Page 163 of A Baron of Bonds
“My dear,” he had replied, “you are hardly the slightest of anything.”
I raged.
I didn’t know who I hated more, Heimlen or the Blightress sitting before me.
That was a lie. I knew exactly who I’d happily kill if he wasn’t already dead.
Breathing deep, I reset the scene, remembering how I took his gloved hand and my clothing had changed, forming into a gown that was the perfect replica of what I would have chosen out of hundreds.
My conduit ring had come last, the silver band forming over my finger, topped with that sparkling teardrop emerald.
I remembered Heimlen had commented on it, but I had never asked why.
“It really is a beautiful ring.” She held a replica between her long, black nails, studying it closely.
“All of them are,” I mumbled, swirling my fingers back in the water, feeling for any sign or pull in a certain direction.
“Yours is quite simple. Have you noticed, Little Sprout?”
I cocked my head and waited for her to continue.
She grinned, tossing the ring back into the water. “Of all the other channelers, yours holds a single, simple stone. Why is that, Karus of Felgren?”
“If you know, either tell me or stop talking.”
She laughed in that chiming, eerie way and continued, “I believe I do know. You see, emeralds are the symbol of eternal life. Emerald is the color of your eyes and the trees of Felgren.And a single emerald stone was the first ring ever given by a Baron.”
A chill swept through me. I knew who she was talking about, and I knew part of this story without needing to hear it.
She nodded, pulling at her sleeves, watching the glimmering rings in the water. “Yes, child, a single emerald was given to me by Adaynth on the day we bound our lives together.”
I swallowed, bracing myself. “My conduit ring is the same one given to you by the first Baron?”
“I still hold a fondness for it, Karus.” She picked up another replica, holding it up to the sun. “It never surprised me that the child I gave my power to would prove her bond to me in various ways.”
The day was turning miserable.
Each time I spoke to this woman, I learned more about my past and hers without really asking to. I inhaled deeply and scooped another batch of rings, determined to pass this trial and leave.
She was silent, letting me concentrate. I was thankful for that much at least.
I studied my forefinger on my right hand.
I dropped the rings and held it up to the sunlight, turning it around.
I closed my eyes again, keeping my hand in the air, thinking of the ring that I wished was only mine. I imagined its exact weight, the exact press of the band across my skin, closing over my finger as a constant reminder of how much I belonged in Felgren.
I opened my eyes and grinned, seeing my conduit ring shine in the sun.
It had never left my finger. I just had to recognize that it was there.
The green portal opened behind the Blightress, and I stood, proud of accomplishing what many other channelers before me could not.
She stood with me, clasping her hands together with a snide remark, “How ironic that you passed the trial about needing to believe the truth that’s right in front of you.”
I ignored her again and moved past to step into the portal.
Two down, two to go.
