Page 33 of The Dark Mage
Swiftly and gracefully, Fael stood from the bench, extending an arm to Ren’wyn.They stepped outside together into the sun and heat of Delmor.The inn’s patio was set with simple tables, and the innkeeper brought them a tray of cold meat and cheese, fresh bread, apples, and peaches.There was also a jug of cold waterand…
“Butter,” Ren’wyn groaned with pleasure.She spread a thick layer onto a huge slice of bread and tucked in.When she looked up, Fael was watching her with amusement.
“I’ve never seen a well-bred lady eat like that,” Fael admitted with a shrug.“Though you stuff your face with all the grace a courtier could hope to possess.”
She threw her napkin at him.He snorted into his own slice of bread and tossed the napkin back.They ate in companionable silence after that, finishing everything on the table.
“We’re going to need more money,” Fael said as they leaned back in their chairs.“I have enough for now, but we’ll need to earn wages.”
“For what specifically?”she asked.“What are we trying to achievehere?”
The question came out raw, her voice tight with anxiety and fear, and she felt like a child.
“I have an idea.”He leaned across the table, unperturbed by her concern.“But let’s talk in myroom.”
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His room was as small as hers, so they sat together on his bed.She tried not to think about the last time she had been in bed with a man—about Esrin and the dangerous hate filling her empty heart.Even deeper, she buried the feeling of rightness—the comfort that sharing space with Fael created.
“I have an idea,” Fael said softly, his voice low in case anyone passed outside.“It’s tricky, but we could do good—maybe a lot of good—for those who’ve been affected by the empire.”
He wanted to interfere with the empire?
“I’m listening,” she encouraged.
“I want to find others with magic.”His powerful hands opened on his lap as he turned to her, inviting her into the plan.“We can help those in hiding and try to save the ones who have been captured.We could interfere with imperial scouts and troops to keep magic from being discovered.
“Imperial guards repeat the lies they’re fed, keeping people misinformed and confused.With our powers combined, I think we could overwhelm enforcement teams and free captives.And in between, we could work in villages—earn money or lodging while we travel south.We could remind people that magic can begood.”
“South?”she asked.“Why south?”
He exhaled and ran his hands through his hair, a gesture she was beginning to recognize as an internal battle.
Then, in a rush of breath, he told her, “I want to end the Ashkren Empire.”
Ren’wyn started, stepping away as her breath hitched.He couldn’t be serious.
Fael’s voice dropped further, steady and fierce.“I want to go south to Riva and find a band of outlaws.I want to sail to Anduan and rally their forces.I want to march across the world to Kareht and call on the exiled leaders in the Steppes.But no rebellion will ever succeed unless we take the Capital.”
Ren’wyn frowned.“The Capital is untouchable.Every uprising in history has failed.”
He nodded grimly.“Because of the Vein of Kings.”
At that, Ren’wyn stilled.Everyone knew about the Vein, but few spoke of it.Even deeper buried was the truth of the city once called Nymorian and the ancient stronghold ruled long ago by the Valdris kings and queens, a stone fortress seated high on a cliff above the waters of the Vein.The hidden knowledge was whispered at Spyre during history classes, centuries-old information whose records were long ago burned by the first Ashkren emperor.
“The empire isn’t strong because of its armies alone,” Fael continued.“They control the water.The Vein of Kings is the source of every major river on the continent, and the imperial palace practically inaccessible on its edge.If a city rebels, they cut the water supply.If a war drags on, they outlast their enemies because they never go thirsty.Every trade route, every farm, every kingdom relies on water that the Capital controls.”
Ren’wyn’s stomach twisted.“That’s why no rebellion has ever lasted.The empire doesn’t just break armies.It starvesthem.”
Fael nodded.“Exactly.You don’t defeat a power like that by swinging a sword at its gates.You take theVein.”
The weight of his words settled between them.Ren’wyn had studied war, but she had never consideredthis.
“You think we could take it?”she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
His hazel eyes burned.“We have to.”
“I want to rebel,” he whispered, standing and stepping closer until they were a hand’s breadth apart.His magic prickled along her arms, creating goosebumps, as he spoke against her ear.“The world needs to be free of the lie that our magic is evil.I’ve been watching it kill us—our families, the natural order of things—for fifteen years, and I can’t watch any longer.”
