Page 27 of A Conduit of Light
“Well, it’s black and yellowing andI’mnot really allowed to touch it, but according to the text andBaronHeimlen, it acts as a way tocombineconduit magic.Iftwo or more magic users touch, they can store their magic into one person, who can then use it as a sort of…enhanced spell for whatever they want to wield.Itold you how the forest is dying to a blight.Torestore it, we’re going to useCosensianMagic, working together with twice as much power.”Ashhad sat back in her tall chair, eyebrows raised, enjoying the view of their excitement.
“Butwhy doesn’t he ask us to help, too?”Clairanniahad gotten her whispering voice down correctly. “Wouldn’tCosensianMagicbe stronger with more than just you two?”
“Iasked him that very question, and do you know what he said?”Shemimicked his deep voice and sat up tall, wagging a finger, “Thismagic is to stay between you, me, andBaronRevich,Ash’Arah.Itis old and it is more powerful than any other type of incantation.Ibelieve you are strong enough to help me wield it, butIcannot risk the other channelers as well.”
“Wow.Idon’t know whether to be flattered or offended,”Figuerahsaid, returning to her meal.
“Youcannottell anyone else about this.Iwon’t be able to train with you as much, butI’lllet you know how it goes.”
“Youare done for the day,Ash’Arah.”
TheBaronbrought her thoughts back to the present away from that conversation weeks ago, and she stood, thankful to the training’s end, and stretched, her body popping in several places.
Ashhad told her friends about the forest dying, but left out the true details of theBlight.Shedid see less of them each day but promised to try to join them each afternoon for lumen riding, their favorite pastime outside ofViridis.
“IthinkI’llhead to the lumen den, then,” she mumbled, dusting her skirts and rubbing her neck.CosensianMagicnot only exhausted her, it made her sore whereverBaronHeimlenplaced his gloved hand to channel their power.
“Iwant to see you back here after breakfast tomorrow.NoViridis, my dear.Youneed more practice and fewer distractions.Andcome rested.Youlook as if you could use a good night’s sleep.”Hegave her a half smile then and placed a hand on her other shoulder. “Ihave confidence we can do this.”
Heleft silently, his black cloak trailing out behind him like a villain in a child’s bedtime story, the towers of theFortresslooming tall and dark against the bright green of the swaying leaves and cloudless sky.
Sheturned toward the other path, leading to the lumen den where she would meetClairanniaandFiguerahin an hour’s time.Asshe trekked through the forest, she thought of how much her life had changed.ShemissedHyrithia, but it wasn’t the same kind of hollow pain she had felt in those first few weeks away.Shehad adjusted well—even better than anyone might have guessed she would, herself included.
Therewas still no word, though, fromHyrithia, and she couldn’t help but be disappointed.Shewanted to know what had happened after the cure.Shewanted to walk the streets to see how the city mourned their dead.Shewanted to be reminded of whatBaronHeimlenhad done.Shewanted to see the blackened hands of those who had survived and remind herself that what he had done was worth the price.
FlashesofPrincePhilius’sfingers flooded her mind.Shedidn’t know if there was magic to return them to their original russet hue, but she didn’t doubt he wouldn’t want it if there was.Knowinghim well, she guessed he would use stories of his harrowing time in the midst of the fever to begin conversations with plenty of women.
Herthoughts returned to theQueenas well.Theremust be a way to receive letters inFelgren, and though she had not attempted to send any either, she promised herself to askSylvathat evening.
Walkingto the den, she took her time, humming one of her favorite childhood songs before looking up to check the sun for her bearings.Ifshe was on the correct path to the lumens, it should have been descending toward the western hemisphere of the blue sky.
Itwas not.
Sheturned around, looking behind her, not recognizing any of the trees, nor the path she had just come from.Puzzled, she turned in full circle, unable to catch sight of anything familiar.
“What’syour name, human?”Sheheard a small voice, high pitched and piercing among the trees.
“Who’sthere?Showyourself.”Ashwhipped around in a frenzy, disoriented and frightened.Sheknew there were many creatures who lived in the forest that did not reside anywhere else on the isle.Shethought of the old stories children were told about monsters inFelgrenwho could speak and probably ate humans at every chance.Butthose were childhood tales, she reminded herself, and spoke, “Ash.Myname isAsh.Andit seems as ifIam lost.”
Alight giggle, the sound of it chiming in echoes on the wind, emanated from somewhere behind her.Turningslowly, she saw a small creature sitting on a branch above her head, legs the color of dried sage and crossed at the ankles, swinging lazily up and down, ending barefoot and dirty.
Herhair was not like human hair at all, more like sprouted vines cascading down her barely clothed body.Shewore a dress of sorts, most of it made from blades of woven grass and crocus petals that encircled her waist, sitting upside-down in a sort of forest skirt.Herviolet eyes took up most of her face and pointed ears stuck out from the sides of her head.Shecouldn’t have been taller thanAsh’sforearm.
Sheleapt off the branch, andAsh, expecting her to fall, took two quick steps forward as if to catch her before eyeing the iridescent dragonfly wings fluttering from her back.
“Whata strange name.”Sheflew closer, putting her hands on her hips, leaning in for a better look. “Andno wonder you’re lost,Ash.You’vestrayed very, very far from theFortress.Youreallyshouldn’t let the hideous thing out of your sight.Somethingmight eat you up out here.”Thecreature sneered, her sharp teeth menacing as she laughed that chiming way again.
“Whatis your name?And…I’msorry, butIdon’t know the name of your kind.”Ashcurtsied to the creature, hoping politeness might lighten the tension.
“Ha!Aren’tyou an interesting one,Ashhh.”Shedrew out her name mockingly and flew aroundAsh’shead in tight circles. “Hmm.Yes, you are very unlike the other humansI’vemet with your bark hair and leafy eyes.”
Thelittle creature grabbed the side ofAsh’sface, leaning in close.Startled,Ashtried not to move.Shewas aware that a quick swipe of the hand could knock the little thing down easily, but she was not that careless.Thoughsmall, she didn’t doubt the extensive abilities this creature had.Infact,Ashwas beginning to wonder if she hadn’t really become lost by herself at all.
Thecreature sighed and flew back from her face, rubbing her own as if deep in thought, her long sage fingers tapping her cheek lightly. “Iwasgoing to tie your hair in hideous knots and send you to the bog monster, butIthinkI’lllet you go…for now.”
“What’sa bog monster?”Ashwondered aloud, thankful that she wouldn’t have to spend the evening combing through tangles.
“Idunno.We’venot been properly introduced.But, he’s definitely something you’d only like to encounter once.”Shegiggled again and flew back to the tree, twirling on the branch in her crocus skirt.
