Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
“This is to learn how to wither magic, which is fairly straightforward, I’m given to understand, and how to steal it, which is quite a bit harder. There is a steep penalty for failing in thievery, but you’ll be well used to it with the shielding training, so you should be fine.” He held out a finger. “Some advice—go ahead and scream. Sometimes, it helps.”
She closed the door behind her, and Lennox and Niall straightened up from their crouches. Her head hurt, her chest hurt, and her mood was very sour.
How’d it go? Lennox asked as she walked toward Tarian’s chambers. She wanted to see if she remembered the way.
In addition to being a magical vessel, I am also a vessel for information. I store it easily and my recall is excellent. Eldric decided that as he was teaching me to use the very horrible and painful contraptions. He expressed too much surprise that I’d make a prime candidate for a life of information, contemplation, and godly worship. Have no fear, though. I can’t become a scribe. Females are fine—he didn’t get my joke—but humans really are the worst. They are so often dumb as rocks that if the order lets one in, they might have to let in more, and then the gates will be overrun. She turned to give them a glower. I shit you fucking not. She turned back around. I also do not appreciate your smirks.
Sorry, Niall said. Tarian always leaves in a similar mood. What’d he say about the other forms of magic?
She rubbed at her chest and made sure to keep her head down as she gave them a summary of what Eldric had said.
I tried out the apparatuses he gave me. The mind-shield trainer feels like a punch in the head when I don’t get it right, and the other feels like shock treatment to the chest. They are not pleasant, but they should work if I prove less idiotic than the average human. She shook her head. He’s never even met a human besides me, but boy does he have thoughts about them. He wasn’t even trying to be mean about it. He was mostly cordial and conversational about the shortcomings of my kind.
Yeah, you got lucky with Tarian, Lennox said. He likes the human world. He’s a lot more open-minded about them.
Well. Daisy sent back another glower. Not all that lucky, right? He found me, manipulated the situation, and brought me here to my death.
Lennox grimaced. Fair.
When they got closer to Tarian’s chambers, more fancy people filled the corridors. Females and males wearing swishing dresses or gold-laden jackets sauntered down the middle of the space as though they were the most important creatures in all the world. Some had mostly clear faces with soft skin, but others had that strange sallow appearance, grayish, with the black lines and circles under their eyes.
She meant to ask about it, but before she could, one of the males caught sight of her. His eyes flared with interest, and he veered, putting himself in Daisy’s path.
Try to go around, Niall said with a hint of caution.
Obviously she was going to try to go around, but she didn’t have high hopes.
Sure enough, the male stopped in front of her and put out his hands to detain her. Gold chains dripped down his design-laden jacket, and everything about his posture and poise suggested he was likely gentry or close. He had power. His rich brown skin was devoid of black lines or that gray hue. He didn’t seem affected by the twisted magic, assuming that was what caused the effect. His belly protruded—he was a little portly—and he was taller than Daisy, though not as tall as Lennox or Niall.
“I haven’t seen you before,” he purred. “Such a beautiful little thing. Whom do you belong to?”
Pressure ripped through her head as though someone were using their nails to pry it open and look inside. She winced, and the back of her neck heated from the pressure.
“She belongs to—”
“I didn’t ask you,” the male cut off Niall, not sparing him a glance. His eyes gleamed as he looked Daisy over. “I’m asking this clever little tricklet. Someone has taken great pains to hide their secrets. Would that someone be Tarian?”
The pressure in Daisy’s head increased until she struggled to keep her knees from buckling. She reached to get her knife, hidden between her breasts, but her arms wouldn’t move. Magic twisted through her body, riddling her with pain to make her compliant. Behind her, Niall and Lennox staggered, Lennox reaching for the wall to stay upright. They were getting the same treatment.
“My goodness,” the male murmured, stepping closer to Daisy. “Your mind is strong for someone who looks so weak. Not strong enough, I think. What is he doing for the royalty whom he hates? They have plans they are not sharing with the court, but they are, for some reason, putting their faith in him. What are they?”