Page 50 of Forsaken Secrets

Oh gods. What if they worked for the Empire?

"Look, neither I nor the boy will tell anyone. We have our own secrets to keep. Right, lordling?" Lynk said, eyes tight as he motioned to Eli.

Eli nodded and cleared his throat. "True. I would never betray you, Kaiya."

I shook my head. No. I couldn't trust them! I'd already been risking things by helping them, but if they knew my secrets? I had to run …

Before I could move, though, a warm, calloused hand grabbed my chin. "Little thief, look at me."

My heart leaped as Lynk pressed beneath my chin until I met his silver eyes. They were narrowed and serious.

"We will not betray you."

Words. They were just words. What did words mean?

I tried to speak, but the words stuck in my throat, so I shook my head, breaking free of his grip. This would affect more than just me. The Seekers could throw my aunt in prison for harboring a mage!

"Look at me, then look at him." Lynk tried again, motioning to Eli. "Do you see a King's mark anywhere on us?"

A mark? That's right. My spinning mind slowed to focus on the thought. A King's mark … unless they were free mages, hiding from the Empire, they would have one. That black tattoo wouldn't be as obvious as on a Seeker, but it would be somewhere visible. Else, how would normal people know of the mage's danger …

Lynk held his collar out from around his neck, eyes surprisingly gentle. I stepped up and pulled on it, breath coming fast. Then I checked his wrists and ankles.

Nothing.

I turned to Eli, brow lifted in question. "How about you?" My voice came out as a croak, and I winced.

He nicely ignored it and held his own arms out. "I mean, I could drop the rest of my clothes, too, if you'd like …" he said, voice warm.

I just glared at him and checked the visible skin.

He was clear, too.

I stepped back, heart still racing, but at least I could think now.

They spoke the truth.

I looked between them. Eli's lips quirked into a half-grin, Lynk's face still as a statue.

Were these two actually free mages?

My chest ached.

It wasn't safe to trust them completely, but if there really were relics down there, I might earn enough to fix all our problems. Aunt Grace would be safe and my vow to my uncle fulfilled …

This one time, the risk was worth it … hopefully.

"How are you both free? What are your affinities? Are there more of you?" The questions tumbled out of me as my tension started to ease.

It was as though my words broke some kind of spell, and both men relaxed, looking at each other expectantly.

Finally, Eli sighed and shook his head. "Well, I can't tell you about other mages," he glared at Lynk, "but I'm a weak bond mage. My affinities allow me to bond and connect with animals."

My jaw dropped. A bond mage? Those had been rare in the Age of Mages, let alone now. "Do you create relics?"

"Never." His jaw pulsed. "My people believe it's wrong to tap into the natural magics by taming and shaping creatures. Most think relics are just a crutch for those with weak korras."

I sensed some bitterness in that and filed it away to ask more about later.

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