Page 31 of A Blightress of Wrath
One-by-one they touched his back, andIjoined them as we sent our magic through him.Theorb of light grew to the size of his head and his brows shot up in surprise as all of our power aided his own.
“Tryagain,Philius,”Iordered. “Makethe flames and light that bush on fire.”
Henodded in silence, focusing intently on the light he held.Onceagain he flicked his hand, sending the orb to the bush where it splintered in a flash of light, a slight spark flaring before disintegrating into nothing but gray smoke.
Thescent of burning barely filtered through the air asRennandRellwhooped and hollered, patting him on the back with words of praise.
“Ialmost had it,” he shrugged, a smile pulling at the sides of his mouth.
“You’llget there,”Mychaelencouraged, slapping his back.
Inodded his way. “Welldone,Philius.Let’stake twenty minutes to stretch our legs.Mychael, inform the other carriage please.”
Islid my hand intoKarus’sand led her across the frozen brush away from eyes and ears.Shewas quiet, head down and frowning.
Islid my hand into my pocket, palming the rhyzolm, acknowledging whatI’dalready suspected.
Whenwe were out of earshot,Karusfinally spoke, “Saelyn’sgiving me more power, isn’t she?”
Shestopped with her hand over her growth band.
“Clairanniasaid it’d be one or the other.Ourchild will either make your magic stronger or weaker.”
“That’swhat you were trying to find out, wasn’t it?Itwasn’t whetherPhiliuscould light the damn bush on fire, it was whether aBaronand three channelers could help him do what just oneBaroncould.”
Inodded slowly. “IftheBlightressfinds out how even more powerfulSaelynhas made you?—”
“Shewon’t.I-Iwon’t do that again.I’llbe more careful.”Shechewed on her lip, hands on her hips as she turned to keep walking. “Philiusthinks he has her cornered in his mind.Itold him exactly whatLiatold me, and he said he’ll concentrate on that, but…we need to be careful.”
Igrabbed her hand. “Ourdaughter might be far more powerful than either of us.TheBlightresscannot know that.Saelynwill need to be hidden while we train channelers to destroy her heart.Itwill just give theBlightressmore reason to take you both.”
“She’sdetermined enough now.Ican’t imagine there’s more she’d try to do.”
“Thinkof it this way; if theBlightressknows how much more powerful you’ve become, she might do something drastic, knowing we really have a chance to destroy her heart with what you can now wield.Ouronly hope here is that she doesn’t know our numbers, and she doesn’t know our strength.Shedoesn’t know when we’ll attack either.Infact,I’vebeen thinking…what if we usePhiliusas bait once the time comes?”
Herhead twisted to me. “Usehim as bait?”
“Yes.Lethim think we’re somewhere else and then go for her heart.Ifshe can read his thoughts, she’ll think she’s safe.Ifshe can’t,”—Ishrugged—“we’re no worse off.”
“Buthe can’t know.We’dneed to lie.Andlie convincingly.”
“Wehave time to come up with something, but this might be in our favor.Tillthen,”—Ipulled on her waist—“maybeIshould be the one to work with him.”
“I’llgive youPhiliusif you give meMychael,” she bargained.
Ilaughed into the damp cold. “Alright, but keep in mind, he’s already fairly smitten withPompeii.”
Shepinched my arm. “Yourteasing about how handsome he is never gets old.”
Ichuckled, kissing the top of her head.
“Howmuch longer do you think we have for today?”
“Thefoothills are just an hour’s ride ahead.Itwill be much slower then because theTectusTrailis no longer used.
“CanIhandle the cart for a bit?”
“Youwant to?”Iasked in surprise.
