Page 35 of The Prince's Mage

Marcella turned to Gavril and said in her language, “What is she doing here? Yesterday you did not want to see her.”

Before Gavril could respond, Aimilia said in Marcella’s language, “Helping.”

Gavril just shot Aimilia an exasperated look and got a smug grin in response. He said to Marcella, “Yes, that’s true. When I spoke to Nikias, I realized he hadn’t figured out I was going to escape with you. Aimilia was the only one who knew, and the only one who could have told Nikias.”

Aimilia’s expression fell and she crossed her arms as she spoke in their language, “I told you—accident—willingly go to Nikias and ask for his help.”

Gavril just waved his hand dismissively at her and continued speaking to Marcella in her language, “In order to make up for it, she offered to help me, and frankly, I could use her help. Aimilia placed first in our class.”

Marcella glanced at the trunk. “You really think you can prove this idea with the relic?”

Part of her was inclined to tell Gavril the whole truth—that it wasn’t just a relic, but the most important relic of all—but the part of her that knew she needed to escape with it and Nikias made her hold her tongue. If he knew how valuable it was, he could easily see it was an easier path and use it as leverage, especially when this plan of his for peace failed.

Even if she did trust him fully with that knowledge, she could still remember the taste of dirt well enough that she didn’t trust Aimilia with that knowledge.

Gavril nodded. “It is pure vitae with not a single one of my people’s runes. I believe it can help.”

Marcella eyed Aimilia. “And you want to help?”

Aimilia shrugged. “Sure.”

“Why? You hate me.” Marcella narrowed her eyes.

Aimilia glanced over at Gavril before looking back to her. “Saved him from himself. That’s enough.”

Aimilia was loyal… likely to a fault, but at least she was a friendlier face than any other Inimicus. It wasn’t trust, but it was a truce.

Marcella rolled her shoulders. “Then let’s get started.”

As she made her way over to the table, she heard Aimilia whisper something to Gavril, “—getting back at me—sick just watching the two—acting—nothing happened.”

“—not—business.”

“—stupid enough—not to—she has in you.”

Gavril didn’t respond and just followed Marcella to the table. Aimilia scoffed in the back of her throat and threw her hands up, muttering, “Oh—things—put up—happiness.”

Marcella ignored her as Aimilia sat next to her while Gavril sat across from her and opened up his notebooks.

When she sat down, Aimilia immediately picked up the strange pitcher and started to pour the steaming liquid into the three cups. She peered over at the open book next to her—which appeared to be one of the dictionaries of the Sordes language—and said, “Drink. Strength.”

Marcella remembered that the last time she’d drunk from it the hot drink had made her feel better, but the cup didn’t have any runes on it. They weren’t in the style of the Inimicus at all.

She could still taste the bitter liquid forced down her throat from an Inimicus cup covered in their runes. It was all still too fresh for her to leap at anything that wasn’t a clear glass of water.

Aimilia set a cup in front of Marcella and one in front of Gavril before picking up her own. She raised it toward Gavril with a wry grin and spoke in their language, “I told you—academie—weren’t going to be the last time—lots of this.”

Gavril rolled his eyes as he picked up his own cup and turned to Marcella and said, “This drink helps mages restore their energy and vitae. Aimilia’s house had a mage travel to the Galai Elemens, and they have this process of boiling water and certain plants to drink. That’s where the set came from. They’re Galain. Aimilia’s house has lands that grow a rare plant that can be used to help mages recover strength when prepared correctly.”

Marcella had never heard of such a thing. But… since it wasn’t Inimicus at all and she’d felt it work before, she lifted the cup and took a sip. She was still sore and exhausted no matter how much she slept.

Aimilia said in Marcella’s language, “Not correctly. Can kill.”

Marcella had already swallowed the hot liquid, but she immediately choked and coughed. Gavril glared at Aimilia, who just kept sipping hers with a grin and watching Marcella. He reached over and rubbed Marcella’s shoulder as she finished coughing, saying, “Aimilia’s family are the only ones who know how to prepare it properly. Also the only ones who know how to prepare it enough to kill or force sleep. It’s a closely guarded secret, but don’t worry. She’s not poisoning you or else she’d have poisoned herself. This is just to help you recover.”

Aimilia just raised her cup with a grin before sipping again. Marcella got her breath back and picked up her cup again. If it would help…

Marcella took a deep breath and became as void as the Abyss.

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