Page 76 of Forsaken Secrets

Finally, the Seeker dropped his hand and bowed slightly. "Thank you for your cooperation. We're searching for some mages. The Magistrate has reported items missing and believes them responsible. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, please report it. And as always, keep safe."

Then he was gone.

Relief made my knees weak, but we were still in the middle of the street. Not the place to have a conversation like I wanted.

Eli offered his elbow, and I gratefully let him lead me into the store. "Was it just me or did that Seeker have an issue with the Magistrate?" He asked as we stepped inside.

I slumped against the counter. We still weren't safe, but it was better than out there! Had he shielded like Lynk had mentioned?

"You'd be correct. They like to think they're above the law, and he likes to think he's above them. It's messy and everyone just tries to stay out of it."

I spun my ring around my finger. Lynk made it sound like my affinity would eventually mature. If so, could I learn to shield, too? I'd need some way to protect myself …

"Where'd you get that ring?" Eli asked, leaning in to get a better look.

I leaned back, startled, then looked down. "Oh. It's just something my parents gave me before …"

He nodded. "Can I see it?"

I shrugged and passed it to him.

"It's beautiful!" he said, spinning it around on his index finger. "So smooth …"

I nodded. It was one of my most precious items.

He looked about to say something when Mrs. Harlsted poked her head around the office door. "Eli! Kaiya! You're here! Together? I thought I recognized those voices!" She put down the item she'd been dusting on the counter, then rushed to us. "You look as if you've seen a ghost, though! Did something happen?"

Eli passed the ring back to me and turned to face her. "Are you busy?"

She shook her head, eyes serious. "No. We're alone. What happened?"

I raised my eyebrows and gestured for Eli to take the lead. He nodded and leaned closer to his aunt. "A Seeker just checked us."

Her brows knit together, and she looked between the two of us. "So she knows about your magic?"

Eli nodded. "Lynk told her."

He said that as though she knew who Lynk was … just how much had Eli told her?

"I see." She turned towards me. "I'm so sorry, Kaiya. This all must be a bit of a shock for you."

I nodded, looking between the two of them. Did she know about my magic? No. Eli wouldn't have told her something like that …

"Is Uncle around?" Eli asked.

Mrs. Harlsted shook her head. "No. He's off doing errands. Kaiya, I'm cooking roast frell and lemon bread tonight. You wouldn't want to join us, would you? Eli, here, said you saved his life. Dinner is the least we could do for keeping our favorite nephew alive. Besides, you promised …"

I smiled and held up my hands. "No, no. It's okay. You know how it is with the Season coming up. I need to get home to my aunt as soon as I can. Besides, Eli has given me a job and tools to repay the supposed life-debt."

"I see. Well, you'll need to come over sometime. I'm still a little miffed that the two of you met without me!"

I made a non-committal sound, then looked to Eli. He'd better do something and fast, or we'd end up married before the Season was over.

He winked at me, then turned to his aunt. "Do you know anything about those little pearls everyone is carrying around, Aunt?" I grimaced at the term. How people treated them as though they were simple jewelry was beyond me. Did they not know? I wanted to ask Mrs. Harlsted, but Eli had intentionally used the pearl phrasing, so she must not know.

Her eyes widened briefly before she nodded. "Yes. They've become quite popular lately." She glanced outside at the church across the street. "And since the Sir Litsor came as the new vicar, they've become even more precious. I think he might use them as some sort of reward for his parishioners? I'm not sure — but I see more and more people carrying rosaries of them around."

I cringed. Could that be why there were so many people at services that morning? Gods … had it really just been that morning that we'd been here?

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