Page 56 of Take No Prisoners
"No," Beatrice agreed. "You are far more proficient in lightning, which seems opposite to your nature. You have a calm presence."
"Perhaps that's the trouble," Efren said. "If his natural state is calm, but he's never manifested magic from that state—"
"That's water?" Niall twirled his finger in the air, and a tiny trickle of water droplets formed in its wake.
Efren laughed at the look of shock on Beatrice's face.
"How did we let you escape to the sea?" she asked. "You should be teaching at the barracks! We have another young water weaver who could use your help, I think."
"I'd be happy to do so."
"I'll introduce you when we return."
"You're leaving?" Niall asked.
"I need to see what's happening on Equis Island," Beatrice said, "but I had a few things to resolve before I left."
Efren wondered at that, but he didn't ask. Martiz and Vadim stood at opposite sides of the clearing around the food stand, watching each other like wolves as they devoured their chicken and vegetables wrapped in flatbread.
"Anything I should know about their past?" Niall asked.
"Whatever Vadim is willing to share with you," Efren said. "It's not my story to tell." Efren was going to leave it at that, but then Martiz turned his attention to Klaus with open hunger. "Watch yourself around Martiz."
Efren averted his eyes. Martiz was too far away to hear them, or so he hoped.
"In what way?" Niall whispered.
"If he draws a knife with a stone blade on you, run. If it's tomorrow while we are sailing, find Vadim or Petri. Or Frost. He can be trusted."
"The others can't be trusted?"
Efren shrugged. "We've been sailing for six months. I'd need to talk to Jermain and Allora to see how much they know. Beatrice warned me about Martiz before we set sail, but I didn't believe her."
The last night before they'd sailed for Embertide, Beatrice had come aboard alone and sequestered him in his cabin for over an hour, verifying tales Vadim had shared when he was angry or drunk. The tales always involved Martiz. Sometimes, he talked about mundane women Martiz had hurt. In others, he'd talked about life weavers who had been burned with a stone knife and found their healing powers reduced or gone forever.
"You believe now?"
Efren nodded. "Stay close to Vadim while we are gone. I doubt Martiz would try anything with him around."
Vadim hadn't wanted to go to the academy when he turned eighteen, but the elders insisted. Desperate to stay, he consented to Martiz's final attempt to teach him life magic. Efren had never gotten a full explanation of what that meant, exactly, only that it involved the scar over Vadim's left eye and a knife with a stone blade. Vadim swore he would kill Martiz with it if he ever saw it again.
Efren risked a glance in Martiz's direction, but he was still openly admiring Klaus. "I'll speak to Vadim before we leave."
Niall had finished his wrap, while Efren had forgotten his. He took another bite to avoid Niall's bemused expression. He finished the wrap, and Niall still studied him with the same look.
"What's wrong?"
Niall shook his head. He looked a little sad. "Nothing. I want you to be happy."
"I am happier now than I have been in years," he said, remembering the conversation he and Stan had earlier. He dusted some crumbs off his lap and glanced at his pocket watch. He needed to round up Tovey, Stan, and Olivia to careen the ship before they left port on another excursion. "I have some errands to run and inquiries to make, but I'll return this afternoon."
Niall nodded. "See you then."
He still looked sad. Efren wished he had more time to determine the cause and possibly cheer him up, but there was far too much to do before they could sail again.
∞∞∞
Niall
