Page 100 of Assassin's Mercy

“Among other things.” Sohvi glanced around, a faint smile on her lips. “This place is beautiful.”

Verve nodded. “I agree. But something tells me you didn’t come all this way just for a dip and a history lesson.”

Sohvi adjusted the scarf covering her thick braids. “Flowing water is sacred to meridians, for it strengthens our powers.”

“Good to know,” Verve replied. “But I’m still wondering where this is going.”

“Meridians are all connected, in many ways,” Sohvi said slowly. “The longer we know each other and work together, the stronger those bonds are. However, the Fae spirits we’ve joined with also share a lasting, strong connection with each other. Seaglass, the Fae I’ve joined with, felt the experience that Space-Between-Stars shared with you: the confrontation with your mentor.”

Heat flooded Verve’s face, and it wasn’t just because of the season. “I made the right call, with Danya.”

“I know.” Sohvi hesitated. “You have become a fine meridian. I was… wrong.”

Verve allowed the words to hang in the air for a moment. Although a part of her wanted to gloat, a larger part of her was still raw with grief over Ivet’s passing and the loss of her old life. The latter was a good loss, in many ways, but it was still a loss.

So she only gave a slight bow and ensured her smile held as much warmth as the spring water. “Whatever bet you made, I hope you didn’t lose your ass too badly.”

Hasina snorted a laugh. Sohvi shot her a reproving look before continuing. “You’ve exceeded everyone’s expectations.” She sighed. “Especially mine. I admit, I treated you harshly, although my actions were not without justification, given your…history.”

“Fair enough.” Verve studied the tiny brim fish as they gathered around her toes. “Did you come here to apologize?”

Hasina coughed into her hand, but this time, Sohvi ignored her. “No,” Sohvi said, lifting a brow. “I came to offer you a place among us, at our sanctuary in Pillau. There, you can learn more about your abilities, and meet the others. There aren’t many of us, even with our anchors,” she gestured to Hasina, “but you and your anchor would be welcome.”

Verve frowned. “My… what now?”

“Anchor,” Hasina said. “Your tether to the physical world. The Pilgrim’s anchor helped him cross over from the Fae realm back here. Most meridians have an anchor. We keep the meridians grounded so they don’t get lost in their abilities.”

“The dendric mage,” Sohvi added, as if all of this was painfully obvious and Verve was being deliberately obtuse. “The healer. He’s your anchor. I can sense the connection between you, even now.”

“Being an anchor is no simple job,” Hasina added. “Meridians can get lost in their abilities.”

As Verve knew, all too well.

“But it is rewarding,” Hasina added, “to be a part of something larger than yourself.”

Rather than reply, Verve cast her mind out, seeking Alem. She found him intent upon his garden, as he prepared an assault of ladybugs to face a particularly stubborn gang of aphids. Joy flared from him at the brush of her awareness to his, along with a questioning sense of, is everything okay?

Verve allowed her own joy at their connection to reach him, along with a mental nod. Everything’s fine. Give those aphids hell.

Determination swirled through him. I intend to.

When she looked back at her fellow meridian, Sohvi was smiling. “You make a strange pair, to be sure, but I suppose the One god has mysterious ways.”

Verve blinked. “Meridians worship the One?”

“The One is life,” Sohvi answered, as if it were obvious.

A familiar tightness in Verve’s throat almost staunched her reply. “I thought only we Sufani believed in the One.”

The One is older than even my people, Space-Between-Stars replied.

“There are many things to know about meridians, and still more we are learning, each day,” Sohvi said carefully. “Will you come with us on our journey?”

Verve’s heart ached at the earnestness bleeding through her words. “I’ve made a life here,” she replied. “And I have no wish to leave just yet.”

Hasina and Sohvi exchanged glances, then Hasina said, “We stopped at Freehold on the way to Lotis. The place was buzzing with news that the Chosen have vanished. There are rumors that they killed the head priest of Atal’s temple, then fled. Everyone’s panicking about rogue mage attacks, but the magistrate said that hasn’t been an issue in some time.”

Sohvi nodded. “Your doing, I believe. Apparently, most consider this area protected.”

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