“I was even ordered not to,” Lucien agrees before he shoves her between the pillars. “I don’t care.”
Ren cries out as the silver immediately creeps over her like a fast-moving current. Lucien’s hand doesn’t even graze the pillars, but the silver moves quick, swallowing her almost hungrily. There’s a blinding flash of light. A sound as loud as the inside of a bell as it’s struck. Lucien throws his hands up, shielding his eyes, though even as the light starts to fade, my ears still ring with the sound of it before applause breaks through the din.
I come crashing back into myself, blinking in shock as Walter and Constance clap. In front of me, a small pile of ice and snow has accumulated on the table as the spell I cast disperses like smoke into the air.
“That’sincredible, Dominai,” Constance says brightly, and it takes me a moment to catch up with where I am.
“I’ll be damned,” Walter chuckles before he grabs the jug. “Here, for that, you deserve to kill it.”
But the image of Ren’s terrified face is etched into my mind. I can’t stay. I’ve already lingered too long.
East. I have to go east.
“No - no, I can’t,” I say as I get to my feet. Outside, the sun is already getting low. I only meant to spend an hour or so, and urgencyhits like a crop, trying to speed me on faster. The smart thing to do would be to stay the night, but if I can get answers out of Janessa quickly, I might be able to get another few miles down the road before it gets too dark to see. “I really need to talk to Janessa and get going.”
Walter lets out a disappointed sound even as he waggles the sloshing jug at me. “Y’sure?”
I chuckle faintly even as I get to my feet. “Hate to say that I am. I’m sorry. Wizardly duty.”
Constance waves a hand. “Whatever you say,MasterDominai. But let me pack you some leftovers to take with you.”
I accept the kindness, and if either of them notice that I’ve suddenly gotten awful twitchy, they don’t say anything. Constance gives me a half loaf of bread as well as some boiled eggs for the road. I think she’d give me the remains of the mushroom and lamb stew she made for dinner if I had a way to carry it, but I accept the parcel before I pull her into a fierce embrace.
“You’ll have to come back this way to head home, right? Swing by if you can,” she says.
“I will,” I say before I pull Walter into a hug, clapping him on the back. “Take care of yourselves, yeah?”
“You too, Dom,” Walter says.
I hurry to gather Mo from the pasture and get him tacked up before I lead him into town on foot, walking as fast as I can. The weight of the crystal is heavy in my pocket, though my mother’s note is getting crumpled by it with every step.
When I reach town proper, I make sure my spells are hidden under my cloak. People are out and about, but it’s cold enough that I don’t stand out as I pull my hood up and head towards the inn. And walking up to Janessa’s is like stepping back in time.
I get Mo hitched up outside, and though I loosen his saddle, I keep it on him. I can’t delay much longer, but just goingeastisn’tenough for me. I can’t track my mother down with nothing more than a cardinal direction, but if anyone would have an idea of where I can look, it’s Janessa.
Dinner is in full swing, and Walter wasn’t exaggerating about it being a busy season. The place is packed. Over the throng, I spot Janessa behind the bar, gray hair pulled under a headscarf, her hands busy filling a few mugs of beer. She glances over at the cold gust of air, eyeing me without a lick of recognition on her face.
“Have a seat wherever you like,” she calls as she plops the beers down in front of Thom. I cut through the room and find an empty spot at the bar, setting my pack and bow on the ground beside me. She dries her hands as she comes over to meet me. “We got fresh venison and barley stew on offer.”
“Yeah? You hunting the venison yourself now?” I wonder.
Janessa stops short, looking at me as if she’s just really seeing me. She grabs the hood of my cloak and yanks it back before she lets out a shout of joy.
“Bless my eyes!” she crows before she darts around the bar to hug me. She lets out a laugh, squeezing me so tight I feel like I might pop. “Can barely believe it! Would you look at you?!”
She takes a step back, smiling as she looks me over. Her eyes linger on the glow of my spells for just a moment before she searches my face. “City life looks good on you, Dom.”
“It’s good to see you, ‘Nessa,” I say. After my da passed, the kind innkeeper always made sure I had a meal, even when I couldn’t afford it.
“Well, come on then, sit! Let me get you a bowl and a beer. I want to hear all about your time in the capital.”
“I can’t stay,” I say, fingers anxiously toying with my spells. Having them on in such a full room is making me nervous. “I’m on an assignment. One I think you might be able to help me with.”
Behind me, the door creaks open. Fear surges up my back, but when I whirl to see who it is, it’s just Janessa’s husband, his arms full of firewood. I let out a breath even as Janessa calls over the din, “Oy, Osgar! Would you tell our guest in room three that his dinner’s almost ready?”
Osgar gives me a look, eyebrow raising in recognition. “Right.” He makes his way through the room to set his armful of wood by the fire. “Good to see you again, lad.”
I always got the feeling that an old grudge Osgar held against my da somehow bled onto me, but I offer him a wave all the same. “You too.”
