Page 79 of A Conduit of Light
“Thatwas lovely, dear.Thankyou.”ShepattedKarus’shand, her own having seen at least four times as many years asKarus. “Isee whatBaronHeimlensays is true then.Youare so very gifted.Andyou’ve been doing well, practicingCosensianMagic.Hetells me that it is a talent not every conduit has.”
“Youare welcome,Sylva.AndI’mnot a conduit—not yet at least.”
“Well, the trials will come before you know it.Timemay move slowly here, but when you’ve found something to love, it seems to move swiftly as a hummingbird’s wing.”
“Hasit moved swiftly for you,Sylva?Yourtime here,Imean?”
Sheplaced a hand on the black stone rail and beckoned forKarusto follow her as she ascended the winding staircase. “Oh, yes.Itseems like time has passed me by.IfIhadn’t lived it myself,I’dsayIarrived at theFortressonly two decades ago instead of four.Muchwas different then, the people here,Imean.BesidesBaronHeimlen,IbelieveI’vebeen here the longest…andIknow a thing or two about the locked doors of this place.”
Karus’seyes widened as her mind swam with excuses.
“Notto worry, dear.Irecognize in you a stubborn determination to see your goals through.”Sheturned her head and winked. “Iwill say,BaronHeimlen’sstudy is not a placeI’dadvise you to go breaking into.Itis locked with a key, yes, but a phrase must be spoken aloud as well to enter.Andbefore you go asking,”—she looked back again atKarus—“BaronRevichdoes not even know that.Hewill eventually, of course, when the study becomes his.”
“Iwasn’t trying to break in or anything.Ijust…Iwas just curious.Irealize how idiotic that sounds whenIsay it out loud.”
“Iunderstand, no need to be ashamed.Thereare all sorts of curious things in there.Gianttomes and beakers and bottles of who knows what?What’she doing in there anyway?”Shelaughed aloud as if she had told herself a joke—one thatKarusfelt she was meant to be left out of.
“Doyou know how to get in,Sylva?”
“Ido.”
“Butyou won’t tell me?”
“Iwould ifIsaw a reason for you to enter such a place, butIdon’t currently.”
“Ofcourse.”
Theycontinued their ascent in silence,Karusforgetting to count the number of floors up they had climbed to remember whereBaronHeimlenkept himself when he rested.
* * *
Karusstoodoutside of the small alcove whereSylvahad disappeared into.TheFortresshad many secrets, yes, butKaruswas surprised to discover yet another.
Behindthe enormous painting of a youngBaronHeimlenwas a door to his rooms.
Apparently,Sylvawas right, and he really did prioritize his privacy.Thedoor had been there for the entirety of her time here, just a few floors down from the channelers’s rooms in the tallest tower.
Voicesmurmured behind the slightly ajar painting.SheassumedSylvawas trying to convinceBaronHeimlento see her.Ifhis rooms were hidden and his study door locked twice, perhaps he was not interested in ever having visitors.
Well, except forSylvaandRev.
Shestepped back to look up at the painting again.
Memoriesof that first night in theFortress—the first night she had metSylva—entered her mind and she smiled.
Shehad been proud of herself, proud of her resistance to being brought here.Shehad known so little and had not yet fallen in love, nor had she been shown how well she could be loved.
It’sfunny, she thought while gazing up at the portrait of the man who now trained her,life seems to go in circles, coming back to the same things over and over.
Thesame stories are told, the same feelings are felt again.Fornow, her resistance would be inleavingFelgren.
Sheitched to get back to theBlight.Shecould just see it—standing there with theBaronsat her side, usingCosensianMagicto kill it off for good.Thenshe could continue her training withClairanniaandFiguerahand become a conduit.
Shemissed them.Shemissed their laughter and their care for each other.Shewas only able to see them at breakfast each morning and occasionally at dinner.
Shewanted so badly to finish off theBlightso that she could live a more carefree life here—training with her friends each day and lovingRevicheach night.
Hehad impressive ideas on how to bring more magic toArcaynenIsle.Hewanted to begin with theHallowMarshes, bringing more lapis conduits there to aid in finding rhyzolms, bringing ease to the people who searched for them desperately to sell off at enormous prices.Shewanted to help him, and she had realized that she wanted to be a part of this world of channelers and conduits in any way that she could.MaybeSylvahad wanted that, too.
