Page 71 of A Conduit of Light
“Fine.ThatWhichConsumes.Whatdo you know of it besides the obvious consuming it does?”
Karusplaced a hand on his shoulder.Hewas sitting in front of her old dresser, the infuriating faerie on top, dangling her legs over the drawer.Hesighed at the gesture and understood it.Shewas probably right.Hewas being too harsh to get any information out of her.
“Iknow that it consumes all it touches.Iknow that it has grown rapidly in the past fifteen weeks, andIknow that sometimes, the things it devours regain life.”
“Regainlife?Howso?”
“Someof the creatures come back to living.Youhaven’t been inside of it much, have you,Baron?”Shestood and began to flutter off the dresser, the use of his title full of mocking disdain.
“No.Wehaven’t.We’vemostly been trying to find history of it, thinking if we can discover its origins, we can discover its weaknesses.”
“Weaknesses?” she scoffed, landing and leaning to one side, her hands glued to her hips. “Light, you fool.Haven’tyou discovered yet that light can repel it?”Sheshook her head in disbelief. “Haveyou not seen that it grows slowly in the sun?Andcompare that to a cloudy day?Whathave you been doing all this time?Huddlingaround books instead of doing productive things like observing and measuring it?”
Unfortunately, this was one of those times where the obvious seems to strike you in the face.Revfelt embarrassment rising to his cheeks and he leaned on his mouth.
Whyhadn’tthey been measuring theBlightregularly?Whyhadn’t they been observing it each day instead of pouring over book after book, looking for any mention of it?
Hedid feel a fool now, an aggravated one, stuffed up in this room that was no longer hers, being told off by this faerie of whomKarushad almost been gone forever to save.
Heshook his head and bit his tongue. “Iwill speak toBaronHeimlen, but no,Idon’t believe we knew direct light keeps it at bay.”
Karuspiped in, “Thatmust be whyIwas able to finish off the muri.Ienhanced my magic with a lightning spell and killed it.”
Revichclenched his jaw.Wouldthis event haunt him forever now?Wouldhis anger rise every time he remembered what had almost been?
“Maybe.Butit’s really sunlight that does it in.We’vebeen measuringThatWhichConsumessince it arrived.Andthat was years ago.Wellbefore either ofyoucame.Backwhen we only hadoneBaronto deal with.”
Revichtook a moment to gather his thoughts.Hestood and paced the small room, which was difficult. “Moira, how many faeries are there in the forest?You’rethe only oneI’veencountered.”
“Idon’t think you need to know that, human.ButIwill tell you—of all of us,I’mthe most willing to be civil to your kind.Evertrip on a rock in the forest?Everstep into an orb weaver’s web?”Shegiggled. “Everfind yourself a bit lost and confused?”
Karusfolded her arms across her chest, shaking her head.
“We’reeverywhere, so don’t even think about doing anything secretly inourforest.Beenout under the full moon lately?”
“Yousaw that?”Karuswas doing her best not to laugh, her eyes meeting his.
“Iheard about it.Thebog monster found a boggy lady and blah, blah, blah.”
Revichpinched the space between his brows. “Okay.Weget it.You’reeverywhere.Moira, would you be willing to show us your findings?Thegrowth rate,Imean.Also, the date which you discoveredThatWhichConsumes.I’msure we can share our discoveries with your kind as well.”
Thelittle fae laid back on the dresser, arms behind her head, legs crossed at the knee. “Isuppose so.Onlybecause we all currently want the same thing.I’llspeak to our growers.They’llhave the information you’re asking for.I’lltell them you want it gone, too.Maybethat will help your case.”
“Isthere anything else you can tell us?”
“Probably.”
“Willyou?”
“Maybe.”
Revichlooked toKarus, annoyance practically swimming in the air around them both.
“Let’slet her rest,Rev.She’shad a long day.”
Heshoved his hands back in his pockets, squeezing them into fists and nodded. “I’llgo speak toBaronHeimlenthen.CanItalk to you outside,Karus?”
Theywere alone in the narrow hallway withClairanniaandFiguerah’srooms just a little ways down, though they were likely inViridiscurrently.
