Sir Henry’s apartment was on the opposite side of the corridor. I opened the first door. No soldiers were here, though the clearstones in the room were warmed. I also noticed half-empty mugs, still steaming, and an unfinished game of cards. Evidence of soldiers who had left in a hurry.
Farther on, I opened the door to Sir Henry’s bedroom at the same time as Trina and Tenger entered the room directly from the gardens. Basil was in the bed against the wall, pale and so thin that the bones of his face were prominent. His light blond hair was filthy and matted on one side, and his wrists were tied to the posts of the bed, which seemed absurd considering that he was clearly too weak to attempt an escape. For all I knew, he was already dead. His eyes were closed, and he wasn’t moving.
Trina reached him first but paused to stare at him. I saw sympathy in her expression, which I understood, but other emotions were there as well that were harder to identify. This was a
side of Trina I’d rarely seen before, more tender than the brittle veneer she usually displayed.
Finally, she pulled back the sheet that covered him, revealing deep bruises on his arms and bare chest. She placed her hand over his heart and left it there for several tense seconds before saying, “If he’s alive, it won’t be for long.”
Tenger leaned over Basil and loudly said, “You’re with friends, Sir Basil. You must tell us where the Olden Blade is.”
Basil’s eyes fluttered, and he stirred slightly, then settled again into unconsciousness. I noticed more heavy bruising along the sides of his neck when he moved. The Dominion had been working on him, but I figured he hadn’t told them anything about the Olden Blade, or he’d be dead already.
Trina started to say something, but then her eyes widened and she shouted my name. From almost directly behind me, an Ironheart had emerged from a closet. His sword struck once against my right forearm, but before I could engage him, he made a second swipe along the side of my body. I struck back, injuring his shoulder, then he ran for the garden door. Tenger followed, but he disappeared into the gardens. Seconds later, Huge called out, “I got him!”
Trina stood halfway between me and Basil, clearly unsure of where to put her attention. “Are you all right?”
I nodded and leaned against the wall for support while I kept a hand over the worst area of my injury. “Tend to Basil.” My life was not in danger. His was.
“What can you do for him?” Tenger asked.
Trina looked at him and shook her head; then Tenger turned his gaze on me. “Please tell me you know where Kestra is. We need her.”
A thought entered my heart, so clear that I knew where it had come from. “Even if I knew, I couldn’t get to her in time to save Basil.” I caught the flap of a dragon wing outside the window overlooking the garden. I smiled at Tenger. “But I think my dragon believes he can.”
With those few words, Rawk launched himself into the air, flying south. As I expected, toward All Spirits Forest.
Toward Kestra.
I eyed Joth suspiciously, my heart beginning to pound in my chest. What did he mean, if our magic was compatible, if this worked? If what worked?
Loelle squeezed my uninjured hand. “I’ll leave you two alone to talk. What happens now is up to you.”
I started to ask what she meant, but she was already walking outside, making the vague excuse of needing to do “something important,” so I asked Joth the same question. “What is supposed to happen now?”
“Endrean magic—your magic—is different from the magic of my people. The Navan are able to combine our abilities, amplifying each other’s powers and working as one. But as I explained earlier, it’s never been attempted with anyone of another race.”
I rolled my eyes. “So if our magic combines, then you’ll be able to use my powers, and I’ll be able to use yours?”
“Yes, for as long you and I are connected … in theory.”
“So this connection isn’t permanent?”
“With the Navan, it is.” Joth sighed. “Combining magic is a very personal experience. It requires the two people involved to share each other’s thoughts and emotions. The bond becomes very close … the closest of all bonds.”
“I won’t do it,” I said. “We don’t even know each other, and we certainly share no feelings for each other.”
He smiled. “If you have any feelings at all for me, I know what they must be. I apologize for my behavior earlier. I felt my mother was forcing something upon both of us without caring for the consequences of combining magic.”
“What consequences? Are you speaking of love, because—”
“Connecting powers has nothing to do with love, but it often becomes love, because no one will ever be closer to you than the person with whom you have combined magic.” When I didn’t answer, he said, “My mother first proposed this idea after she brought you to All Spirits Forest. I rejected it too, for all of the same reasons you oppose it, though I’ve begun to change my mind. I know Celia’s death upset you, and I know you’re trying to do what you believe is right. So maybe enough good remains in you that we can work together.”
I rolled my eyes, wondering what might follow that sour compliment. Would he congratulate me for not getting anyone killed today? Or admire my features with the glow of Endrick’s curse on my skin? I had no interest in him or his piercing words.
Sensing my irritation, he added, “I’ve had a month to get used to the idea of connecting. I wish I could give you the same time too, but the Dominion is clearly aware of what you’re doing here, so we’re out of time. We should at least test whether we truly can combine powers.”
I was skeptical of that too. “I won’t do this test. I’ll find another way.”