Page 74 of Sword & Shadow
With a good-natured shrug, Ethenn tapped the fletching of the arrows beside him. “I’ll teach you,” he offered.
“She’ll be a quick study,” Ilain said. “Warriors are notoriously good withallweapons.”
Of that, Deckard had no doubt.
The bow beamed again, and Evylin returned it to its Relic form. The gem radiated with power as she handed it back to Rafferty. It went dull the moment it left her touch.
“Why do they do that?” Rafferty asked as Evylin sat beside him once more.
“Go dim?” Ilain said. “Because non-magical individuals can’t use them. Magic responds to magic. When a Relic senses a magical person, it lights up, connecting to their power.”
Rafferty held the necklace before him, frowning in thought. “But aren’t they magical storehouses or something? Shouldn’t that mean that non-magical people can use them too?”
Ilain smirked drolly. “You have tobemagical to access magic. Just like you have tobea woman to be this stunningly beautiful.” She said the last while framing her face with a demure hand, batting her lashes dramatically.
Thom snorted, and she slapped the back of his head. “Ow! Yes, you’re stunning, and I’m constantly in awe,” he grumbled, rubbing the spot.
Eyeing the two of them, Deckard once again questioned their newfound flirtations. He couldn’t decide whether or not he approved of the idea of their dalliance. While Ilain was strong-willed and wild, she was also dedicated and clever. He’d grown to appreciate the woman’s presence. But he didn’t know if she’d do well for his brother.
Or—a more important matter—if his brother would do well for her.
“So,” Rafferty said contemplatively, “what you’re saying is that someonehasto be magical to use a Relic.”
Ilain raised her brow. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“And,” he continued, “if someone is magical, then the Relic lights up all pretty-like when they hold it?”
A curious glimmer came into Ilain’s eyes. “Yes.”
Rafferty leaned forward, gaze locked with the woman. “Which follows, if a magical individual who didn’t know they were magical held the Relic, the Relic would inform them that they’re magical purely by the fact that it’s glowing. Yes?”
Deckard wasn’t sure he followed the convoluted question.
However, Ilain’s smile grew. “I think you must have some theory.”
“Ilain,” Auden warned.
She ignored her brother, holding Rafferty’s challenging stare.
Deckard narrowed his eyes, confused. The two were engaged in a silent conversation, challenging one another. He attempted to puzzle through the weasel’s earlier question but found his mind too baffled by the twisting words to remember them all. His conclusion was that whatever theory Rafferty had, he believed someone in their party had magic that they didn’t know about. And that sounded downright preposterous.
“Put the Relic away, Rafferty,” Deckard ordered.
Eyes still locked with Ilain’s, Rafferty spun the Relic’s chain around his finger, letting it flip into his palm. “Sure thing, Colonel,” he said. Then he flung the necklace through the air straight at Deckard’s face.
On instinct, Deckard raised his hand, catching it.
“What are you—?” Deckard cut himself off, finding the Night Relic a vibrant purple in his grasp. The facets of the amethyst stone beamed like moonlight as he turned it over in his hand.
He blinked, looking down at the glowing gemstone. He’d never seen one so closely before. A strangely familiar heat raced across his skin as he studied the etching along the gold pendant. It reminded him of his dreams after the Day and Night Keep. He realized the Relic in the second dream was identical to the one now in his hand. He wondered if the Day Relic would match too.
“Why is it glowing?” Thom asked, bringing Deckard back to the present.
The revelation hit Deckard suddenly: The Night Relic was glowing.
Inhishand.
Deckard’s eyes met Evylin’s, confused. She stared back at him, her lips parted in shock. He turned to the Calders. “What is this?” He raised the Relic toward them. “Why is it glowing?”
