Page 61 of A Conduit of Light
ThatcaughtRevich’sattention, having been slumped in the chair beside the desk, very little shame in his previous apology.
“Yes,Iremember.Thechannelers would come to theFortress.Beautifulwomen.Occasionallymen.ButwhatIremember most was the awe on their faces upon arriving.”Hechuckled to himself, a smile racing across his face as he crossed his arms. “Therewas this one woman.Powerful, breathtaking, the dress that mirrored her character left very little to the imagination, and she did wear it well.WhenIasked her to my rooms a few weeks later, she scolded me for taking so long.Thosewere wild nights, and yes, late mornings.”Hissmile faded as he looked back toRevich. “Butthat was all they were.That’sall aBaronneeds and it’s all aBaroncan have.
“WhenKarushas done her duty here, she will be gone.Ihave no doubt that she will return toHyrithia, whether a fully trained conduit or a channeler still,Iwill not live to see.Butshe will go.Herties to that place are strong.AndtheQueen…well, let’s just say theQueenplans for her return and will likely be on the edge ofFelgrenthe moment her training is up.Withan army behind her.”
Revichlistened reluctantly.Heimlenwas repeating his own fears easily, with little thought, which must make them obvious to everyone but himself.
Hismentor leaned in closer, his black eyes littered with gray. “Shewillleave,Revich.Youknow this.So, take your extra time in the mornings—within reason.Andknow that though it may ache upon her departure, you will encounter another, in time, who fulfills your needs just as well as she does.”
Chillsechoed through his body, asRevtightened his jaw.Heimlen’swords were relentless in their truth, something he knew and understood from his first year of training asBaron.
ButKaruswasdifferent.
Hewas different.
Hewasn’t interested in quick romances that lasted a year, maybe two, before the channeler-turned-conduit, would leaveFelgren, her future on the isle bright before her.
Hewas only interested inher.
Inspending his free time withher.
Hewas interested in keeping her—lovingher.
Andthough he said he would, he could not see himself giving her up.Ofcourse, she would be free to go, but he often concocted ways he could make her stay in those early morning hours as she slept beside him.
Inhis bed.
Intheirbed.
“Noneed to be melancholy,Revich.Thatday is far from us now.Let’scontinue.IfIremember correctly, we left off at the second trial yesterday.Remindme, is the second trial of medicus or agricola magic?”
“Lapismagic,Baron.Thesecond trial is for stonework.”
BaronHeimlensmiled and nodded. “Good, my boy.Isee you’re ready now.Let’scontinue.”
Revichstraightened his back, his jaw set, eyes like cool steel, but his heart beat hollow in his chest, the reminder of aBaron’sfuture echoing in the promise of losing what he knew he could never bear to.
Chapter31
Karus
“Inall the history of the greatBaronsofFelgrenForest, there have been few who have lived up to the first.
BaronAdaynthfounded the conduit trials, and we can thank him many times over today for his work, giving us conduit magic that we use to prosper in our society.
Beforehis talents, channelers were rarely found, let alone trained in such a way that they could fulfill their purpose and enhance our culture.”
Karusfrowned and groaned inwardly.
Aftermore searching, she had found another book praising the firstBaronin a way that made her recoil.Itseemed that many historians on the isle had placedBaronAdaynthin history books as a savior of sorts.Andmaybe he was, butKaruscouldn’t help but wonder still about that first book she had read weeks ago claiming he had savedHyrithiafrom theBlightress’swrath.
Ifno evidence could be found as to what had caused her anger or what she had done because of it, why were historians so quick to believe the centuries ago written diaries of the man who had claimed to save them all?
Karusknew those diaries existed because the handful of books she had found about the firstBaronhad referenced them.Butthey did not seem to exist inViridis.
Shehad scoured the shelves for hours at this point, her eagerness to find them in vain asViridiseither did not contain them or would not give them up.
Couldbooks be taken out ofViridis?Shehad wondered about this on several occasions, not wanting to let go of her reading and longing to bring her books back to the rooms she now shared withRevichso that she could continue her research.
