Page 94 of Sanctuary of the Shadow
“How do you know?”
“Because it’s not!”
“Okay, okay, you’re right. I’m sorry.”
Harrow sighed suddenly, leaning forward to bury her face in her hands. “No, I’m sorry. I’m being horrible to you, and all you’re doing is trying to help me.”
“No harm done. You lost the love of your life, and you need to get him back. It’s a lot of pressure for anyone. But hey.” Malaikah stood and leaned over the desk, pulling Harrow’s hands from her face and taking them into her own. Their eyes met. “If anyone can save him, it’s you. I know you can do this. Okay?”
Harrow swallowed hard. Nodded. “Okay. Thanks, Mal.”
“You got it. Now let’s get this reading started. What do you need me to do?”
She snapped into focus. Though she had kept up her daily scrying ritual her entire life, it had been many years since she’d been anything more than a fortune teller, and she had to dig deep into the well of memory to remember what to do.
Scrying for specific knowledge was different than just reaching out to the Water to strengthen the connection as she usually did, and it took a lot more focus. Releasing Mal’s hands, she gripped her mother’s necklace, silently begging Mellora to help her. Inside the locket, the shard of crystal seemed to throb with reassurance.
“I need my scrying bowl filled with fresh water,” Harrow announced with newfound confidence. “I need my bag of vision herbs, a charcoal tablet, and some matches.”
“Where is that stuff?”
“It’s here.” She lifted the heavy bag onto the desk and started pulling out the required supplies. “I can honestly say I didn’t expect to be doing this type of magic again.”
“Why not?” Malaikah gave her a pointed look. “It’s who you are.”
“It could also get me killed.”
“Not if you’ve got your wraith watching your back.” When Harrow’s eyes filled with tears yet again, Malaikah grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. “So let’s get him back, yeah?”
A few minutes later, the supplies were gathered and positioned on the desk. The caravan was dark save for a few candles, and the heavy scent of smoking herbs filled the room with a haze. In a small silver dish, a charcoal tablet burned steadily, the vision herbs smoking atop it.
Malaikah sat cross-legged on the bed, tail curled around her. At the desk, Harrow wrapped her hands around the scrying bowl. In the still water, her reflection stared back at her. Her eyes were haunted, full of regret and pain.
She exhaled and took a deep breath of the smoking herbs, allowing their effects to take hold and draw her deeper into the trance. The Water stirred in the depths of her soul in a way she hadn’t felt since she was a child, since her beautiful mother had sat her down and shown her what it meant to be a Seer. Staring into the scrying bowl, she let her vision unfocus, her mind quiet, and her thoughts drift.
The Water rose within and took her down like a great tidal wave crashing overhead.
Instead of being transported into a vision as she expected, however, she found herself standing in Darya’s library. She looked around in confusion. How had she ended up here?
Darya emerged from a door in the wall and rushed toward Harrow, silky black curls streaming behind her. “There you are. I thought you’d never come.” Her arms were out like she meant to embrace her—
Harrow stepped back. “Why am I here?”
“Because I brought you here.” She was still reaching out. “I just needed you to stretch your magic a little to complete the connection, and you did. I’m so happy you came to me—”
“I didn’t come to you,” Harrow said coldly. “I was trying to find Raith.”
Her arms dropped to her sides. “What?”
“I was trying to find Raith.” Harrow’s voice went flat. “After I betrayed him, he escaped. I realized my horrible, unforgivable mistake, and I’m trying to get him back.”
When Harrow expected Darya’s argument, she was surprised to see her sigh tiredly instead. “Nashira just paid me a visit.”
“She did?”
“Yes, she did. She explained everything. Specifically, about your wraith and who he is to you.”
Harrow narrowed her eyes.
