Page 78 of A Conduit of Light
“We’renot ready to try that yet.BaronHeimlenhas taken some of the soil toSylva.Shewill attempt to grow something from it, and we will see if sunlight truly heals the forest.”
“Andif it doesn’t?Isn’tno blight better than anything else?Weshould go now.Weshould be out there tryingCosensianMagictogether against theBlightinstead of eating strawberries while the forest is consumed.”
“Ihaven’t had any strawberries yet.”
“Here.”Shetossed one into his lap as she rose, dusting her thin skirts and packing up their lunch, uneaten as it was.
Hestood and pulled her hair off her shoulder, trailing his hand down her back. “Karus.BaronHeimlenknows what he’s doing.Youdon’t need to go running off to theBlightright now.”
“Yes,Ido.Wehave a potential answer to this problem.Whywould we just sit around waiting to see if something can grow from the healed soil when we could be fighting it?”
“BaronHeimlenis resting.Hehad more energy than usual this morning, but still, using his magic takes more from him each day.Andwe need him to get through this.”Hetook her hand, kissing her palm and holding it to his chest. “Pleaselisten.Iunderstand how badly you want to destroy theBlight.Ireally do.Andyou are not the only one who wants this weight off our shoulders.Butrushing into things isn’t going to get us there.Ido admire your tenacity.Ifind it quite attractive, honestly.”
Therewas that damn grin again.
“Alright.Wecan eat—Iguess.ButIwant to speak toBaronHeimlenmyself when he wakes.”
Revichkissed her forehead and pulled her into his arms, her head resting on his shoulder.
Hehad said he understood, but he didn’t.
Fornow, she had another reason to destroy theBlight.
Ithad something of hers, and the emptiness in her pocket where the rhyzolm would usually hang heavily felt like a betrayal.
Itwas out there somewhere in the dark abyss, fallen out of her ripped pocket when she climbed over the tree to get toMoira.
Shemelted into his embrace, promising herself she would get it back.Shetold herself that by not telling him it was lost, she was protecting the man she loved.
Chapter38
Karus
“CanIhelp you, dear?”
Karusjumped. “Sylva!Youstartled me!”
Shemoved back against the door toBaronHeimlen’sstudy, having just been about to attempt to unlock it with her magic.Shewasn’t even sure if that was something her magic could do.
“I’msorry.Ifyou’re looking forBaronHeimlen, he is not in there.”Shesmiled warmly. “Orare you looking forBaronRevich?”
“Oh.No,Ijust left him inViridis.Iam looking forBaronHeimlen, actually.Doyou know whereIcan find him?”
“Heis resting in his rooms, thoughIknow that he is awake.Aren’tyou to meet him for training in an hour?”
Karusnodded, smiling.Shewasn’t sure how theFortresscould be run without people likeSylvaorPompeiito keep track of everything that needed to be done.Shehad enjoyed getting to know the woman and admired her love ofBaronHeimlenafter all her years under his reign asBaron.
“Iwanted to speak with him before the training, actually.Iwas hoping to catch him alone.”
“Ah,Isee.Well, dear,Ican show you to his rooms.Hemight allow you an audience, thoughBaronHeimlenis a very private man.”
Karuswatched with interest as her thin, gray magic encompassed the bundle of sheets she held.Itlifted them over the staircase railing to deliver them a few floors down to a table in the foyer, butSylvacould not hold it for long.Thebundle fell messily onto the table in a clump at least one floor below.
“Oh, goodness.”Sylvagiggled, looking down at the splay of white cotton. “Iused to be able to do that.”
“MayIhelp?”Karusplaced her hand overSylva’scold fingers.Concentratingher magic into the aged woman, she grinned asSylva’sface lit with surprise, their gray and green essence swirling together in a dance of power.
Sylvatried again, this time withKarus’sstrength and the women watched as, in a haze of gray and green, the sheets were guided back into a neat stack and set upon the table, folded and crisp.
