Page 128 of Blood of the Stars

“Ready for a break?” Sylmar hobbled their way, standing between them and Gaeren, which conveniently blocked the prince’s view.

“Yes,” Aeliana breathed out.

“I meant Lukai.” Sylmar angled his head back toward camp. “Go on. I’ll finish up with her tonight.”

Aeliana slumped as Lukai took his leave.

“We haven’t talked much about what happened with Durriken.” Sylmar’s eyebrows rose as he leaned on his staff. “And I don’t mean you letting him go.”

Aeliana tried to think about what else happened that night. “Cutting out his brand?”

“The shield you created.”

The memory came back in a flash. The unbridled release of magic. The heady sense of the lack of control. The eagerness to do it again. “I don’t know how I did that.”

“I don’t either, but we need to push you to a point where we can find out.”

She swallowed hard, glancing at Kendalyhn, who sat by the fire with Lukai. “What about testing me again? Why am I able to heal and create a shield?”

Sylmar shook his head. “There’s no need to test. Both are on the constructive somatic spoke. It’s rare for you to have both skills, but even weaned your power is stronger. I can’t explain that, but I’m confident in your spoke.”

“And what if it’s too dangerous? Too unfocused? I don’t want to hurt anyone again.”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

She nodded. After seeing what Mayvus was willing to do, Aeliana knew she needed to be willing to push herself more. To find out just how much good she could do even if it required some risks.

“Healing someone is a bit more basic because it’s fixing an injury that’s already happened,” Sylmar said. “Creating a protective barrier is more complex, almost predictive in how it prevents the injury from ever happening.”

“I just thought it was a shield. Made of light.”

“Is that what you envisioned creating that night?”

She frowned, trying to remember. “No. I just envisioned all of my magic going out from my body, blocking whatever Durriken might send our way. I’m not sure I could recreate that unless someone was truly in danger.”

Sylmar’s staff shifted to molten. “Who would it have to be for you to be the most motivated? Yourself?” He let the staff hover over her arm, and she backed away. “Lukai? Iris? Felk?”

Aeliana’s eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t torture someone just to scare me into using my magic.”

“Felk!” Sylmar called, addressing the winex for the first time.

Felk’s hairless silver head popped out from behind a tree where he and Riveran were playing hide-and-seek, his eyes scanning for who might have called his name.

“No.” Aeliana clenched her fists to stop them from shaking. “Use it on me.”

“Fine, but you need to set him free,” Sylmar said. “He’s old enough now to survive on his own.”

She watched as Felk darted around camp, accidentally knocking over food supplies and unsettling the horses. “Tomorrow.”

Sylmar nodded. “Otherwise, he’ll take part in our lessons. Now, try to block my staff.”

That night, Aeliana shifted in her bedroll, unable to sleep. Felk squatted on a stump, his long limbs folded up until he looked like a ball in the shadows. Gaeren and Velden were on watch, but Felk stayed up most nights, his nocturnal nature overriding the schedule he followed with them.

Aeliana stood, tugging her cloak around her. She couldn’t imagine sending him away, but she wasn’t willing to let Sylmar use him against her.

“Hi, Mama,” Felk whispered as she approached.

Her throat tightened. How was she supposed to tell him to stay behind? She wrapped an arm around him but still couldn’t find the right words.

---