Page 94 of The Dark Mirror

Terebell had used my name. I thought it might be the first time.

‘No debt,’ I said. ‘I’m glad it wasn’t too late.’

‘Such a thing should not have been possible,’ Lesath said. ‘How did you do it?’

‘I used my gift.’

Errai looked even stiffer than usual. The thought of my spirit in his dreamscape must be disquieting.

‘If we found other Ranthen who had been starved,’ Terebell said, ‘could you revive them?’

‘I’ve no idea,’ I said. ‘I’d have to try it.’

‘I mislike this, dreamwalker,’ Errai said. His eyes were venomous green. ‘You have downplayed and obscured the power of your gift. What other abilities are you hiding?’

‘Why, Errai, are you scared of me?’

A tense silence gripped the room.

‘Do not be absurd,’ Errai spat.

‘Simmer down, chrome dome.’ Maria gave him a level stare. ‘The Underqueen just saved your best warrior from a fate worse than death. Perhaps you could afford her a little courtesy.’

‘I do not recall addressing you, augur.’

‘I do not recall caring.’

‘Let us try to stay calm, everyone,’ Verca said. ‘This is a small apartment.’

Maria pursed her lips, but desisted.

‘Now we have Arcturus back, he will disclose what he learned behind enemy lines,’ Terebell said. ‘Nashira may have shared more than she ought with him, believing that her secrets would be safe once he was latent. We might soon know more of her plans than we have in decades.’

‘We also need him to help Paige with her memories,’ Nick said. ‘To work out why she was captured.’

‘If voyants survive spirit shock, they wake up amaurotic,’ I said. ‘Arcturus went through something like that – complete severance from the æther. Can he even use his gift any more?’

‘His aura is exactly as it was,’ Terebell said.

‘Even still, we should give him time to recover. He might not want to—’

‘Arcturus knows the importance of this war. He will give his report now,’ Errai cut in. ‘He is not some frail human, requiring months to recover from a splash of water.’

Maria stared at him with open disgust. I could only let out a huff of laughter.

‘Errai,’ Nick said, ‘I would take that back, if I were you.’

‘Do not imagine that you can threaten a Rephaite, oracle.’ Errai looked at Terebell. ‘I warned you it was dangerous to send Arcturus to mind her. Her weakness has enfeebled him.’

‘Fuck you, Errai,’ I said.

Before anyone could stop me, I left the room. Errai was someone whose company I could only take in tiny doses at the best of times, and now I was down to one strained nerve.

Nick gave me time to cool off before following. By that point, I was standing by a window, arms folded, watching rain seep down the glass.

‘Paige.’ He came to stand behind me. ‘Don’t give Errai the satisfaction. You’re not weak.’

‘It’s not just him.’ I tightened my arms. ‘After I was tortured, I had time to mend in Paris. I’m afraid no one will give Arcturus that, because we all need him. Domino needs his intelligence on Scion. The Ranthen need him to keep fighting. And I need him to—’

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