Page 44 of Sword & Shadow
“Not much.” A few copper strands drifted free from Ilain’s hood. “There are only fourteen within the Alliance, including you.”
“But you know them all?”
“Oh, no.” The woman’s jade eyes were bright even in the dim light. “Most of them are on secret assignments throughout the continent. One is even in Schon, working to develop allies in the empire. Many of the others, I’ve never met.”
“How many do you know?” Thom asked.
Ilain did a quick count in her head. “Six.”
“Including me?” Evylin asked.
“Including you.”
“So few?”
“As I said, they’re spread throughout the continent. And fourteen isn’t a great number in itself.”
Evylin supposed that was true. “Are you friends with any of them?”
A wry tilt lifted the corner of Ilain’s lips. “Not in the strictest definition. We’re friendly, but I wouldn’t consider myself close with any of them. Particularly the woman.”
Though Thom looked amused by this idea, Evylin frowned. “Is there only one other female Warrior?”
“No, no.” Ilain waved a hand through the air. “There are two. But I only know the one.”
Evylin furrowed her brow. “Three women out of fourteen Warriors? Is that common?”
“We don’t really know what’s common among Warriors anymore. Nearly all the literature on their history was either destroyed by the Mages of Auld or the records are missing.” Ilain undid the braid in her horse’s mane and began again. “The control of information was originally a ploy by the Auldan Mages to keep the Warriors submissive.”
Thom gave Evylin a mocking grin. “I should have thought it impossible for a Warrior to submit to anyone.”
Evylin rolled her eyes.
“Not impossible but highly difficult,” Ilain said. “And don’t bother asking me the methods they used. That information is held within the missing texts I mentioned.”
“Were they stolen?” Evylin asked.
“I couldn’t say. It isn’t really discussed in the Orders. Mostly because the majority of Mages don’t care.”
“Why wouldn’t they?” Thom asked. “Aren’t they still concerned about controlling Warriors?”
“What Warriors?” Ilain replied dryly. “They’re eradicated, remember?”
“But youlied.”
“I gave you the common truth. The Orders aren’t worried because why would they be? What few Warriorsareborn, like Evylin and Hewitt—” She stopped herself immediately, sharp green eyes flashing to Evylin in apology.
Knowing that such a casual mention of Hewitt’s nameshouldcause her heart to stutter with sadness, Evylin didn’t feel an ounce of pain. The Day Relic warmed her skin, keeping her safe from such spontaneous emotion.
Evylin reached over to pat Ilain’s arm. “I’m fine. What were you saying?”
“Well...” Ilain eyed her warily, almost suspiciously, then continued, “What few Warriorsareborn, they’re like you: completely unaware of magic. If you’d never met Carlile and been brought into the Alliance, you would never have accessed it. At least, not enough to make you aware.”
“So there could be other Warriors in Ephria?” Evylin asked.
“I’m certain there are. And once the Alliance has successfully rebuilt Allund, they’ll go through the whole continent testing for both WarriorsandMages to help train them properly.”
Another surge of excitement and hope filled Evylin. “How many do you think are out there?”
