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It’s nothing. Teryn’s fine.
He rolled up the first letter and handed it to Berol. “To Teryn,” he said aloud. She clutched it in her talons and set off at once. That was a good sign, right? She wouldn’t have flown off if she didn’t know where he was.
He tried to let that comfort him as he finished the second letter and handed it to one of his guards, insisting a messenger leave with it tonight. Then he returned to his desk and examined the torn strip of cloth Berol had brought him. He tried not to panic at the spatter of blood.
Yet try as he might, his mind kept wandering to the worst-case scenario. Teryn injured. Teryn hurt. Teryn…no. That was as dark as he’d let his thoughts get. Whatever was happening, he’d sort it out soon enough.
In the meantime, he could only wonder…what the seven devils was happening at Ridine?
34
Teryn spent another night lying within the intangible bounds of his body, trying to influence muscle movement. After two hours, he managed another flinch of his finger. After three, a flutter of his eyelids. At least he thought he did. Unless it was merely coincidence that Emylia had witnessed Teryn’s lashes lift just as he’d been directing all his intent to those minuscule muscles, he’d succeeded.
Yet it still wasn’t enough. It was nothing compared to what he needed to do. Trying to force these subtle movements took all the strength of will he had. He couldn’t imagine how long it might take to control enough of his body to remove the crystal from around his neck. He might go mad before then.
No, he told himself.I will not give in to my own futility. I will build the strength required to do this or I will die trying.
He shifted on the bed, feeling the edges of his ethera buzz from the contact it made with his body and the mattress beneath it. After connecting to his breath, blood, and pulse, he tried to refocus on his current task: parting his lips. No matter how he tried, his mind kept shifting to Cora. To worry. To fear.
He hated that Cora had no clue what was going on. Hated that she perceived Morkai’s coldness to her as his own. At the same time, he was grateful for Morkai’s outward indifference. If it kept Cora from getting too close to Morkai, Teryn would let her think anything at all. He’d sever ties with her for good if it prevented the sorcerer from using their relationship the way he intended. Furthermore, Morkai’s avoidance of Cora gave Teryn the time he needed to reclaim his body. There wasn’t much Morkai could do to further his goals until he was married to Cora. Right? Surely he could defeat this challenge by the end of a year.
Just the thought that it could take even a fraction of that time sent a flicker of anxiety through him…
“Breathe, Teryn,” Emylia reminded him.
He clenched his jaw, creating a buzz of resistance tingling over the bottom half of his face, but he did as she suggested. He refocused on the air filling his lungs, on the steady thrum of his pulse, until his mind cleared of panic. Then he shifted his attention to his mouth, feeling the energy hum where his body and ethera were perfectly aligned. On an inhale, he experienced the air moving through his nostrils, unsure whether this sensation belonged to his body or ethera. Perhaps some place between where the two were connected. Slowly, he exhaled and felt the air tingle his upper lip. He repeated this meditation several times until he could imagine he was simply resting like normal—whole and alive. Then, on his next exhale, he shifted the course of the air escaping his lungs, sending it out his mouth instead.
His lips parted. The air left his mouth in a soft, easy breath.
Surprise sparked the edges of Teryn’s consciousness, but he reined it in, determined to stay focused. He controlled several more mouth breaths, then shifted his attention to the back of his throat. To his tongue. The roof of his mouth. His vocal cords.
Excitement rippled through him as the idea took shape. If he could simply control his voice—form words for just the right person—he wouldn’t need to wait until he could move his entire body. He could shout a warning. Get help.
His throat was warm with the heat of his breath, with the harmonious vibration humming between his body and ethera. On his next exhale, he sent a surge of energy, will, and intention, through his throat and vocal cords, lifting his tongue to the roof of his mouth—
Energy tore through him, ripping, separating, and his body bolted upright, leaving his ethera reclined on the bed. Morkai heaved a cough and pushed back the covers, motions agitated.
“Seven devils,” Teryn cursed, leaving the bed to stand beside Emylia.
“Don’t be discouraged.” Her smile was warm, dark eyes glittering. Today she was dressed in billowing ivory pants and a knitted cream tunic. It occurred to him that he never had any awareness of his own appearance, much less what he was wearing. A quick glance down revealed the same articles of clothing he wore the night he was trapped in the crystal. It didn’t matter to him, for it wasn’t like he had any sense of comfort or discomfort when it came to his ethera’s state of dress. He assumed it was merely a construct of his mind, anyway. Or perhaps a mirage shaped by Emylia’s magic.
Emylia’s smile grew wider. “You did really well this time. You accomplished three muscular manipulations, and I could sense what you were trying to do at the end.”
Teryn shook his head. “I failed. It woke him up.”
“You didn’t fail. You’ve already gotten stronger.”
Teryn narrowed his eyes at the sorcerer who paraded about the room in Teryn’s body, donning clothing with haste.
“You should rest your ethera,” Emylia said. “It must be exhausted after what you accomplished.”
“No, not yet,” Teryn said. “Not until I see what he plans to do today.”
* * *
Teryn and Emyliafollowed Morkai through the castle as he strolled, dined, and greeted courtiers and councilmen. He seemed to lack an agenda until he began making inquiries of servants and staff, asking whether the king was holding court today and if Teryn had received any new correspondences. Teryn saw no sign of Cora, and he wasn’t sure whether to feel sorrow or relief.
Finally, Morkai left the great hall to enter a separate building Teryn had never seen before. Its outer walls were crumbling and marked with ivy-shaped shadows that suggested the trailing vines had recently been removed. The building rose into a tall arch, its apex carved with a circle bearing seven interlocking spheres, marking it as a Godskeep. Teryn’s eyes trailed back down the building, landing on two guards who stood outside the door. As Morkai approached, the guards made no move to open it.
