Page 131 of The Seeker
“He’s an angel.” Ata said nothing for a long while. “How would you draw Bozidar to the haven?”
Rhys smiled. “We have something he wants.”
Ata’s nostrils flared. “You cannot use thesomasikaraas bait.”
“I wasn’t thinking about Meera.”
The warrior understood immediately. “Me?” Ata nodded. “Yes, Bozidar has likely wanted me dead for a very long time. He might hope I am dead, but in his heart he knows I am not.”
“Have you fought him before?”
“Yes. He was there when my mate was killed. He didn’t kill him, but he was there.”
Meera finished the rising song, lowering her arms and relaxing into a lotus pose, her fingers lightly skimming the drying grass.
“Her parents would be shocked and horrified I’m even bringing this up to you. You’re a guest here.”
“I’m a warrior. I understand using the resources at hand, and I am a resource. Still, I don’t know how you think you’re going to kill him. As far as I know, you don’t have an army wielding black blades, and that’s likely what you’d need.”
“Or just a singer who knows what she’s doing.”
Ata’s face hardened. “I told you. That magic can only be performed by—”
“A mated scribe and singer.” He reached out his hand as Meera walked toward them. “After tonight, we will be.”
Meera smiled and tucked herself under Rhys’s arm. “We are your willing students, Ata. We want to learn.”
Ata cocked her head. “You think the two of you can perform your mating ritual tonight and learn my magic the next morning? That’s not the way this works.”
“Why not?”
“You can’t learn magic that quickly. It needs time. Connection.”
Meera asked, “Even for me?”
Ata nodded deeply. “Even for you. I mean no disrespect. I speak nothing but the truth.”
“I can learn it. I’m telling you. Rhys can learn it too.”
“Eventually.”
“Immediately. Other singers can’t. I can.”
“No.” Ata shook her head. “The other pair perhaps. The warriors from across the sea. The tall blond woman and her mate. I might be able to teach them.”
“Fine.” Rhys put a hand on Meera’s arm when she began to protest. “That’s fine. But you can teach us at the same time.”
“You won’t be able to learn.”
Rhys said, “Maybe not, but we are willing to try.”
Ata’s expression was blank for a long time. “Fine,” she said. “I will teach you. Then you will take these memories from me,Somasikara, so that I may die.”
“Ata—”
“You have already agreed to this.” Ata turned and started to walk away. “I expect you to honor our agreement.”
“It’s time.”Maarut and Damien held the veil in front of Rhys’s face as they stepped barefoot across the flower-strewn path leading to the banquet.
