Page 65 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
“No. Don’t even talk to them,” Shade says harshly, coughing through his mask.
“Do you want some water?” I ask.
“Yes, please,” he rasps.
I pour a glass from the pitcher on the side table. A click resounds as he opens his metallic demon mask to take a sip. I immediately lower my head to look at the floor. I’m curious to see his face… But it’s not right to peek if he is making so much effort to hide his face from the public.
I’m already marked for death for looking at the Shadow Fae’s face. I don’t want to add to my bad luck by gazing at the forbidden look of the Grimsbanes.
I can’t help but smile when I hear the rustling of the paper bag I brought and the delicious smell of meat pie.
“It’s really good,” I hear him say, and I keep my eyes plastered to the floor to give him privacy. I plan to bring some to Svenn later.
A dark chuckle leaves Shade when he wears the mask once again. “It’s useless to hide anything from you now that you know my biggest secret.”
I nod, slowly raising my head to look at him again.
The assassin revealed something important that night.
He’s a summoner.
There are not that many people familiar with the art. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone aside from my father’s close circle who knew about it. I’m certain Shade must have met him in the past.
Was he one of father’s student?
Rain patters on the large panel window and thunder grumbles in the distant.
“No one else can know of this ability,” he says, alarm flashing in his eyes. “I’ll be cast out from my caste, or worse, the guild will—”
“I won’t tell anyone, Shade,” I quickly say. “You can trust me.”
Fear is an uncommon emotion on Shade. The assassin has a permanent bored look on his face. He held that tedious expression even as he lay dying back in the sewer.
He lifts his head just enough to look at me. “I committed a crime in Tiamat with this gift. No one can know it’s me.”
The vulnerable gleam in his eyes makes him look like a terrified child.
“What crime? Is it those weapons you stole?” I ask.
The assassin clears his throat. “No, not weapons… a heart.”
I don’t understand… but I recognize the look playing in his eyes. It’s the anxiety a person would feel when it’s more than just their life at stake.
Shade is protecting someone.
“I’m a summoner too.” I share with him my secret to ease his worry. His eyes flick to mine, holding my gaze as if he’s trying to count every blade in my iris.
That’s right.
I remember the first time I tried to use the ability in Astefar.
Blaire and I were so hungry. I told her about a book I read, of how you can summon anything you want. She said I was lying and called me the girl who cried wolf. So, I had to prove it to her.
“Go ahead. Summon us some chocolate, strawberries, fried rice, marinated lamb, and roasted chicken,”she challenged, crossing her thin arms.
I drew the summoning circle on the forest floor with a stick. Father’s second grimoire said I only need to close my eyesand use my voice to call out whatever I want. I remember the incantations from every page, end to end, because I wanted to impress Father.
“Come out, roasted chicken!” I call forth.
