Page 53 of Across the Sapphire Sea
“She will let you see their scrolls?”
“Once I find her, she will have no choice.”
That sounded more like a threat than Elias was comfortable with. “But the Breodun have been kind to us. You won’t hurt them, will you?”
“I’ll try not to.”
“Valeri, you must promise.”
“You and your promises. Did you not hear what I just told you? I’m a breath away from the information I seek. The keeper of records is somewhere between here and Kitka. I’m certain I’ll find her soon.”
“Of course,” said Elias, though he wasn’t sure what to make of this. Stealing scrolls seemed like a bad idea, but Valeri wouldn’t be easily dissuaded. If Elias could just keep his lover peaceful, that would be enough for him. “Promise me. Please? Don’t hurt anyone.”
Valeri tangled fingers in Elias’s short hair and gave a gentle tug to angle his face for a kiss. “You have a soft heart. All right, I promise.”
Elias returned the kiss with a sense of relief.
14
Elias, Present, 1432 Common Era
Elias laughed so hard he had to clutch his stomach. Grinning from ear to ear, he stepped in to collect all the arrows so Aella could try again. He thought no beginner could be worse at the game than he had been when he’d first learned, but Aella proved him wrong.
Arrows littered the wall, the floor, and remarkably, the ceiling, but none were to be found on the target. Elias wouldn’t have laughed at her, except Aella was nearly howling at her own ineptitude, so he figured joining in would be all right.
He glanced straight up. How was he supposed to retrieve the arrow in the rafters?
Jemma took Aella by the shoulders, squaring them to the barrel. “It’s simple, really. Just look at the center of the barrel, keep your wrist nice and straight, and let her fly. Nothing to it.”
Elias handed over the arrows. He and Jemma scurried well out of the way as Aella took aim. Jemma had fussed at him for leaving without saying goodbye, but after she’d given his shoulder a good shove for the offense, she’d welcomed him back with a hug.
“‘Look at the center,’ she says. ‘Nothing to it,’ she says.” More laughter rang in Aella’s voice.
She could use her magic to win the game, and Elias liked her all the more that she didn’t.
Laurence and Remy had taken a table, each with a mug of something they couldn’t actually drink. They watched the game only half interested, their heads together in their own conversation, grinning at each other while they shared their secrets.
Ash had mastered the game on his first try. He was a natural, like Jemma. Now he stood behind Aella, cheering her on. That is, if you could call his sedate style of clapping and the sly grin on his face cheering.
Aella loosed the first arrow.
Thunk.
Right in the wall, but closer to the target this time.
“That’s progress,” said Ash. “A little to the left this time, yes?”
“A little to the left,” Aella repeated and drew back her arm.
Thunk.
She hit the barrel! A resounding cheer rose from the onlookers, Elias included. He knew she’d get it. The game had taken him quite a bit of practice to master, and he’d never be as good as Jemma, but he’d turned into a decent player.
Aella didn’t stop to celebrate.
Thunk, thunk, thunk.
Three arrows and three hits to the barrel. None of them quite centered, but she’d gotten the hang of aiming. Perhaps they could play a real game and even keep score. Elias didn’t stand a chance against Jemma, but with her as his teammate they’d make good opponents for Aella and Ash.
