Page 60 of Wicked Prince of Mirrors
“How are they?” Lyra asked, filling a plate with food.
Methrin shook his head, the smile fading. “Not good. I suggest we rest here for a few days to see if the magic returns to these shores. If so, we will find a healer.”
“If it does, won’t they need longer than a few days?” Lyra asked.
“Yes, and their wisdom is needed here. The temple has been desecrated, someone needs to train the new priests and priestesses and perform the rituals.”
“What about the other temples? There are four of them, correct? What if it’s the same at each one?”
“I assume it will be the same everywhere we go.” Methrin nodded. “Once all four temples are freed from the Destroyers, magic should return in its entirety. I propose that Esmira and I go on, if you are comfortable with that arrangement, Lyra.”
“But, won’t you need my magic?” Lyra asked.
“I know why you came with us,” Methrin said. “You’re very close to finding what you want, but tramping around the countryside killing Destroyers won’t help you find the answers you seek. They are where the magicians reside, in books and histories.”
Lyra’s eyes lit up.
“You don’t have to decide now,” Methrin said. “Think on it and let me know before we leave.”
Lyra smiled into her food. “I will.”
Ifell into one of the beds and sleep took me before my head hit the pillow. It felt like moments later when Methrin shook me awake. “Come, you’ll want to see this.”
“What is it?” I asked, blinking against the unrelenting darkness.
Methrin wrapped a cloak around me and guided me outside. People stood all around us, crowded around the square, looking up. Above us, a brilliant white light shone from the sky, almost glittering with its purity, and from it white motes drifted down. The light was so pure I could feel it, and a strange hope filled me, as if I was bigger, stronger, whole.
It was so bright, so radiant, it was as though the sun had risen again in all its splendor, glowing a pure white. The air shifted, becoming alive and I felt a sudden pressure and the need to fall to my knees, for I was not worthy of this.
I could have sworn I saw a hand as big as the domed ceiling of the temple rest upon it. White fingers. A pure white hand. My knees trembled, my body felt limp, and again came the searching, as though the light saw me.
I wanted to run, to claw out of myself and hide somewhere dark and deep. A sudden need to create a mirror portal and escape into it came over me so violently my hands began to glow. I needed to regaincontrol; I needed to stop shaking yet a wetness came from my eyes. I sagged against Methrin as then a voice came out of the light.
“One of you is not worthy. One of you carries the darkness that banished me. Find her. Kill her.”
Within a moment I knew the voice spoke about me and the urge to flee became irresistible. I spun away from Methrin and fled on bare feet.
21
ESMIRA
“Esmira, talk to me,” Methrin whispered.
I trembled under the covers, sure that voice, that light was still out there, searching for me. Could it see through the cracks in the walls, pierce the ceiling of the inn and find me?
Methrin tugged at the covers and I reluctantly released them. He slid into bed, curling around me. His presence warm and reassuring. His arms came around me and he pulled me tight against his chest, one of his hands splayed over my wild heartbeat. He leaned his head against mine. “What happened?”
“Didn’t you hear it?” I choked. “The voice in the light?”
“No, one moment we were out there watching the return of magic to these shores and then you screamed and ran.”
My body went tense. “You didn’t hear anything?”
“What did the voice say?”
I floundered for words. “It was so bright, so pure and—it said that someone wasn’t worthy, and to find her, banish her, kill her.”
My voice broke on the last words and a sob escaped my throat.
