Page 175 of Sword & Shadow
Deckard opened his mouth to apologize but paused. He’d kept Hewitt with him constantly over the last two weeks. Only now, Auden had discovered his duplicity. If Auden hadn’t seen Hewitt during their travels, could he now? Did he have any proof aside from Deckard’s one-sided conversation?
Choosing to test the boundaries of his magic, Deckard furrowed his brow intentionally. “What are you talking about?” he asked in incredulity.
“Don’t play the fool.” Auden gestured vaguely in Hewitt’s direction. “I can see Hewitt right there.”
The ghost stepped around Deckard. “Can you hear me as well?”
Deckard waited for Auden’s reply.
There was none.
Hewitt scoffed. “Apparently not.”
“Explain yourself,” Auden demanded in the prolonged silence hanging between the living men.
Deckard hesitated a moment longer. Auden’s inability to hear Hewitt brought into question his claim that he could see him as well. After all, if the ghost was visible, Auden would have seen Hewitt’s lips moving as he spoke.
For a moment, Deckard considered continuing to deny the ghost’s presence. But by the fury in Auden’s glare, he knew the Mage wouldn’t let it go.
Raising a placating hand, Deckard tried to play the conversation to his advantage. “All right, I admit it, I summoned Hewitt. But it was long before I made that promise to Ilain. Before I knew I was a Mage at all.”
“Before—” Auden gaped at him, terror evident in his dark green gaze. “That’s not possible. No one can use magic without knowledge, without training.”
That caused a stir of worry within Deckard. From the moment he’d discovered his connection to the Mages’ power, its force within him had been stronger than he’d learned should be possible. Summoning a ghost unintentionally, healing rapidly, calling forth those crystalline clouds with barely a thought. None of that was normal, according to the Calders. And it only served to deepen his apprehension toward the path of magic.
Deckard ignored his concerns, focusing on the matter at hand. “I swear, it wasn’t intentional. Had I known....”
Auden stepped closer, unwilling to hear him out. “Release him,” he ordered.
Without thought, Deckard said, “No.”
Shock and fear blended in Auden’s expression, causing a spike of anxiety in Deckard too.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Hewitt said, his voice a low rumble in Deckard’s ears.
Deckard gave the ghost a reassuring glance, unable to promise his agreement any other way. Regardless of Auden’s worries or the threat of madness, Deckard couldn’t let Hewitt go. Not until Hewitt could speak with Evylin.
“This magic isn’t safe, Jonn.” A wild look filled Auden’s eyes, his voice tremulous. “You’re playing with death. Every Magewho’s started down this path has lost their mind to the Deep. Often at the expense of innocent lives as well.”
The warning sent a chill down Deckard’s spine.
“He’s bluffing,” Hewitt said, pacing behind Deckard. “He doesn’t know this magic or you. And I won’t let you go mad.”
Slowly and calmly, Deckard continued his act for Auden. “I’m sorry, and I’m aware of the risks. It’s just that I don’t know how I summoned him. I wouldn’t begin to know how to release him.”
Auden hesitated, clearly unsure of the process himself. “I’ll walk you through it,” he offered. “But you have to mean it, Jonn.”
Deckard tightened his jaw. He couldn’t mean it. Not when he didn’t want to let Hewitt go.
“Listen to me,” Hewitt said. “We can play him. He clearly can’t see or hear me. As he hasn’t been aware of me this whole time, he evidently can’t sense me either.”
Auden’s gaze flittered from Deckard’s face to the space behind him. In the extended silence, it appeared that the Mage had perceived that Deckard was listening to Hewitt. “What is he saying?” he asked nervously.
“Nothing.” Deckard shook his head. “He doesn’t want to go.”
“They never do,” Auden said. “Ghosts are unnatural, Jonn. They cling to the living, haunting them. Their presence ushers in the Deep.”
Auden continued trying to convince Deckard as Hewitt spoke again. “Let him think that you’ll release me,” the ghost said. “He won’t know the difference.”
