Page 9 of Shadows in Bloom

Kallistra leaned back, as if aware of her restless behavior. “Right. Well then, would it be just the two of you?”

“We’d like one or two more,” Zorinna spoke up. “The Fae warned it would be difficult with lesser numbers.”

This made her frown, and for the first time since Alandris had mentioned the task, she appeared hesitant. “I see.”

I worried Kallistra would change her mind about considering their offer, and opened my mouth to speak, but Alandriswas quicker. “We will make the decision of who will join us carefully. I understand you have concerns, given that you have someone you wish to protect. If you’d like to be involved in further recruitment efforts, that can be arranged.”

My voice lifted through the tense silence that followed. “Kalli, couldn’t we?”

“I don’t know that this is right for us… I was expecting to take a job with just the two of us.” Kallistra nibbled her bottom lip, eyes darting down to her food, avoiding my gaze, as if she couldn’t bear to disappoint me.

“Will it ever be right?” I brought a hand to my chest. I would beg if I had to. “Please, Kalli, think of the food and the future. We can’t continue on like this.”

More silence. “Fine. Fine. Alright,” she relented. “Alandris, I will, however, take you up on the offer to be involved in your selection of the remainder of our company.”

“Perfect!” Alandris beamed. “We are staying here at the inn. This crowd hasn’t been fond of us, but the morning may prove to be more fruitful.”

“There is one more thing.” Kallistra raised her finger. “I believe I saw you notice the stone around Nairu’s neck, and I, too, noted the emblem on your cloak. The Mages Consortium.”

There was a long pause as Alandris tilted his head to the side, considering her. “Clever.” Something in his expression changed as he spoke the word.

I glanced at his cloak and saw the emblem there. For Kallistra to have noticed the tiny button, half hidden behind his hairlying loose over his shoulders, she must’ve been observing him more intensely than I had initially realized. Alandris ran his fingers across the engraving—a crescent moon nestled inside of a blazing sun.

“I’d like you to teach Nairu what you can about magic along the way.”

I reacted before Alandris had the opportunity to reply. “Really? You’ll allow this?” My hand rose to cover my mouth, which had dropped open in shock.

Kallistra had never let me train my magic with anyone other than her. And since she herself didn’t possess magic, it resulted in little to no progress. It was why we were searching for a priestess. They were the only people she trusted to train me. Or the only she had been instructed to allow to train me. For her to allow a near stranger to teach me, the last message from our village must’ve been truly dire. What she wanted with the favor from the Fae, I did not know.

“Very well,” Alandris nodded. “I will spend one month teaching her magic before we depart. Depending on her current level, that should be enough to manage the basics and help her defend herself on the journey.”

“And you will pay for our stay during that month?” Kallistra returned.

“Of course.”

“It is settled, then.” Kallistra raised her newly provided tankard of ale. “Alandris. Zorinna. May our endeavors be a success.”

Zorinna stood from her place at the table and sifted through her pouch for a few coins, placing them before Kallistra and I. “We will contact you in the morning.”

And with that, they departed, leaving me with a grim-faced Kallistra. I placed my hand over hers. “It’s that bad, is it?”

She pursed her lips. “It is. Promise me you will be careful with that male. I know he is charming, but do not trust him. Don’t show him more of your magic than is necessary for your lessons.”

“I understand.”

Her hand tightened around mine. “Tell neither of them anything about where we are from, who we are, or our way of life. Do not tell them our goals.”

I winced from the strength of her grip and yanked my hand away. “Yes. I know.”

Trust no one. Ever.

Chapter 5

“Before we officially begin your training, there are some items I’d like to acquire,” Alandris said, holding the door of the inn open for us to leave. “It will probably take the majority of the day. Will that be alright?”

I nodded and walked out, giving the hood of my cloak a final tug over my head, waiting for Alandris to lead the way. The weather was chilly enough in the early morning hours that I wouldn’t be drawing unwanted attention to myself by dressing warmly. Alandris donned a hooded cloak as well, a dark forest green trimmed with silver filigree, and while it was far more luxurious than my moth-bitten one, it was nice to know I wasn’t the only one dressed mildly suspiciously for market. Sometimes, I wondered if Kallistra realized her little rule often made me stick out more than it concealed me.

The two of us walked in silence through the mostly deserted streets. It was early enough that most people were still asleep, the most eager shops only just beginning to open. On several occasions during our walk, I opened my mouth to speak, and each time, I snapped it back closed, thinking better of bothering Alandris with mindless prattle. I was stuck dwelling on whether it would be natural for us to converse, or if I should remain silent all the way, until he stopped in front of a clothing shop.

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