Page 61 of Elemental Affections

“I’ve also had word from Sor’vahl,” Vaadt said, tapping the papers they’d first removed.

Dae froze. Eagerness for news washed up against unspecified dread.

“There’s been a complication in Rhell, and we’ll be moving the trip to focus efforts in the town of Den’olm. There will be more details at the informational meeting, but Sor’vahl won’t be returning to Sylveren before the trip.”

“Oh,” Dae said, voice faint. “Okay.” Disappointment bubbled up. It was selfish of her—of course he was needed at home. It didn’t make sense to make the trip back and forth. She’d see him in Rhell in a little over a month anyway. Ridiculous, being upset. But she was. She tamped down on the emotion only because she didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of Professor Vaadt.

“He sent along instructions for the lab.” Vaadt indicated the folios. Their hand paused over the envelope, which was not a business style but stationery. Vaadt’s eyes cut to Dae. “And a personal note.”

Dae squirmed in her chair. “He’s very … polite.”

“I’ve known Ezzyn Sor’vahl for several years. While we aren’t close, he isn’t one to take private interests lightly,” Vaadt said. “Given both of your backgrounds, I trust that pertinent conversations have taken place?”

“Yes,” Dae said with more confidence than she felt. “But … just to be clear, you’re implying…?”

“That the two of you are in agreement on the boundaries of personal and professional, and when they may and may not crossover,” Vaadt said, with a frankness Dae envied.

“Yes, though we may be renegotiating in the future.” Dae’s cheeks heated.

“Practical of you.” Vaadt busied themself clearing away the rest of the field trip paperwork. “With this latest setback, it would be prudent for you to consider business opportunities while in Den’olm. Nothing like hands-on experience to bolster your pitch.”

“My pitch?”

“How your work could benefit the area. Any sweeteners you bring to the table, whether that’s getting investors in Rhell to consider you, or benefits you bring back to the capital or your home company.” Vaadt gave her a severe look. “Don’t pass on an opportunity to use your connections, Miss Helm.”

“Right.” A sinking feeling dragged at Dae’s stomach. “Was there anything else?”

“No, that will be all. You can leave the door open.”

Thanking Vaadt again, Dae went back into the hall, her assortment of papers clutched in her hands. She made it down to the atrium before stopping to read Ezzyn’s letter, such as it was.

Anadae,

I’m sorry I couldn’t come back. Den’olm is almost lost. Implement the new parameters I sent—will explain more later.

A few squiggles stood in for his signature. Three sentences, that was all he had. But if the poison had spread, no, it made sense that he was preoccupied. Den’olm was an important defensive point.

Their arrangement didn’t entitle her to anything more, and she would’ve done the same if their roles were reversed, right? She’d fallen behind on correspondence with Calya, and that was for her finals, not trying to salvage a town.

But his letter, those few lines, Dae wanted more. Wanted something real, as Eunny had said. The Rhell trip couldn’t come soon enough.

“Dae! You’re going, too!” Zhenya hurried across the atrium floor.

Dae jumped, hastily stuffing Ezzyn’s note into her bag. “Going?”

“To Rhell!” Zhenya bobbed up and down in excitement, then flushed, shrinking inward. Abashed, she whispered, “I asked Professor Rai.”

Zhenya’s excitement was contagious, pushing back Dae’s turmoil. She banished worries about Ezzyn and the vague discomfort Vaadt’s questions had planted to the back of her mind.

“I’m so glad you’re going.” Dae hugged Zhenya. “I was too scared to ask Vaadt.”

“He probably wasn’t supposed to tell me,” Zhenya said, her grin turning sheepish. “Want to go into town and celebrate with Eunny?”

They trekked into Sylvan, and for the rest of the evening, Dae didn’t let herself think of Ezzyn or business relations again.

Chapter 22

Resiliencewastheunderpinningof Rhell, and that was no more evident than in the town of Den’olm. Dae had heard about the slow, unrelenting spread of Eylle’s poison, had been reading about it for years. Studying it in-depth for months. Touched it, mapped the shape and feel of Rhell’s earth and Eylle’s poison with her magic so much that it began to feel like second nature. As much as something so insidious could, anyway. But no amount of reading or studying soil in jars prepared her for the reality of destruction. Only the grim truth of traveling through the ravished land could accomplish that. The juxtaposition of a healthy tract of land alongside wards cordoning off an affected area, not always logical lines but seemingly random sections carved out, made her head spin. The general flow led in the direction of the wellspring, but otherwise, the poison meandered in every other way.

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