Page 75 of The Sins of Silas

Leroy’s eyes drifted off in the direction I knew Silas was. “I met Silas last year, and when I tell you his whole demeanor has changed, I mean it.” He turned to me. “I could swear the man had no emotions. No feelings. I damn near fell over when he smiled at you during our meeting.”

I chuckled at that. “Silas was the warmest, kindest man you could ever imagine.” My smile slowly fell. “Loss can change a person…turn them into someone you don’t recognize. But he is good. I know he is good.”

“I believe you, really I do. Especially considering all your seer told me. Convincing the council, however, will prove difficult.” Leroy’s gaze saddened. “Many have lost loved ones because of the Prince and his father. But perhaps your stories will convince them.”

My face heated. “If we were to speak on that…it would need to be private. Just Silas and me and the council.”

He nodded. “I can arrange that.”

I loosened a breath, looking back at the dancing bodies, feeling the music vibrating in my bones.

I turned to Leroy. “Can I ask you something?”

Leroy nodded.

“Do phoenixes have any significance to you? Or your people?”

He frowned, his eyes trailing upward as he lost himself in thought. He responded after a few moments. “The phoenix symbolizes a lot of things for various groups of people. In general, it represents immortality. Rebirth. Hope.” His blue eyes studied me curiously. “Why do you ask?”

“Igon gave me a message before he died.Only through fire can the phoenix be reborn from the ashes.”

“That sure is vague as hell.”

I laughed. “That was always the case with him.” My smile fell as I recalled his last moments.

“Well…there is the myth of the Immortal Mages.”

My head sprang up. “Immortal Mages?”

He nodded. “Back when the Gods originally created Magekind. Mages thousands of years ago were said to be even more powerful…and could live forever. The Warlocks, Angels, Sea Nymphs, Half-Lives, none of them held a fraction of the power your people once held.”

“And you’re saying Mages of today descended from these Immortal Mages?”

“That’s correct. Though through millennia, the bloodline became next to nothing, hence why Mages have the lifetime of a standard human.”

How had I never read of this? “Would those Mages still be alive? The original creations?”

Leroy shrugged, motioning to the bartender to get him another drink. “I’ve thought about it a lot, but legend also says they were wiped out. While time did not affect them, they still could be killed by one thing. Or one being, I should say.” He paused, sipping from his new glass just after it was set down. “Azrae.”

My stomach flipped at that name. “The God of Vengeance?”

“Yes. Azrae is known as both the God of Vengeance and the God of Justice. He has the power to restore balance at any cost. The original Mages had too much power, power that nearly rivaled that of the Gods.” Another sip. “But your riddle sounds like this power, this flame, is bringing something to life…or causing it to go through a rebirth of some sort.” He rubbed his jaw. “I’m not sure.”

I made a mental note to look more into the history of the original Mages. That is, if I could even find any additional textson them. “There’s only one place I’ve noticed the phoenix being symbolized,” I continued.

Leroy’s eyes slid to mine. “The La’Rune family crest.”

“Exactly. There are other birds on that crest…” I squinted as I tried to recall them. “A raven, a pelican, and an—”

Leroy’s eyes widened. “An owl.” He set his glass down. “We have myths among the Warlocks regarding the meaning behind different animals. As you may already know, we came to be by the Gods fusing their power with animals.” He winced. “Not breeding—before you get the wrong idea.”

I grimaced, and he continued, “As they experimented, they found different properties. Some lines were stronger based on the animal they originated from. We once had a connection to animals millennia ago—used to be able to speak with them. Anyway, the ancients found that each animal symbolizes something.” He smiled warmly at me. “Tomorrow, I shall bring that book to you. Perhaps it can help in some way.”

I blinked, a smile overcoming my face. “Yes, yes, that would be amazing! Thank you.”

Leroy’s eyes drifted over my shoulder. “Ah! This one has been looking for you.”

I peeked behind me, and there stood Roland, eyes glassy, a giant grin on his face, and cotton candy in his hand.

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