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She rapped loudly on the door, calling through the wood as she did so.
“Patti! Patti! There’s someone here to see your Da.”
When we heard shuffling from inside, she stepped back, looking satisfied.
The door swung open, revealing a middle-aged man. I gasped, my fingers digging tightly enough into Ember that she protested.
I relaxed my grip, my mind catching up with itself. This wasn’t my father, no matter how much he resembled him.
Now that the initial shock had passed, I could see the small differences. There was no doubt about his identity, however. I looked from my uncle to the decrepit house on the rundown street and then back at my uncle.
This might be my Uncle Olan, but nothing else about the situation made sense.
ChapterTwenty-Two
My uncle was still gaping at me, looking as astonished as I felt.
“She was asking all around the high market, trying to find someone as knew you,” my guide said, nodding in my direction.
The man’s face flinched at the mention of the market. Was he aware that he wasn’t where he was supposed to be?
“Looking for me?” he said slowly, still regarding me with an expression of shock. “You’re…you’re Osan’s daughter, aren’t you?”
I nodded. Apparently my uncle wasn’t the only one who resembled my father.
“That’ll be one coin.” My guide held out a hand.
I tore my eyes from my uncle to deliver the promised payment. “Thank you very much,” I said with warmth. “I appreciate your help more than I can say.”
The girl tucked the coin away. “Always happy to do business with them that can pay.”
She nodded once at my uncle before disappearing up the street. I turned slowly back to the open door.
“What are you doing here?” my uncle asked after a painful silence. “Wait.” He rubbed the back of his head. “I should ask your name first.”
“I’m Delphine.”
“Have you just graduated?” he asked, taking a guess at my age. “And come to the capital looking for work? If you thought I could help you, I’m afraid—”
“No,” I said quickly. “I’m still an apprentice.”
“An apprentice?” His brows drew together, and he took a step backward, retreating through the doorway. “You’ve not gone reneger!”
“No, no!” I shook my head emphatically, grimacing at how poorly the conversation was going. “Of course not. I apprenticed to a traveling master, and since our travels brought us here, I wanted to find…”
I trailed off at the expression on his face.
“Did you say a travelingmaster? You just mean that she’s your master, I suppose?”
I shifted, realizing my mistake. “Ah, no, she’s a master elements mage. Her name is Amara.”
He gave a low whistle. “So Osan’s daughter has a mage level seed—strong enough to attract the attention of a master, at that. So our family line did have it in us.” I detected faint traces of an old resentment.
“I thought you had a strong seed yourself.” My eyes narrowed. “At least that’s how my father told it.”
I ran my eyes up the unstable building, letting all my questions show on my face.
My uncle sighed, his face falling. “I suppose you’d better come in. My youngest is here, but my wife and sons are out at the moment.”
