Page 73 of Across the Sapphire Sea
They resumed their seats, though Valeri found it nearly impossible to be still when Elias was off with some half-breed, god knows where. His chest constricted with worry. His anger simmered below the surface.
Finley sat primly in the chair across from Ash, next to Remy. They crossed their legs and arranged the lavender smoothly over slim thighs, hands clasped in their lap. “You’re awfully calm about the possibility of your own executions.”
“Would you have us panic instead?” asked Laurence.
“Of course not. Most of us hope it will not come to such a regrettable conclusion, especially since there are better options. It’s why I offer my blood.”
“I fail to see the connection,” said Ash.
“If you drink from me, you’ll get a taste of what it’s like to be a vampire of The Vartija. Perhaps you’ll want to stay.”
Vartija.That was the title Elias had learned, and Valeri had promptly forgotten. He’d been so angry that Lajos had snuck behind his back to speak with Elias, he’d barely registered what Elias told him.
“What is that word, Vartija?” asked Ash, “I’m unfamiliar with it.”
“It means ‘wardens.’ The Vartija is what we call ourselves.”
Aella’s expression grew curious. “Wardens of what?”
Finley cast their otherworldly gaze on the witch. “Perhaps one night in the future, I will tell you. Once you’ve proven yourselves loyal.”
“We don’t belong here, Finley,” said Remy. “You must realize that. We need to return home, with or without the cure for Mahu. We were always meant to return home.”
“You’re Remegius, correct?”
Remy nodded. “Yes, but you may call me Remy as my friends do.”
“Remy, then.” Finley smiled. Their cherubic features surely charmed everyone else in the room, though Valeri would have none of it. One of these half-breeds had Elias. As far as he was concerned, they were the enemy.
Finley continued, “How did you cast that shield? I’ve never seen magic quite like that, and other than ourselves in The Vartija, I’ve never known a vampire to have magic.”
“I was a witch before I was turned,” Remy explained. “I know that most witches lose their power after the transition, but I didn’t. At least not completely. As to how I cast that spell, I can’t tell you.”
“Of course not, no. I suppose you cannot trust me, can you?”
“It’s not that, though you’re right. I don’t trust you. I can’t tell you because I don’t really know. I’ve always been fairly decent at spells that manipulate the ether, but I’ve never taught the skill to another.”
Then how did Laurence learn magic?Valeri wondered, then he realized Remy may be hiding the truth from Finley. The vampires here had yet to see either Laurence or Aella perform magic, though surely they knew Aella to be a witch.
Aella shared a glance with Ash, who nodded before she spoke. “I am a decent instructor. I could teach you and your people that spell, and others like it.”
“Let me guess,” said Finley. “For a price? An offering of my blood and promise of safe passage home, I assume. I’m afraid it’s out of the question. No one learns our secrets and goes free.”
Valeri huffed. “The Breodun people know, yet they roam free. So you stop at the wholesale slaughter of thousands of innocents, at least.”
“Is that how you learned of us?” asked Finley pointedly.
Valeri narrowed his gaze. “Why should I tell you?”
Finley leaned forward. “To take the suspicion off Lajos for one, and for two, because I suspect it’s the truth.”
“I learned from their keeper of records, but there is no reason for you to kill her if you aren’t going to kill all of them. Another will just be installed in her place.”
“We won’t kill the Breodun. They’ve never betrayed us the way you’ve just betrayed them.”
Valeri changed tactics. “What about Lajos? He knows your secret, yet he is free.”
Finley shook their head. “Lajos is not free. You make too many assumptions.”
