Page 93 of Lady for Embers

So when he would ask questions and she would answer with‘Are you ready to bear the weight of the answer to that?’he knew she had likely glimpsed some future event. Sometimes he would press for the answer, and other times, he would leave it for another day.

But today, as he saw that question in her violet eyes, Sorin said, “I will bear the weight of the knowledge, Beatrix.”

“You are sure?” When he nodded, she looked back out to the unending sea. “Did you think there would not be a cost to your returning from the After?”

“What?”

“The High Witch said something about this,” Cyrus said, stepping to his side. “But she did not know what the cost would be.”

Beatrix gestured in Sorin’s direction. “I believe you have just learned the cost.”

“My magic? But why that?”

And the words she said next made Sorin still.

“Fire and shadows. Light and dark. Beginnings and endings.”

He wasn’t breathing as he stared at the Healer, the Witch he had known his entire life, echoing words spoken by a being imprisoned beneath the Black Halls.

“In all things there must be balance, Prince,” she continued, meeting his gaze once more. “It is the way of the gods.”

He nearly choked on the air he managed to suck down. “Are you saying my power wells will continue to shrink? That my payment for life is the death of my gifts?”

Her violet eyes were ?lled with a sad truth. “Sometimes knowledge is a curse, young prince.”

“Did you... Did you know this would happen?” Sorin asked, stepping towards her. “Did you see it?”

“No,” she said softly. “But a great power crossed the Veil. It would stand to reason that the cost to bring you back would be just as great.”

“There has to be a way to ?x this,” Cyrus insisted. “There is always a work-around.”

“Was this not to rectify the prince’s crossing of the Veil?” Beatrix countered. “Perhaps it would be prudent to evaluate the cost to ?x this, Fire Second. At what point will the cost become too great?”

“I need my magic, Beatrix,” Sorin said, his mind whirling with thoughts and possibilities. “I am Scarlett’s Source. If I do not have any magic to fuel hers... ”

“My teachings from when you were younger have not changed, Sorin.

Magic is always a give and take, to maintain the balance.”

He knew that. He understood that, but this was not an option. To win this war, Scarlett needed to be at full-strength, which meant he needed his full well of gifts. There had to be something he could do, and he knew of at least one being who would likely hold answers for him.

As if she could see the path his thoughts were beginning to godown, Beatrix spoke again. “I would think long and hard before seeking help beneath the Black Halls again, Sorin. She will not lose twice.”

“I worked around her price once before, I can do it again,” Sorin argued, thinking of his previous exchange with the Sorceress. She had demanded the blood of a god in exchange for helping him get to Scarlett in the mortal lands.

Something ?ashed in Beatrix’s eyes. “You did not outsmart her, Fire Prince,” she chastised. “She underestimated your twin ?ame. She will not make that mistake twice.”

Sorin stared back at her. All the Witches had some shade of those violet eyes, but Beatrix’s eyes had always been more vibrant. More of her dark grey hair slipped free of the cloak and ?uttered around her face, and he suddenly felt as if he were staring through bars, looking into eyes just as vibrant but cold instead of warm.

“Beatrix... How do you know the Sorceress?”

She reached for his hand, squeezing his ?ngers gently. “You have enough to bear the weight of this day, Prince. Save this knowledge for another time.”

Chapter 19

Talwyn

Talwyn followed the Shifter guard ahead of her as he led her up the path to the Alpha’s home. Tarek was with her. She’d had little choice on that matter. He had insisted on accompanying her anyway, saying a queen should not be traveling without guards, especially into potential enemy territory. She had wanted to argue, but before she could, he had mentioned going to speak to Ashtine after their visit to Siofra. She’d decided to save her arguments for that ?ght. The whole pick-your-battles strategy and all that.

---