AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Only decades of training stopped Wilder from flinching. Storms… The very word made his skin prickle. Thea’s magic, her sister’s…
His voice was hoarse when he spoke again. ‘Storm magic and darkness… If it comes to light that they’re alive, the heirs of Delmira will be blamed for what’s happening.’
‘Yes,’ the librarian said simply.
‘You still think it’s a good idea to keep them at Thezmarr?’ he asked, rubbing his aching temples.
‘Come and watch their next lesson,’ Audra said. ‘Perhaps that will help —’
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
‘Why not? You’re the only one who has seen Thea’s power in action. More than once, I might add. Perhaps your presence will bring it out in her.’
‘My presence usually inspires unending rage.’ Among other things.
‘Good. That’s how it should be between master and apprentice.’
‘Is it? It wasn’t like that for me.’
‘You could have fooled me, with all your anger for Talemir.’
Wilder stiffened. ‘That wasn’t about the apprenticeship.’
‘What was it about, then?’
‘None of your damn business, Audra.’
The older woman rolled her eyes and straightened her sleeves. ‘You’re right. The petty squabbles of men are no concern of mine. My concern is the pair ofDelmirian princesseswe have in our midst, and the one in particular who can’t control her magic. It’s dangerous, Hawthorne. Now more than ever. Come to the plains. Watch the session,’ Audra demanded. ‘I want to see what happens when you’re there.’
‘Nothing good,’ Wilder assured her.
‘We’ll see about that.’
* * *
‘What’s he doing here?’ Thea asked as Wilder reached the hidden spot at the southern end of the Plains of Orax.
He’d spent the night in Torj’s quarters and hadn’t seen Thea since they’d fucked in the caves, since she’d told him they needed to figure things out. This was hardly an ideal first meeting after that. But Audra didn’t miss a beat; she never did.
‘He’s here as an observer.’
‘I’m not an act in a performing troupe,’ Thea replied.
‘No? You’re putting on quite the show right now,’ Audra quipped.
Thea seethed at the librarian, while her sister Wren’s narrow-eyed stare of dislike was aimed directly at Wilder. While he didn’t think Thea would have confided in her sister and friends about the intricacies of their relationship, they weren’t fools. They knew something had happened between master and apprentice, and as a consequence, he was now an object of disdain to them.
Fair enough, he thought as he took up a place against a rock by a patch of brambles. He let his gaze drift towards the dark seas lapping below the cliffs, let the briny air kiss his face. When was the last time he’d felt peace? When was the last time he’d breathed an easy breath and not thought of the million things pressing down on him?
The sisters were looking warily at him. ‘Don’t mind me,’ he told them. ‘As you were.’
‘Ladies, focus.’ Audra’s voice cut through the vitriol. ‘Thea, any progress?’
Thea heaved a sigh. ‘I don’t know, Audra. I just don’t get it. The magic is there when I’m at my worst, but when I’m more stable, it snuffs out. What does that say about me?’
‘It says you’re afraid,’ Wilder heard himself say.
She whirled around to face him. ‘I thought you were here as anobserver.’
