Page 14 of Invocation

His lips pressed into a line. He just pointed to the word “can’t” again.

“Maybe you should find some other Varai to help you, then,” she wrote. Aruna took the pencil from her to reply.

“I don’t know if they will approve of this idea. We might have to…” He hesitated. “…do some things without their permission. By force or stealth.”

“That sounds dangerous.”

“It might be. That’s why I need help.”

“How are non-Varai going to get into Vondh Rav unnoticed?”

“I can get you in. That’s not a problem.”

She was less impressed with this idea the longer they discussed it. But Aruna was looking at her with a hopeless desperation that she couldn’t stand. “You’re asking a lot.”

“I know.”

Neiryn was discussing it with Kadaki, who had sat up but still looked faint. Kadaki frowned after hearing what Aruna wanted of them.

Neiryn looked up at Novikke. “The only way non-Varai go to Vondh Rav is as prisoners, to be slaves or to die,” Neiryn said. “There is no chance in all the hells that I’m going there, and you shouldn’t, either.”

Aruna raised the book to write something else. When he’d finished, he handed it to Novikke. She read it aloud.

“We have no other ideas. I have to do something. If you won’t come with me, I’ll go alone.”

He waited a moment, watching them hopefully. His eyes lingered on Novikke for a long while. When she didn’t answer, he turned to leave.

She watched him walk away, and her heart sank deeper with each step he took. She sighed, then went to catch his arm before he could get too far.

“I’ll go,” she wrote, and gave him back the book. He read it, and the lines on his face smoothed with relief.

“Kadaki,” Novikke said, “if you stay here and study the ruin, do you think you’ll be able to figure out a way to slow whatever is happening to the forest?”

She looked uncertain. “I plan to try.”

“Then you two stay here and try to find something you can do, and we’ll come back for you when we’re finished with…” She shook her head, hardly believing she was agreeing to this. “…with whatever it is we’re doing,” she finished. She was proud of herself for hearing only a trace of annoyance in her voice.

“Wait,” Kadaki said. She searched several of her many pockets before pulling out a palm-sized metal disk. It was covered in enchanting runes.

“Give me a minute,” she said, then pulled a steel stylus out of a pocket and started carving another rune on top of the thing. After a few minutes and a lot of scowling and frustrated prodding at it, she handed it to Novikke.

“What is it?” Novikke asked.

“The same spell I used to bring us here from the village. I’ve set it so that it’ll bring you back to me when you’re finished. It won’t work if you get too far away or if you try to bring too many people, so don’t go wandering to the other end of the forest. It should be strong enough to transport you and Aruna.”

“Should be?”

Kadaki shrugged. “I did my best.”

Novikke tucked the device into her pocket. “Well, I’m already going to Vondh Rav. I might as well add ‘hastily-constructed enchantments’ to the list of foolish risks I’m taking today.”

Neiryn shook his head at her. “Novikke, don’t do this.”

“We’ll be all right,” she said with a confidence she didn’t feel. “Stay here and be careful. Watch out for shades.”

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