Page 22 of Silverbow
“Liam Marsh, you have completed your final Testing. You must keep your papers on your person at all times and present them to any king’s man who requests to see them. Your name is written in the seventh scroll from Westforks.Remember that, because if you lose them, you must report to a wielder’s outpost to hold the rod again and have them reissued.”
Liam nodded, handling the parchment like he might a newborn babe.
There was some mistake. How hadn’t they noticed?
The wielders swept out as abruptly as they swept in, the scribemaster on their heels. His apprentice was taking too long to pack up.
Get out.
Enya couldn’t wait any longer. She lunged for the bowl of sugar on the tea tray, clumsily dumping its contents and bringing it up just in time to stop herself from vomiting onto the drawing room rug. The apprentice let out a squeak and darted from the room.
“Vile,” Liam muttered, leaning away from her, but his hand patted her gingerly on the back.
“Sorry.” Enya looked up to see too many faces peering at her. “I...I need some air.”
“Wait just a minute,” her father said gravely.
He and Marwar followed the scribe’s apprentice out. Mistress Alys collapsed in an armchair, fanning herself with a hand, so it was Griff who pried the bowl from Enya’s fingertips and carried it away.
She sagged back into the cushions. Where her bones had been stone moments ago, now they seemed to melt away, leaving her in a heap. She was safe another year. She would only have to hold the rod once more. But she’d come so close...
When her father declared the wielders gone, he led Enya by an elbow out onto the front porch and deposited her in a rocking chair. She sucked in gulps of air as he threw a blanket over her lap.
“It’s alright, En. They’re gone.”
She nodded, unable to speak. How had no one noticed it was burning her,brandingher as gifted? Could she manage another Testing? She didn’t have a choice. To flee the wielders would mean disaster for her family.
“The rod only responds to the pure godsongs, not the other godsung gifts.”
Enya swallowed, but she couldn’t find the words to tell him it was a lie. It was all a lie. Thunder rumbled and rain began to fall over the yard. “I...I think I’d like to sit here a while.”
“We’ll be just inside.”
Enya heard the door click shut behind him. Only then did she draw out her hand to inspect it fully. Every bit of skin that touched the rod was flaming red and angry blisters were starting to rise on her fingers. She settled it in her lap and let the cold, damp wind that blew across the yard try to soothe it.
six
Liam
Liam would never need to hold the Testing rod again. Not even the fat raindrops that pelted Ryerson House could dampen his relief. His da peered over his shoulder at his papers, his own relief plain on his face as he clapped him on the back.
“Keep that close, son.”
Liam nodded, folding the parchment into the neat little square he’d watched his da fold time and time again, tucking it safely into his breast pocket.
Lord Ryerson stomped down into the cellar to retrieve a cask of cider, hard after a winter’s fermentation. His da tapped the cask and poured, beaming all the while as he doled out goblets. One sat untouched on the table. Lightning flashed, but still Enya hadn’t come in from the porch.
“Is she alright?” He asked no one in particular.
Lord Ryerson nodded, but a crease formed in his brow. “Just a bit rattled.”
Liam frowned at his cider. He’d never known much to rattle Enya. She usually took the Testing stoically, though he supposed Louissa Adler would haunt his nightmares for days to come.Terrifying woman. And that teapot.Liam wasn’t sure he could ever drink tea again.
The door finally opened in the hall, letting in a blast of damp air with it. Enya shuffled into the drawing room, her face pale and pinched, but she gave hima smile that set his heart stuttering. She sank onto the sofa and accepted the tea Mistress Ashill prodded toward her. Enya, it seemed, did not share his new trouble with tea.
With grins all around, the Lord of Ryerson House raised his cup high. “Never in my life have I been so glad to see the backs of men, as when these blasted wielders come. In just a year’s time, we’ll be celebrating another final Testing, with no need to ever see that gods forsaken rod again. This one is for you, lad.”
“Here here,” Marwar growled.
