Page 55 of Blood of the Stars

“In a little more than a moon,” Jasperus continued, “we should reach a mountain pass just east of Mt. Vescano, Vendaras’ only active volcano. It’s in the Myndren Mountains, but that will be our halfway point to Mayvus’ fortress, which is built into the cliffs of Myndren on the northeastern shore.”

“Do you think she knows we’re coming?” Aeliana asked. “Or do you think she expects you to hide me?”

“I think she prepares for both.” Velden shrugged. “Realistically, she probably assumes we’re bringing you so we can protect you while we come. Which just means we have to come up with some amazing way to surprise her and catch her off guard.”

“Can’t pneumatic progenies see the future?” Cyrus asked. “Isn’t that where she lands on the Wheel of Magic?”

“Think of it more like sifting through someone’s desires and plans,” Velden said. “It produces possibilities, but nothing certain. Besides, Mayvus’ strength is similar to mine. She’s sees more of what’s happening in the present. She tends to sift through evil intentions of a person, whereas I tend to sift through the truth of a moment, like when I sifted Vera’s soul using her cloak.”

Their conversation with Velden was cut off by Sylmar, who saw their confusion as an excuse to run through the Wheel of Magic properties again and again until Aeliana could recite them and scratch the image from memory into one of the giant taro leaves.

Just when Aeliana thought Sylmar might let them stop for the night, sharp pain dug between her shoulder blades. She stumbled, pulling at her pack and quiver in an effort to get them off.

“Aeliana?” Cyrus took her pack, then helped her to the ground, where she kneeled, forehead against the soil. “What’s wrong?”

“I didn’t think it would happen,” she said. “Not after we healed it.”

Lukai fought his way through the line. “What’s happening? Is she hurt?”

Aeliana squinted up at him, then took in Sylmar over Lukai’s shoulder. “I think she’s sending another message.” Her hands trembled, but she undid her top button, then swept her hair to the side and bent forward.

Warm fingers brushed her neck, and the fabric was pushed aside. Several gasps rang out.

“I’ve never seen magic like that,” Iris whispered.

“It has to be blood magic.” Disgust tinged Kendalyhn’s tone.

“I’ve seen it before,” Sylmar said quietly. “But I’m not even sure I’d call it magic.”

“What does it say?” Aeliana couldn’t keep the desperation out of her voice.

For a moment, no one seemed willing to tell her. Then Cyrus placed a hand on her shoulder and kneeled beside her.

“It says, ‘she belongs to me.’”

CHAPTER 23

“Again,” Sylmar demanded, tapping Aeliana’s taro leaf with his staff.

She scratched at her back even though Mayvus’ message had been healed the night before. She still felt its presence, as if she’d been marked permanently. The entire group had remained somber, except for Sylmar, who had gained renewed determination to train Aeliana.

Which was why stopping for water and a rest now meant something different to him.

“Somatic progenies make up two opposite spokes, constructive and destructive,” Aeliana said slowly, running a finger over the line on her leaf.

Sylmar nodded his approval. “And what do they do?”

“They adjust the body, their skills ranging from healing and growth on the constructive side of the Wheel to sickness and death on the destructive side.” She cringed, wondering how progenies on the destructive side justified their work as blessed by the Stars. Or Sun…

Cyrus peered over her shoulder, his red hair falling across her arm. Despite his human blood, Cyrus was an eager pupil, catching on to the rhythm of the Wheel much faster than Aeliana.

“And who in our party has that skill?” Sylmar asked.

“You and…” Aeliana glanced around. “Lukai.”

“Anyone else?”

She hesitated, eyeing the group once more. Her gaze lingered on Jasperus. She remembered him creating the masks to hide people from Durriken along with the story-telling illusions. Hadn’t he said that was somatic?

---