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Soren’s jaw was working. “It’s not aspell. That’s just the way my magic works. It’s a long story. And the book I seek is charmed to be unseen. Another long story, but it’s an ancient charm,” he explained. “Rather than fading, it requiresourmagic to unlock it, so a diversion is needed. Emiel usually helps with a small fire here and there, but the event was too?—”
She cut him off. “How could a book be so important?”
“It’s not just a book. It’s the Hidden Grimoire of Eiliana.”
Quirking a brow, she asked, “Who is Eiliana?”
He paused before speaking. “A fierce warrior who died in the war. Her spellwork was unmatched, which is why I need the book.”
“Let me guess … you didn’t find it?”
“I barely had time to skim the shelves. Soldiers surrounded the greens too fast. Emiel and I sprinted to the horses and galloped home. Capital guards seized us the next morning, and you know the rest.” Soren shook his head.
“And it only trustsourmagic?”
“According to the stories told, yes.”
She looked up at the sunlight spattering through the leaves and swore to the goddess of night herself. Halting without a word, she dropped her duffle bag.
Soren turned and asked, “Are you alright?”
Rummaging through her neatly folded clothes, she searched until her hands met the smooth leather of her Summoning gift. Her fingertips sparked with magic as she pulled it free. “Here’s your grimoire. Please, take it.” She wanted nothing to do with it.
Soren chuffed. “I highly doubt you have the book I’ve spent a century searching for. And stop flashing your magic, haven’t you learned anything today?”
Only to appease him, she reeled it in. “It’s my Summoning gift, I can’t help it. You said your book has trust issues and this book has trust issues,trust me.” She outstretched her arms farther. “Take it and see for yourself.”
He snatched it from her, feverishly flipping through some pages.
Frowning, he said, “They’re all blank.”
“Go on.” She wiggled her fingertips before him. “Introduce yourself.”
Soren had conjured his magic faster than she could finish her sentence. “I don’t believe it … this is her handwriting.”
“You can keep it, I don’t plan on using my magic.”
“Then why did I spy you using it earlier?”
She threw her duffle bag back over her shoulder. “I wasn’t. We should be going.”
As they continued their trek south, he flipped through the old book, utterly fixated. The road forked and Thessa followed him through another wooded path. He’d said the sea was close to his property, so better him lead the way, than her getting lost. It sounded like a perfect place to start over.
“Does a horse sound fair?” he asked.
He must need water, she thought, but amused him anyway. “A horse would be convenient right now, yes.”
“No.” Soren shook his head. “In exchange for the grimoire. If you truly don’t want it.”
She choked on her saliva. “You can’t be serious.” Only the wealthy children in primary school were offered riding lessons. She’d been stuck mucking stalls, although that turned into a task she enjoyed—not the manure part, the horses. They were peaceful creatures.
“You’re right. That doesn’t sound fair,” he said.
“More than fair,” she blurted. Transportation aside, a horse would make good company.
He slapped the book shut. “We’re talking about a century old quest and your Summoning gift.”
“A horse will do just fine. But if you’ve been searching for it for so long, how’d you know it’d be in the Mabelton Library?”