Page 66 of Forged in Flame and Shadow

“We were just going to bed, and we heard a commotion,” I say, trying to explain our presence without looking like eavesdroppers.

He nods, an unreadable expression on his face.

“Lady Naia won’t be bothering you anymore,” he says. “I’ve officially broken off the betrothal.”

I don’t know what to say as a complicated mix of emotions swells up in me. I’m happy, I think, but I still have a lot of questions.

“Good riddance,” Tira says, filling the silence. “She’s a real piece of work.”

“Shecanbe difficult, but her behavior this evening was abnormal,” Leon says. “So much so that I started to suspect it wasn’t entirely her doing. Someone was working sensic magic on her.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, finally finding my voice. “Whose magic?”

“You’ll remember my grandfather’s power allows him to sow paranoia,” he says.

It comes together for me now, as I remember the manic look in Lady Naia’s eyes all evening.

“You think he’s responsible?” I whisper.

“I think King Respen also likes to play games,” he says darkly.

When I wake the next morning in my bed at the palace, I stretch out and nearly jump out of my skin when my hand touches something warm and furry. I squeak and sit up to see the korigos has snuggled up to me in the night, curled up beside my hip. It opens its dark, intelligent eyes and blinks at me, its saucer-sized ears perking up.

“You scared me,” I say, reaching my hand out tentatively. The creature lifts its fox-like head to meet my palm, as if inviting me to pet it. I let my hand sink deeper into its fur and grin when I find a spot behind its ear that pulls little chirruping noises from the animal when I scratch it.

“I need to come up with a name for you, don’t I? I can’t keep just calling you ‘the korigos.’ Maybe you already have a name though…”

I give the animal a questioning look, but its tongue lolls from its mouth, exposing its teeth in a kind of grin.

“I guess that’s a no,” I say. “Alright, and I get the sense you’re a…boykorigos?”

The animal waves its tail. Somehow, I feel that’s a yes.

I look it over, hoping for inspiration to strike as I take in his pointed face and reddish coat, examining him down to his four flicking tails. “If you’re from Agathyre, you’ll want an Agathyrian name,” I say. “So how about Dotsera? It means four tails.”

The korigos eyes me impassively.

“We could call you Dots for short?” I add hopefully.

The korigos yips and swishes his tails in unison.

“I’ll take that as a sign of approval,” I say, and feel more convinced when I reach my hand out and the newly named Dots lets me pet him again.

I rise, heading to the bathroom. On the way, I look out the window, where I can just spy the edge of the lake on the palace grounds. Today’s the day I’m supposed to heal Fairon, and my stomach is in knots. I know I’ve done this before—twice—but it’sstill very different to tackle a case where real, genuine healers have failed for an illness no one seems to understand. That’s before I think about my own personal investment in getting this right. I can’t let Leon down. I cling to the way the aisthekis responded to my magic after I injured it. If wounds caused by celestial magic respond well to my power, I hope Fairon’s sickness will too.

I dress and wonder about going to see how Tira’s doing. I stayed with her until she fell asleep last night, and it seemed to help. But before I can leave, there’s a knock at my door. I open it to see Eryx and Hyllus outside.

“Good, you’re dressed,” Eryx says abruptly. “The captain’s at the Sanctuary already; he says they’re ready for you.”

“So soon?” I say, my gut twisting a little tighter.

Hyllus says softly, “I believe the captain’s anxious to proceed.”

I nod. That’s understandable. When I saw Fairon a few days ago, it was clear his time was running out. I can’t delay any further just because of my own insecurities. I promised Leon I would try this, and I will.

“Alright, let’s go,” I say, making to follow them out into the hall.

“Have you eaten?” Eryx asks. I blink at him, surprised.

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