“I healed you,” he says. “Mostly. Enough to stand when dawn comes. The king won’t waste time waiting for you to recover.” His gaze lifts to meet mine. “Use what strength you have wisely.”
I can feel Cursed One stirring inside me again, like an echo against my ribs. Castien’s eyes narrow, as if he hears them, too.
“Your companion. Cursed One, as you say. Does she speak to you often?” he asks.
“She watches,” I say. “She doesn’t talk much.”
Liar. I’ve never spoken so much in my entire existence.
He hums. “Then listen closely when she does. You’ll need to learn her true name if you wish to have an equally yoked relationship.”
A low chuckle ripples through my mind.
Names are chains, Cursed One murmurs.You are not ready to hold mine.
“You’ll have to prove yourself before she tells you. It took me many years to coax out the name of my own patron, but he has been a good partner. It seems your friend has warmed to you much faster than what happened in my era.” His expression darkens a fraction. “Be careful what you promise in return.”
He stands then, drawing his cloak around him. “Rest. The next trial will not be easier.”
“Thank you,” Vann grits out through the hole.
Castien’s mouth twitches. “Shame you couldn’t have done it yourself.”
Vann goes still. The insult lands like a blade.
The Living Shadow inclines his head once—to me, not to him—and steps backward. The torchlight bends and swallows him whole and the clear haze that allowed me to see into Vann’s cell fades back to solid rock.
Everything is much quieter after his exit, but I look back at my palm.
Will you let me use the power again?I ask gently. Immediately, a flame darkens my palm. I watchit, marveling.
“You are truly full of surprises,” Vann says. “Do you really think this is not just another way for Arion to control you?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t hate this power,” I say softly.
And it is true. My whole life, I have had to rely so much on others. I think…I have given too much power to others over myself. If I could have power, perhaps one not seen as noble as Estela’s goddess-touched power, then I could at least protect myself and my loved ones better.
Maybe…this isn’t so bad.
“Do you feel better?” Vann asks after I am quiet for a while.
“I do,” I say softly. I really, truly do.
I look to the hole in the wall and feel a small tug again. Something still draws me there, so I don’t move away. I sit next to it.
“I have missed you, Arlet. And this magic is…” He trails off. “It is surprising. But I trust you. If you think you can handle this, I have already seen you show the greatest restraint.”
His words touch me, and I think of all that time traveling with him.
“Thank you.”
I sit a moment longer. “So you are working with Mrath.”
“Yes.”
“What does Teo think of all of this?”
Vann doesn’t hesitate. “We are allies, and everyone wants you home safe.”