Page 82 of A Conduit of Light
“Isee it less as convenience and more of prophecy.Youwere meant to be here, andIwas meant to be the one to escort you.Iam thankful, in fact, that theBlackFeverdid not take ahold of you, my dear.”
“Yes, it was random in its targets, never infecting a whole household, never any real connections to the victims young and old.”Karusturned her head to look up at him. “Anodd sickness.Hadyou ever come across such a thing before?Evercured anything like it?”
Heheld a gloved hand to his chin, rubbing it in thought. “Ihave not in all my time asBaron.Itwas a strange thing, to be sure.”
“Yes, very strange.Andthe way the sickness left the inflicted’s fingers black and discolored along with their hands…even after being cured…”Shelooked down at her cup and shakily lifted it, her emerald conduit ring one more reminder of their connection. “I’llnever forget the look of it.”
Astillness filled the room.Karussat stiff in her chair, unsure of her discovery, her motive, or her pursuit of answers.
Hisvoice cut the silence in a low murmur, “Youhelped take care of the sick, did you not?”
“Idid.Idid whatIcould.Ihad no real ties to medicus magic, butIwas able to help take some of the pain from those who suffered.”
“Letus be grateful then, that you now have more purpose and use of your magic here inFelgrenand that your talents are not wasted in a place that does not appreciate the use of them.”
Shewasn’t sure anymore about where this conversation was going or where it had led to.
Shefeared what was underneath those black gloves.
TheBlackFeverwas too convenient, too coinciding with his plans to bring her here.Andits origin?Asfar as she knew, it was never found.Hopefully, theQueenhad discovered more by now, but she couldn’t shake the timing or the truth that the cure had givenBaronHeimlenexactly what he wanted.
Sherefused to believe thatRevichhad anything to do with it.Hewould never cause harm to a mass of people, no matter how badly he wanted something.
Sheneeded to leaveBaronHeimlen’spresence and think this over.Sheneeded to speak toRev.
“Thankyou for telling me the story,Baron.Ilook forward to writing to theQueenat the end of the season when letters can be delivered.Ihope they have discovered more about theBlackFever’sorigins so as to prevent its outbreak elsewhere on the isle.”
“Indeed,Ilook forward to my own correspondence with theQueen.Iam sure she is of great impatience to hear how your time here has fared.Iwill remind you, though, theBlightis not to be discussed outside of this forest.Wedon’t want to cause a panic, now do we?”
Hadhis smile always been so menacing?Thelook on his face was full of authority and power.Oneshe could never imagine onRevich’sface, no matter how many years he had beenBaron.
“No, no we do not.Ifyou’ll excuse me,”—she rose from the table, heading toward the door—“I’dlike to freshen up before our training this afternoon and check onMoira.”
“Ah, yes, the little faerie is doing well in your care,Ihope?”
“Herstrength returns quickly.It’sa miracle she lived through the ordeal.”
“Yes, theBlightseems to have no hesitation in taking what it wants.It’swhat makes it so very, very dangerous,Karus.”
Herhand stilled on the door handle before her, unsure if he was really speaking of theBlightat all.
“Iunderstand,Baron.”Sheturned her head over her shoulder. “Iunderstand that very well.”
Sheleft, hurrying past the painting, down the endless stairs into the foyer.Ifshe was lucky, she would be able to findRevbefore their training began.Ifanyone would believe her suspicions, she hoped it would be him.
Chapter39
Rev
“Insome circles, it is said that before the first trial, there is another.Nothaving a formal name, nor formal rules, it is a sort of predetermination of a channeler’s worth inFelgren.
Quitescandalous to history, butIwill mention it here, as this is a book about the history of the trials and this,Iwould say, is history.
Indeed, the very first trial a channeler faces after theirOffering, after being escorted toFelgren, is one of the heart.Canthey acceptFelgrenas their home?Asa piece of them they shall bring to all other things in life?Thatis the gist of this initial trial and there have been very few who have failed it, sent back to their homes in disgrace without much of a reason why.
Thisunusual trial is conducted solely by theBaronwho gave theOfferings.Thetrial is given on his whim and to his liking.Pastexamples have included being able to let the channeler’s voice echo in the wind, or identify a type of tree by mere touch alone.
Whateverthe content of this trial, it is always performed before the channeler is introduced toViridis—theFortressandFelgren’sgreat child that lies within both.”
