Page 23 of The Sundered Realms

“In theory anyone can write spells, just like anyone can learn another language, but it comes much easier to some people. It requires both systemic understanding as well as detailed knowledge and skill, both logic and creativity, that you clearly possess.”

Liris recalled the feeling that her every deliberate act had a material effect, both outwardly and on the chaos inside her. Every act had been one she personally had to work out, and perform, and the execution had mattered and changed the world.

She could not imagine being able to do that, to do magic, and not wanting to. Not throwing herself at that rush of challenge and then tangible triumph.

This must be the real reason Serenthuar didn’t let candidates study spellcraft. The type of people they cultivated as ambassadors would never want to focus on anything else.

And maybe they’d never told her who the head of Special Operations was because they didn’t trust her not to try to reach him with everything she had.

How fortuitous that even if Liris wasn’t willing to spite the elders for the sake of it, doing what she’d always wanted—doing meaningful work to facilitate change, and surprise, learning magic too!—would solve her problems.

“If you don’t want to commit to that study, I understand,” Lord Vhannor said, and Liris thought that was the first lie he’d told her. “Still, I would like to move you to Embhullor. The university is protected, so this kind of attack on you wouldn’t be able to happen, let alone catch other innocents up in it. And even without training you in spellcraft, access to your knowledge of this language until anyone else can learn—“

“I’m sorry,” Liris interrupted. “I think I’m confused. Do you think you have to convince me to take the opportunity to not only actually be able to help people but also learn magic?”

He paused. “I understand your life has been thrown into chaos, and you have only my word to trust—“

“My lord of Embhullor, you are literally carrying me out of a swamp after saving me from a demonic trap we both believe was set for me. I do have some actions to consider in my accounting as well.”

That did it, piercing his icy exterior. Heat colored his tone as he retorted, “You should never have had to be in the swamp, but your government betrayed you and I would have failed at my duty without your assistance, so my promise of protection, under the circumstances—“

“Why are you trying to talk me out of what you want?“ Liris asked incredulously.

“I’m not,” he snapped.

“Really?”

He took a breath, and his voice when he spoke was tightly controlled again. “It’s unethical for me to ask this of you now, when we both know you don’t have other options and aren’t at your best—“

“I’m tired and inexperienced, not stupid. That reality won’t have changed if you wait for another time.”

Lord Vhannor continued in a louder voice as if she hadn’t spoken. ”—and given all the circumstances you have no reason to believe I’m not trying to take advantage of you, and even my attempt to allow you to weigh all sides of the matter could be a ploy to earn your trust—“

Liris banged her head on his shoulder. “If you keep at this I’m going back to sleep.”

He jostled her, demonstrating that he was in a position to easily prevent that. “Liris. I’m serious.”

Two could play that game. Void take his clinical detachment, anyway.

Liris reached around and covered his mouth with one hand. “My answer is yes. Consider me very impressed by your heroic nobility, even if you are dreadful at making a case when you care. What in the world do they teach Lords of Embhullor?”

Lord Vhannor twisted away from her hand to glare over his shoulder at her with the gold bright in his pale eyes, and Liris was startled by the thrill of excitement that sent through her—because it wasn’t about magic, or even purpose, it was about him, and getting an honest reaction out of him.

“I can’t guarantee there will be no problems, or no danger,” he told her.

Liris arched her brows. “If you somehow convinced me you could guarantee that, I might refuse. I have been waiting my whole life to do something that matters. I never expected it would be easy.”

Lord Vhannor narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. It might have been smarter to try to reassure him—feigning worry but resolving to soldier through, so he’d feel she understood the gravity of his proposal. But he had, apparently, unreasonably, tried to be honest with her, so she answered him in kind.

She was so tired of lying about who she was.

It wasn’t that she thought there was nothing to be worried about, that she would be able to handle everything with aplomb and he would keep her safe.

It was that, as they emerged out of the densest mists and tangled branches, she could finally glimpse the start of a path to an actual future for herself, and he would not talk her out of seizing it.

Lord Vhannor faced forward again.

“Then we go together,” he said, “to Embhullor.”

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