“I’m sorry to leave you there, in any case,” Deckard said. “As it is, only three days have passed this time. However...”
Hewitt narrowed his eyes, catching the heavy tone. “I miss all the fun,” he commented dryly. “What catastrophe are you to recount today?”
Evylin and Thom let Deckard explain while they each gave context or clarification to the moments he missed. He took the blame for Auden’s death, to which Thom argued thathewas truly at fault. Evylin reminded them both that no one was Auden’s killer. He’d died because they were all risking their lives. Any one of them could have been sucked into that infinite void.
When Deckard insisted that improved control over his magic would have kept them from the predicament altogether, she had no logical arguments left.
Hewitt stroked his beard thoughtfully. “You can’t control it at all?” he asked.
Deckard shrugged. “Sometimes, it seems that I can, but in that Keep...” He cast a sidelong glance at Evylin. “It drew on my power, just like the Relic she wears does now. Iwantto access it, to let it consume me again. And it takes great effort to resist.”
“What do the Mages think of this?”
“They don’t seem overly concerned. Though I don’t understand why. I’m a danger,” he said. “To all of us.”
Evylin frowned, saddened to hear his true opinion of his power.
However, Hewitt only let out a grunt. “When will you learn to stop taking responsibility for all of Terraeus?” he said, and Thom smirked. “I told you at my grave: Stop blaming yourself for other people’s choices.”
“That isn’t exactly relevant when it’smypowers that are causing the problems,” Deckard returned in agitation.
Knowing that arguing would resolve nothing, Evylin spoke up. “We have other issues to discuss,” she said. The men acquiesced to her. “First, I believe Thom has something he wants to ask you.”
Thom straightened then. “Yes,” he said. “I was hoping... When we spoke before, you told me to find a purpose. I thought I had done so by protecting Deckard and Evie and helping them find happiness.”
Evylin and Deckard shared a soft, bemused look.
“But now,” Thom continued, “I realize I’m not qualified for the job. And I’m more likely to get myself killed trying.” He took a deep breath. “So now I need a new purpose.”
“And you want me to give one to you?” Hewitt surmised.
Thom ran a hand through his hair. “I want you to advise me. How do I find what I’m meant to do with my life?”
“Generally,” Hewitt replied, “it finds you.”
“That’s not helpful.”
Evylin chuckled as the slightest grin tugged on her uncle’s lips. “What do youwantto do, Thom?” he asked rhetorically. “How do you best want to serve this world? Answerthatquestion, and you’ll find your purpose.”
Thom frowned, his thoughts visibly turning, but nodded. “Thanks,” he murmured.
Hewitt returned the nod, then faced Evylin. “What else would you like to discuss?” he asked.
She took a deep breath. “We’re on our way to Estshire,” she said. “Which means we’re less than a week from your graveside.”
“Which means,” he concluded, “that we have less than a week left together.”
“Yes.”
“We ought to make the most of it, then.”
Deckard’s hand brushed Evylin’s arm, and she felt his fingers twitch, resting on her arm more loosely than normal. “As we’ll be staying in inns along the way, I’ll have to include you after dinner exclusively. I can’t keep you summoned while I’m training, and keeping you visible during travel is too taxing. Which likely means you’ll only be seeing the three of us most nights.”
“You’re the only ones I care to see anyway.”
They fell into other, easier topics. They discussed Deckard’s surprising new powers as well as Evylin’s discovery in the Keep. “I don’t know how,” she said, “but I managed to tap into Jonn’s power. With the Relic’s help, I summoned the same onyx crystals to defend me. It wasn’t quite the same, but...”
“It was Space magic,” Thom confirmed.
