers, at Kieran’s calm command of the men. “They all are, it seems.”
“What about me?” Ash asked, his mouth still full of food. “Can I train Seph too?”
Sy turned towards us then. “I require your services, air mage,” he said.
Ash gaped, egg falling from his mouth.
“What do you mean?” I asked him.
Sy approached me calmly, like he had a gravity all of his own.
“There is something I must find. An old text. But the place is far from here. I need someone to assist me in its retrieval.”
“So why can’t I go?” I asked.
“No!” Ash exclaimed.
“Absolutely not!” Elliot snapped.
I looked at both of them, irritated. Then back at Sy.
But he was shaking his head also. “I’m sorry, little one. I cannot take you with me. It would be too dangerous.”
“Then you can’t go.” I snapped.
“Seph,” Sy sighed. “It will only be a few days and we will both return. I promise.”
“A few days is enough for anything to happen. Ash just got back!” I exclaimed.
“I told you I was okay, Seph – “
“But I am not! You cannot keep leaving me! You can’t!” I gasped. Ash reached for me, but I flinched back.
The hurt in his eyes almost stopped me.
“No! I’m so sick of this.”
“How important is this text?” Elliot asked Sy.
Sy slowly turned towards him. “Very.”
Elliot and Sy watched each other, unblinking. Then Elliot took a breath.
“It will be fine, Seph. By staying here, you will be protected.”
I just glared at them all and shoved my plate away. Ash looked so wounded I almost broke.
“Protected. Great. What else is new.”
“Seph – “
“Just leave me alone, okay?”
I stormed off back into the compound.
