Page 24 of Sword & Shadow
Rafferty’s wily eyebrows shot onto his large forehead, making him look even more like a weasel. “Take all the fun out of it, why don’t you?”
“You mean a shroud?” Deckard surmised.
Auden frowned. “That’s not a feasible idea.”
“Why not?” Thom asked. “You did it when we ran from the Night Keep. With the Relic and your energy restored, surely you can do it again.”
The Mage’s expression grew tense. “I’m a Day Mage. We are at direct odds with Night magic. Yes, I can use it, but my hold on it is tenuous. With how slowly they’re moving people through the gates, it will take us an hour to get through. I don’t have that kind of strength.”
Hesitantly, Ilain lifted a finger, drawing her brother’s attention. “Youcouldattempt to disguise them,” she suggested.
Auden frowned. “I’d have to connect to Space for that.”
Remembering their brief reference to that magical resource, Evylin furrowed her brow. “Why should that be a problem?” she asked.
His sharp green eyes turned to her, surprisingly bright amongst all the dark green around them. “Space is the most unknown resource,” he explained. “To reach into it is...well, it’s nearly impossible for a non-Space Mage. And there have existed only a handful of those in history. As far as I know, there are only two living today. Studies on Space are nearly as rare as they are on Warriors.”
“Any particular reason for that?” Deckard prompted.
“Beyond the rarity of them?” Auden shook his head. “No. There are truly just too few of them in this world.”
“And you can’t connect with the resource at all?” Evylin asked.
“I cantry,” he replied. “But it isn’t a guarantee.”
Rafferty grinned. “Sounds like we’re doing things my way.”
“How long will it take you to devise a plan?” Deckard asked.
The weasel shrugged. “I’m fastest thinking on my feet. Let’s say we get down there, head for the gate, and if all else fails, our highlord taps into that magic of his.”
“I’m not leaving this up to chance, Rafferty,” he protested. Then he turned to Auden. “It’s either Night or Space. You choose.”
Auden looked truly conflicted. His face screwed up in deep thought as though he were waging war with his thoughts.
Suddenly, Ilain stepped forward. “There’s another option,” she said, then turned to Rafferty. “Give me the Night Relic, please.”
Auden jerked out of his internal debate. “You’re not an Existential,” he objected. “You won’t have the strength for it.”
She gave him a withering look. “I’m the most powerful Mage born in the last two centuries, Pyra’s Heiress, and I’ve trainedwith all the elementsandthe existents. You’ve taught me how to connect with Day just as well as many of your contemporaries. Don’t tell me I won’t be strong enough.”
Evylin felt her lips part in surprise at Ilain’s credentials. She’d known the woman was powerful but hadn’t realized she wasthatpowerful.
“You’re the most powerful Mage in two centuries?” Thom exclaimed, clearly baffled.
Ilain’s smirk turned smug. “I told you,” she crooned. “I can have any man I want.” Then she turned to Deckard. “I can do this,” she promised. “With your permission, I would like to shroud myself and Evylin with the Relics.”
Deckard pressed his lips together in consideration, but Thom jumped in first to ask, “Why just you two?”
“The fewer people I have to conceal, the better,” Ilain said. “I can’t carry anything but Night, as Fire and Day will distract me from the resource. It will be an extremely tremulous connection. However, as Evylin is a Warrior, I can borrow her magic, and it will give me additional strength. Therefore, she’ll carry the Day and Fire Relics, giving her even more power and focus to help me ensure we both make it through the border completely unseen.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Deckard looked about ready to drop from exhaustion. Evylin understood. They’d been traveling for so long, pushing so hard. And they’d only just begun.
Stepping up to his side, Evylin set her hand on Deckard’s arm, his cloak wet against her palm. He jerked in surprise, staring down at her. She rubbed his arm comfortingly. “We’ll be safe,” she said reassuringly. “I believe that Ilain can do this.”
“Admittedly,” Ilain interrupted, “I’ll be out of commission afterward.”
The Ephrians looked at her, confused. Auden just looked disappointed in himself.
