Sea Glass

7

MY AUTOMATIC REACTION WAS TO GRAB THE HILTS OF MY SAIS. I hadn’t seen Devlen’s face since he attacked me at the Thunder Valley market two seasons ago. But the big smile reminded me that Ulrick and not Devlen’s soul resided within the body.

“How did you know I was here?” I asked.

“Word moves like lightning in these small towns.” He hooked an arm around my shoulders and propelled me down the street. “One of the merchants sent me a warning that someone was asking about me. Or, rather, the new me.” He squeezed me close. “I knew you would figure it out! Devlen claimed he would fool everyone, but I warned him he couldn’t trick you.”

Guilt flared. Caught off guard, I felt unbalanced. Our reunion was not how I had envisioned it. I thought I would have to rescue him.

“What’s been going on? Tell me everything,” he said.

I stopped and searched his face. “Did something else happen to you when you switched bodies with Devlen? You seem…”

“Happy?”

“I was going to say different, but happy works. You never were the overjoyous type.” He had been moody, sullen, protective and jealous, which made the times he had been in a good mood stand out. “Why are you happy? Do you have any idea what Devlen did in your body? What he did to me? If you consented to the trade, you’re just as guilty as he is.”

He sobered. “Let’s find a quiet corner to talk.”

He led me to a pub called the Emerald Eyes. Ulrick nodded to the owner and strode to a back table. I had been in here earlier and the owner claimed he hadn’t seen anyone matching Ulrick’s description.

After we sat, the man glided over to us carrying two mugs of ale.

“I see you found your friend,” the proprietor said, setting a mug before me.

“No thanks to you.”

The owner was unaffected by my comment. “Rick is my best customer. You’re a stranger. Dinner?”

“Yes,” Ulrick said.

“No,” I said. When the owner left, I raised an eyebrow. “Rick?”

He squirmed a bit. “I couldn’t use my real name. It didn’t feel right, and I don’t like the name Devlen. Rick worked.”

“So you agreed to be Rick? It wasn’t forced on you?”

He gulped his ale and set the mug on the table, placing it in the same ring of wetness. Avoiding my gaze, he fiddled with it.

“Why did you switch bodies with Devlen?”

“I couldn’t resist.”

“Resist what?” I prompted, although I had a good guess.

“The power.” He looked up. “You know, Opal. Remember when everyone called your magic the One-Trick Wonder? How you longed to do more?”

“Yes, but I wouldn’t—”

“Really? If someone gave you the chance, would you really have refused? If Pazia approached you, before she lost her magic, and wanted to change places? Think about it before you answer.”

The temptation would have been strong, but I would have refused because of the blood magic.

Before I could speak, he said, “I went from Ulrick, the One-Trick Nobody, to Rick, The Magician.” He laid his hands on the table with the palms up. The mug rattled, then floated into his hand. His lips curved into a satisfied smile.

“Didn’t you think we might have just scratched the surface of your own magic? That you might be able to do more?” I clamped down on my next question. Didn’t he think about me?

“He’s a Sandseed Story Weaver. He read the threads of my life and said I possessed one ability—to infuse my glass pieces with a brush of magic so they could read a person’s mood.” Bitterness spiked his voice. “The only way to increase my power was to switch with him. He no longer desired his magical ability. Devlen wanted to be an average man. I’m sorry if he hurt you by leaving so abruptly…” Ulrick paused. “Is that how you discovered the switch? Because you thought I wouldn’t leave you?”

Guilt warred with confusion. I replayed his words in my mind. “He was supposed to leave?”

“Yes. He was going to sever all contact with my friends and family…with you. I planned to learn all about my new magic, and then find you and explain.”

“But didn’t you know who he was?” Confusion won the battle.

“A Sandseed Story—”

“No. Who he really was?”

By his blank look, I knew he didn’t. Devlen had possessed a strong mental ability and he could convince a weak magician of anything. Add his wordplay skills, and Ulrick hadn’t stood a chance.

“He’s a Daviian Warper. He attacked me twice. Didn’t I tell…” No. I hadn’t. The contents of my stomach churned with dread.

“Must have been during one of your secret magician meetings where I wasn’t invited. No reason to tell a One-Trick Nobody.” He swigged his ale and glared into the mug.

“It wasn’t like that. When I explained about Sir and Tricky’s kidnapping, you wanted a battalion of guards to watch me despite the fact I escaped on my own. If I had told you about Devlen—”

“We wouldn’t be here.”

“No. You would have never let me out of your sight.”

“What’s so bad about that?”

When I didn’t answer, he continued, “Face it, Opal. You’re dancing around the subject, but we both know the real reason you’re upset.”

“We do?”

“Yes. In switching my life for another’s, I gave up on us. With his Story Weaver ability, Devlen replayed our times together. Watching you from a different perspective, I realized you never loved me.” The distance in his eyes faded. He leaned forward as if excited by a new idea. “But you’re here now. When he left, you must have realized your true feelings, tracked him down and discovered the switch.” A hopeful tone lit his voice.

A conflicting array of emotions rolled through me. Guilt dominated, and I needed to tell him…everything. “Ulrick, Devlen didn’t leave.”

“Oh?” A quizzical expression crinkled his eyebrows.

“He was a Daviian Warper—”

“Was. He doesn’t have any power—well, unless he can blow glass—because I have it.”

Unable to form words, I shut my mouth. Devlen had convinced him the switch included magic. And from his words, Ulrick didn’t know about blood magic.

“What?” he asked. “He couldn’t have hurt you. With your glass spiders and bees, sais, and surrounded by Leif and that Stormdancer, you were well protected.”

I pieced together Ulrick’s comments. Devlen had spun a story using Ulrick’s own fears and disappointments. No magical power. No love, and, since his sister did hit him over the head, no family support. If they switched bodies, Ulrick would have his desire, and Devlen would sever relations with Ulrick’s friends and go his merry way. If his argument hadn’t worked, Devlen could have used his magic to persuade him.

“It appears Devlen lied to you and tricked you, too,” I said.

A stubborn conviction settled in a hard line across his shoulders. “I guess it’s easier for you to believe he tricked me than think I left you.”

A rush of fury pulsed in my veins. How many more people would accuse me of lying to myself or others? I suppressed the urge to bash him on the head.

The arrival of Ulrick’s dinner allowed me a few minutes to cool down and collect my thoughts. He ate with abandon, as if concentrating on his food would keep me from commenting.

“Let me tell you a story while you eat,” I said. I related how Devlen used his disguise as Ulrick. Sticking to the facts, I kept an even pace even when I admitted to letting him seduce me. “You acted different yet the same. Bolder and more confident.” I gestured to him. “I hadn’t realized that was what I needed from you to go to the next step in our relationship. At the time, I thought your change was due to being tricked by Gressa. You…Devlen told me you realized you no longer needed your family’s approval. And I rationalized the change to you finally moving past your disappointment over your magic.”

He had stopped eating and looked at me in either horror or pain. Both cut through me, exposing my guilt.

“And perhaps in a deep level of my consciousness I knew you were different. In order to be honest, I have to admit the possibility. I’m sorr—”

“Go on,” he said. His voice was rough, and his food forgotten. “What else happened?”

I explained how Kade’s capture forced me to admit I had feelings for the Stormdancer, and how my need to help Kade unwittingly revealed Devlen.

Ulrick flinched. “Go on.”

I told about the torture and how I tricked Devlen into going to Ixia’s northern ice sheet to meet up with Sir and his gang. They had caught Kade spying on them and planned to coerce him into harvesting the killing energy from Ixia’s blizzards into glass orbs. “Devlen wanted me to find his mentor’s prison. He didn’t care about Sir’s scheme. He knew I could locate the imprisoned Warpers in my glass animals through my nightmares.”

Ulrick gripped his chair arms, but said nothing. I continued the story, finishing with Kade’s and my escape.

“You drained Devlen? No magic left?” he asked.

“None.”

“Without him attacking you?”

“Yep. I stole his magic.”

He sat in stunned silence, which continued as all the information sank in. The tavern owner hustled over to inquire if everything was all right.

“Fine, fine.” Ulrick pushed his plate away. He tapped the mug. “I need a refill and a shot of whiskey.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Where is Devlen now?”

“In Fulgor.”

“In prison?”

“No. He’s working for your sister.”

“Say that again.”

“No one believes me. If they do, they’re pretending they don’t like Gressa. She’s using Devlen.” A bone-deep weariness soaked into my body.

“For what?”

“I don’t know. She’s Councilor Moon’s first adviser now. Do you remember what happened when you went to her factory and confronted her about the fake diamonds?”

Ulrick raked his fingers through his hair. He had let the black strands grow past his shoulders—surprising considering he always kept his own hair short.

“She seemed impressed we had discovered her work,” he said. “I tried to convince her to fess up to the authorities and perhaps earn a lighter sentence. After that…” He quirked a rueful smile. “She bashed me on the head. When I regained consciousness, Devlen was helping me.”

“She did follow your advice. She told the Councilor of Akako’s plot and gained her trust.” Which didn’t quite add up, unless Tama had other reasons to keep Gressa close. “What have you been doing since then?”

“Devlen instructed me how to increase my powers. He claimed there were two Story Weavers in Ognap who could guide me, but I haven’t found them. Instead, I’ve been earning money by helping a local glassmaker. I guess he lied about the Weavers, but…” He tapped his chest. “A part of me still believes him, yet with my magic, I can sense you’re telling the truth, too.”

“The Sandseed clan was decimated five years ago by the Daviian Vermin. No Story Weavers survived. The two he mentioned are Warpers.” Before he could contradict me, I said, “Not many people know because the Sandseeds don’t want it to be made public. Yelena is helping them until one of their children develop the ability.”

The owner returned with Ulrick’s order, placing the drinks on the table before hustling off. While we talked, the room had filled with people.

Ulrick downed the whiskey in one gulp. He played with the empty glass. “You kept many things from me, but you gave Devlen, and that Stormdancer, much more. I don’t want to be with you anymore.” He tossed a few coins on the table and stood.

“I understand, but you need to come with me to Fulgor. We’ll find Devlen, and Yelena can switch you back to your own body.”

He looked at me as if I had spoken in a foreign tongue. “Switch back to a magicless body?”

“You’ll still have your glass magic. Despite what Devlen told you, your own magic stays with your soul. The added magic you have now is from blood magic, which I haven’t even explained to you yet. It’s—”

“Another one of your secrets? No more, Opal. I’m done with you.” He turned away.

I leaped to my feet, grabbed his arm and pushed his sleeve to his elbow, exposing the tattoos. “Blood has been mixed with the ink. It’s the real reason you have more power. It’s illegal.”

He yanked his arm free. “I don’t care. I have magic and I have freedom. You can’t force me to go to Fulgor.”

“Yes, I can.”

“How?” He crossed his arms and straightened to his full height.

“I can drain your magic, leaving you with nothing.” I bluffed. I wasn’t sure if I could steal blood magic. Tricky had kept his, but it was my blood, not another’s. And I didn’t know how it all worked.

He laughed. “You don’t have an orb with you.”

I picked up the shot glass. “Any glass will work.” Another bluff.

He knocked the glass from my grip. It shattered on the floor.

“Oops. Nice try, Opal.”

“I don’t have to be close to you. I can pull your magic from a distance.”

He appeared unimpressed. “A few feet? A mile?” He shrugged. “I can sense you from that distance. Besides, I have no intention of letting you get that close.” His gaze hardened and an invisible force pushed me into my seat. “I have my own defenses.”

“There are other ways to counter you.”

“But first you have to find me.”

The tavern owner appeared by his side. “Something wrong?”

“Yes,” Ulrick said. “She’s causing trouble. Call the authorities and have her arrested for drunk-and-disorderly conduct.” He slipped the man a coin.

“Yes, sir.”

Ulrick strode to the door, but I couldn’t stand until he left.

The owner remained next to the table. He blocked my way. “Can I get you a drink while you’re waiting?”

“No thanks. I’m leaving.” I stepped around him and encountered two tank-size men with flat expressions. My sais would probably bend around their large shaved heads. Sighing, I returned to the table. “I’ll have a glass of wine.”

The owner inclined his head as if to say, “Wise move,” and headed toward the bar. He spoke with a young man who then sprinted from the tavern. Probably to report to the town’s security force. With the two musclemen hovering nearby, I stayed in my seat. Digging two handfuls of my little glass spiders from the pockets of my cloak, I kept them hidden in my palms. I waited for the perfect moment.

When a server passed me carrying a full tray, I tripped her. The poor girl flew forward and the mugs of ale splashed all over the next table. Amid cries of dismay, I crushed the spiders in my hand, hoping no one noticed the huffs of air and the flashes.

About a dozen spiders appeared on the table. “Crawl all around the tavern,” I ordered, sending them a mental image of what I needed them to do. They scurried to obey. I smiled. Handy little guys.

Shrill shrieks and screams followed gasps of horror as the spiders dashed and scuttled through and over the tavern’s patrons, providing me with an excellent distraction. I left without trouble and, after a fruitless search of Ognap for Ulrick, I returned to the Tourmaline Inn.

While waiting for Janco to return, I reviewed my conversation with Ulrick. The whole encounter felt surreal, and not as I expected. His reaction to me had been justified, but his desire to remain in Devlen’s body must be part of the addictive nature of the blood magic. Yeah, right, Opal. Better to blame blood magic than to blame yourself. Or Ulrick.

Devlen claimed the exchange had been mutual, but Ulrick hadn’t been given all the facts. Plus, the magical persuasion made the whole endeavor suspect. I would need to track Ulrick down and capture him somehow. Perhaps Janco would have a few ideas on how to accomplish that.

Then what? Escort him to Yelena? She was the only person who could corroborate my story. Janco’s word didn’t count, as far as the Sitians were concerned.

I stretched out on the bed, but sleep eluded me. My thoughts whirled out of my control, matching my life. If I was caught by the Council now, they wouldn’t hesitate to lock me in the Keep’s cells. Better to stay free and sort this mess out on my own.

The bang of a door woke me from a light doze.

Janco rushed into the room. “Wake up! We need to leave. Now!” He shoved my stuff into my bag.

I pushed up to my elbow. “Why?”

“The local guards have been…ah…alerted to our presence.”

Hopping out of bed, I grabbed my clothes. “How?”

“Minor…miscalculation. I’ll explain later. Move!”

I tossed my saddlebags over my shoulder and followed him into the inn’s hallway. He skidded to a stop at the top of the stairs. Janco put a finger to his lips as Carleen’s irritated voice reached us.

“…indecent hour. My customers won’t be happy.”

The glow from a lantern brightened the staircase. We backed away as Carleen and a large group of soldiers mounted the steps.