‘She told you much,’ Morgan says, looking jealous.
‘I’m the healer,’ he answers readily. ‘She hoped I could provide answers, but in order to do so, I’ll need to go to Kitore.’
‘The oldest of the cities of the Light Realm is not for fae,’ I tell him. ‘The wards…’
‘The wards are controlled by the First Scholar, a witch called Vivienne who is known to the Underhill. She helped Gaila, the First, and Eve, a fae female who I’ve seen in the Underhill from time to time, knows her well. Anyway, I’ve been to Kitore before with no ill effects.’
‘But it’s weeks away by road,’ Morgan disputes, ‘in case you’ve forgotten.’
‘I haven’t,’ Jak smirks, dangling the amulet from his fingers, ‘but I wasn’t intending on going by horse and cart.’
‘Whoever it was who gave Morgan that is going to want it back,’ I tell him. ‘And those fucking things shouldn’t be used lightly.’
‘Plus, it’s for short journeys only, and I’m not sure about travelling across the Light Realm. I was told these were made for the Dark. I’d have to ask,’ Morgan says quietly and I wonder again who he got this amulet from.
Jak rolls his eyes at me. ‘There. You see? Morgan will find out and, if necessary, I’ll slip away one evening to the Dark Realms and then come back to the Light but in Kitore. Simple.’
‘Even if that would work, what of the city’s wards? Kitore’s are ancient. Known to be unstable. They’re learned about by novice mages even as far away as Dead City because of how dangerous they are. You could find yourself in the undercity itself, in some cell or fissure with magick preventing you from leaving. You could be lost.’
Jak shakes his head. ‘I’m no fool, Locke. I’ll just ensure I exit the Breach outside the city walls. I’ll even take an illusion medallion with me despite having traveled around the Light for years passing as human so long as I kept my ears covered. Perhaps you could modify one to make me appear completely human if you’re that worried, then I shouldn’t have any trouble with the locals…if it’s not too much trouble.’
I frown at the cutting animosity I hear in his tone, though I shouldn’t be surprised even if the last minutes of conversation have been so normal that I’d forgotten how strained our relationships are.
If they will even exist soon.
The pit in my stomach worsens at the thought, even though I know I deserve to be shunned by them all.
‘It shouldn’t take more than a few days of searching,’ Jak continues, ‘and then I’ll return, hopefully, with some information on what Bryn is, and where she came from.’
Jak goes to the threshold of my chamber and peers inside at our human. ‘Because I think we can all agree that she isn’t Dark Realm.’
‘No,’ I say. ‘Not Dark Realm. But before you use that amulet to go running off to The First City, help me check my books. You know I have quite the collection. There must be some mention of the Fate Touched in them.’
‘Fine,’ he acquiesces with a roll of his eyes. ‘But it’ll be of no importance if we can’t get them to let Bryn stay here. We have to make sure they understand that she’s not a threat to the village or to the Underhill.’
‘Do you think that will be enough?’ Morgan asks.
‘After what we’ve learned since returning, I’m afraid that once they know she’s a slave from the Dark, they won’t listen to reason,’ I say quietly.
‘But she’s not,’ Jak replies.
‘What?’
‘She’s not Dark Realm. She was taken to The Barrack.’
‘The enforcers can spot a lie, Jak.’ I say quietly.
‘It’s not a lie. She was very young and doesn’t remember the journey, but she said to me that that’s what she was told in The Barrack.’
‘That has to be enough,’ Morgan says. ‘She’s not Dark Realm if she wasn’t born there, surely.’
I nod, though I’m dubious. ‘It’ll have to be enough. We’ll have to make it enough. She’s not going back to the Dark Realms even if we have to find a way to leave Halsford with her and never return.’
CHAPTER 5
BRYN
I’m aware of movement, a bustling close to me. When I open my eyes, I find Locke at the wardrobe in the corner, taking clothes from inside.
