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Astor grins at the complement, a slightly red tint spreading over his cheeks.
“That’s not what I meant,” I correct.
“No, it wouldn’t be, not if you’re as much like your father as I’ve heard.”
Again with my father. He’s so tied to all of this. In a way, it makes me feel at peace to hear Mavyn mention him, but in another way, it hurts to think of all these secrets he had in his head, these plans he created for me, ones he could never share. But why? Was I not trustworthy? Would I have somehow ruined things? I wish I could have understood this all from the start. Then I would know what to do and who to trust. Instead, I’ve been left on my own with unanswered questions and doubts that I’ll ever discover the future he envisioned.
“Did you know him?” I say softly.
“No,” she trails off. “Astor knew him a lot better, and your mother. But I did have the pleasure of meeting him one time, here in this very room, in fact.”
“What was he doing here?”
“Vetting me for this very moment. The kind of magic I possess is not the sort usually associated with someone of good character, and he needed to be able to trust me.”
“Is all magic so wicked?” I ask.
“Wicked, no. Corrupting, yes. A strange bond exists between light and magic. In the absence of light, magic corrupts the soul of its possessor, whereas its presence cleanses it. Then there is there is the matter of where you received the gift.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your father came to me second. There was another before, Anastasia, the queen of the mountain, but he sensed in her what you likely sense in me, a darkness planted deep within. She was the one who taught me long ago, and so I carry that corruption. Your father almost left here because of it, but…”
She stares at me for a long moment without saying anything.
“But what?”
Mavyn ignores my question and walks over to me, studying my features with unexpectedly suspicious eyes. I don’t move as she reaches down and places her hand against my cheek, her touch as cold as ice against my burning skin.
“How long were you in Sanctuary?” she asks.
“An evening,” I answer nervously.
“Hmm,” she trails off. “I must be imagining things.”
The comment feels evasive and makes me wonder if I should be so quick to trust her since my father apparently nearly didn’t, and also failed to mention her when he instructed me.
“Do you know of an Eliana?” I say, taking a step back.
“I’ve heard the name,” she says with less urgency in her voice. “How would you know about her?”
“She’s the one my father told me to give the stone to.”
“Odd, that’s not the plan he told me,” she replies. “Astor?”
“No,” he says, his voice jumbled like he’s been stumped by a riddle. “The stone was supposed to come here. Wade was supposed to bring Kaela to Vanguard right at the very start.”
“Then why didn’t he?” I interject.
“That’s what I’ve been asking myself,” Mavyn answers. “Something has changed, but I can’t place my finger on it. Your father would not have sent you to this Eliana unless it was important. Alas, all I can tell you is that she was hiding in Sanctuary but then went missing shortly thereafter.”
Frustration fills my mind, though not toward Mavyn. She’s been candid enough that I feel like she isn’t hiding anything from me. I’m more perturbed with Wade. Despite the bad footing we started on, it didn’t take long for him to try and make it seem like he was on my side, that he would do anything to help me and keep me safe. But now I wonder whether or not I should have been so willing to give him my loyalty without demanding more understanding.
“Will you let me see the stone?” Mavyn asks, the politeness in her voice suggesting
she sees me as the object’s rightful keeper.
“Of course,” I reply, receiving a thankful smile from her.
