Page 32 of The Oracle of Dusk

“There. Now you’re stitched up, stronger than ever.”

Aurora released a shaky breath. She’d never been ill or injured badly enough to have needed a healer possessed of wild magic. The medics who studied at the Temple of Knowledge had always been able to tend her. It was a strange experience, to have another’s magic coil through you, your physical body like an open book without the benefit of a sturdy cover. She hoped never to need it again.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. You can put it on Silvanus’ tab.”

“You know Silvanus?”

Macris raised a dark brow, looking between her and the man in question.

“Have you not told her anything yet? Have you explained anything to either of them?”

“No,” Phaedra answered with an indignant huff.

Macris stood, rounding on Silvanus.

“You said they were trustworthy! It’s the only reason I didn’t tell the others about your arrival. I sheltered you in secret, Silvanus. How dare you risk my place here like this!”

Silvanus held up his hands.

“There was no other choice. And theycanbe trusted,” he punctuated his words with a killing glare at Phaedra.

“Will someone please explain what’s going on?” Aurora asked, daring to interject.

Macris looked to Aurora and Phaedra with pity before turning back to Silvanus, pointing at him with a furious glare.

“You made this mess; you clean it up. I’ll go prepare the bath,” she said before storming out.

Phaedra placed herself in front of Aurora, shielding her from Silvanus.

“Sit down. We need to talk.” He gestured at the cushions.

“I think we’ll stand,” Phaedra replied.

He sighed, taking a seat.

“Do you want the short version or the long version?”

“Short,” Phaedra replied.

“Long,” Aurora said at the same time.

“Of courseyouwould want the long version,” Phaedra scoffed.

“I like knowing the details,” Aurora retorted.

Silvanus watched them as if they were a great, perplexing mystery.

“The short version is that you’re currently standing in one of the last dualist sanctuaries in Trisia. I’ve implied that you’re both dualists seeking safety, and I would appreciate it if you played along. And if you do anything to threaten its security or the safety of the people here, I, as your guarantor, am duty-bound to kill you.”

“There are dualists still alive? And there’s a sanctuary here? Can we see it?” Aurora asked, her heart leaping with excitement.

“Of course you’re a dualist. Why wouldn’t a monster also be at the beck and call of the people who caused the first cycle of calamity?” Phaedra scoffed.

“Actually, there’s no evidence to definitively prove that. Most of the texts dating from that period are scanty at best,” Aurora corrected her, bumping Phaedra’s hip with her own.

“They’re also infamously anti-imperial,” Phaedra scowled at her.

---