Page 27 of Soul Forge

“You’re excellent at upsetting people,” Sypher remarked.

“Shut up,” she grumbled. “How far away is Kilmarthen?”

“About a third of the way to Saeryn,” he replied, checking through the contents of the pack Reiner had left her to make sure she had what she needed. “I can travel fairly far without a break, but we’ll need to stop for the night.”

“You expect to cover a third of the distance in one day?” Her stomach rolled. “Pleasetell me we’re not sgàiling there.”

He looked up from the pack, brows rising. “I’m surprised you know what it’s called.”

“My parents let me read some of the older tales of your adventures,” she shrugged. “That’s beside the point anyway. That’s a lot of magic to use. And what if you need to… you know.”

His head tilted. “Know what?”

“Feed. Vampires are the only creatures I know of that can use shadow magic, and I’m assuming you’ll need blood after all that work, right?”

The laugh that came from him made her jump. “I’m not a vampire,” he said, still grinning. “And we’re not sgàiling.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks coloured. “I’m sorry, I thought…” She pressed her lips together, watching his smile widen.

“It’s the teeth, right?” She nodded. “I’ve heard that before.” Satisfied with its contents, he set the pack aside and straightened up, folding his arms across his chest. “I’m an umbramancer.”

“What’s an umbramancer?”

“Me.” He raised a clenched fist, drawing in shadows from all corners of the room to writhe around his forearm. “Vampires can generate shadows that they then use to travel through, like creating a portal. My power is different.”

“Different how?” Elda’s eyes remained fixed on the darkness whipping around his knuckles. She hadn’t known magic like that evenexisted.

“You’ll see.” He unclenched his fist, and the gloom reshaped itself, settling around his shoulders to form his heavy hood. “I’ll be out on the terrace when you’re ready.”

She was still staring when the glass doors closed behind him. It took several minutes to get her mind moving again, but eventually, she was tugging on the clothes Reiner had left. When her boots were laced, she hesitated, her eyes straying to the wardrobe, wondering if Persephone had hidden her forbidden things there.

Nestled in the back of the wardrobe was a drawstring bag containing her stolen sewing kit and several ordinary lock picks. Her fingers brushed a vial of healing salve. It was the best money could buy, given to her by Reiner in case she needed it. Well, she was sure she’d need it as a wielder.

When she finally stepped out onto the terrace, all the air left her lungs. Backlit by the morning light, Sypher leaned against the wall to look out at the city beyond. The sun created a halo of light behind him, accentuating his broad shoulders and turning his hair golden, but what caught Elda’s eye was something shenever expected. The pack slipped from her fingers and hit the stones with a thud at the sight of the legend given life.

Sprouting from his back were the two huge,gloriouswings depicted in the windows of her home. The dawn gave the raven feathers a subtle shine, the breeze ruffling them gently. They shifted with his breaths, every movement mesmerising.

“Stars above,” Elda gasped, the cold air stinging her wide eyes. “Whatareyou?”

“Impatient,” the Soul Forge retorted, turning to see her standing there. “Are you done staring?”

“Nope.” She crept forwards, tiptoeing towards him like he might take flight if she moved too quickly. He sighed and rolled his eyes, obviously realising she was beyond coherent thought for the moment.

“Hurry up and finish your fawning,” he muttered. “We need to go.”

She ignored him, reaching out to touch the nearest wing with awe. The feathers were smoother than silk, impossibly soft beneath her fingertips. She succumbed to the urge to sink her hand into them, and the limb twitched away from her.

“Snap out of it.” The command from Sypher was followed by the wing she’d stroked batting her gently in the face, his tone bored. That was when the other shoe finally dropped.

“Oh no. No way.” The princess backed away, shaking her head. “I’m notflyingto Saeryn.”

“If you hadn’t upset your bodyguard, you’d be on your way down to the stables with her right now. I don’t want to carry you any more than you want to be carried, believe me.”

“What if you drop me?” she squeaked.

“Don’t tempt me.”

“I’m serious!”

---