Page 63 of Tangled Power
Rose looked at Luc. She caught his nod and decided it was safe to share even if the Compass Points were listening. “We were talking more about Aterra’s artifact.”
“Ahh,” Arie said. “You wondered how long Aterra has had it? And what else he might have done with it?”
“Pretty much.”
“What made you think he used it on Aurora?”
Rose shrugged. “When I realized that Aterra’s artifact was the ring he used to stab Luc at the Solstice Ball. It wasn’t the first time you’d encountered it. You knew what it was. The method of his attack confirmed for you that it was Aterra inhabiting Aiden’s body.”
Arie ruffled his feathers. “Unfortunately, you’re right.”
“What happened?” she asked.
“I’m not sure I could bring myself to tell you,”Arie said. “I think that I could show you, though.”
“Show me? You don’t have mind shadow…” Rose meant it as a statement, but she couldn’t help that it sounded like a question by the end. What did she know about what the Vesten god was capable of?
“You’re right. I don’t have the Suden gift, but I think I could focus enough on a memory that you would see it if you tried to evaluate my power. This is a strong one for me. There are few times I felt like I failed to protect those I loved. Once when Zrak sacrificed himself for the continent, and again when Aterra took Aurora. They’ve left their mark on my magic.”
“You want me to evaluate you?” Rose wasn’t sure she understood. “The only time I’ve seen full scenes like that while making a weapon was for Luc.” She glanced at him as he got on his horse. “I thought I only saw his memories because of his power.”
“I can’t be sure. And if this doesn’t work, I’m sure Luc could see it, but I’d like you to try. I think you saw scenes while evaluating his magic because of its strength and how much those individual scenes make his magic what it is today. I think it would be good for you to test this theory.”
She had enough trouble evaluating Luc’s power—she wasn’t sure she was ready for a god’s. But would Arie recommend something he didn’t think she was capable of? She didn’t think so. “Okay. Just to be clear, do you want me to make you a weapon?” Rose asked as they started their ride. She knew academically that he had a human form, but she was so unused to the concept, she couldn’t imagine him with a sword.
“I don’t want you to make me a weapon. I want you to want to make me one. It would be a nice token of our friendship. Think of it as a violent friendship bracelet.”
Rose snorted a laugh as they rode out of Sandrin.
They tookthe same road east that intersected with the northern route—the one she, Luc, and Arie had traveled together before. This trip turned out to be a big circle of the southern part of the continent. Aurora’s compass still guided them. It started to shift north as they came upon the crossroads. They stopped for the night, a half day’s ride from the turn that would lead them to Bury. Instinctively, she knew the road and the journey they would be taking—Arie seemed to know as well.
“We’re going back to Lake of the Gods,” Rose said as they set up camp for the evening.
“You didn’t even have to see the memory?”
“I was guessing. You’re just confirming. I still need to know why. What happened?”
“Do you need me to help with a makeshift forge?” Carter asked as they settled the campsite.
“I am the Lord of Flame,” Arie said haughtily to all of them. “I am sure I can handle it.”
Rose rolled her eyes. So much for Arie and Carter bonding. The Vesten Point, dismissed, walked back toward the campfire to help Luc and Juliette with the meal. She unsaddled some of the steel she’d taken from the Suden forge. “Do you need me to explain what to do?”
“No, but I do think Luc should be over here.”
“He’s helping prepare the meal. Why do you want him here?”
“I assume he hasn’t let you further evaluate his magic?”
“You assume correctly,” Rose said, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I think it would help him to watch this.”
“You think you throw off that much magic, Arie?” She cocked her hip to the side and put a hand on it. It was all bravado because she was undoubtedly nervous to search Arie’s power. “If I don’t pass out from the magic of a god, how could I pass out from the magic of a powerful Suden?”
Rose understood conceptually, but she was afraid this might backfire. If she couldn’t handle Arie’s power, wouldn’t that solidify Luc’s point?
“Powerful Suden indeed,”Arie said.“I see you’re nervous. Don’t be. You can do this.”
