The Shadow Of What Was Lost

Chapter 44

Davian’s stomach rumbled as he walked into the tavern.

The smell of stewing meat dragged him forward, despite knowing he didn’t have enough coin in his pocket to pay for it. He’d covered a lot of ground over the past week and now he estimated that at the same pace, he was only a few days away from Ilin Illan itself. Fortifying his body with Essence had given him stamina he’d once only dreamed of; whenever he began to tire, he simply drew more from the world around him. He’d slept twice since leaving Deilannis, both times only briefly, and more because he was worried about the effects of staying awake for so long than because he needed to.

The one thing Essence hadn’t been able to do, however, was stop him from being hungry. His stomach growled again, sucking at his insides. He glanced around. The village was small and so was the tavern; there were only a few patrons tonight, mostly farmers from the looks of them.

"Evening, friend." A pretty girl planted herself in front of him. "Can I help you?"

Davian grimaced. He knew how he looked - dishevelled, clothes ragged, a pack on his back that was clearly empty. More like a potential thief than a customer.

"I’m out of coin," he admitted. "But I’m willing to work for a meal. Anything you need doing. You don’t have to feed me until after I’m done, but -"

"That’s fine." The girl’s expression softened. "We’ll work something out later. You look exhausted. Take a seat and I’ll see what cook has to spare."

Davian gave her a grateful smile in return. The girl was striking, with long legs and green eyes that seemed to shine in the firelight. For a second, she seemed almost familiar… though he couldn’t say whom she reminded him of.

He collapsed into the nearest chair, relieved to rest despite knowing he didn’t need it. It wasn’t too long before the serving girl was back, placing a large plate of steaming meat and vegetables in front of him.

Davian looked at it in astonishment; at the few places that had been willing to trade food for work, the meals had been stingy at best. "I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this," he said sincerely.

"Times being what they are, we can all use a little help."

Davian nodded, his expression serious. He’d heard about the invaders at the first big town he’d come across after Deilannis, and had pushed himself hard ever since. He had abilities now - a way to help Wirr and the others, help fight whatever was coming from the Boundary. He had to get to Ilin Illan before it was too late.

"Any word on the invasion?" he asked between mouthfuls.

"Folk are saying King Andras has sent out troops, but… a lot of people are getting out of the city." The girl flashed him a pretty smile, sliding into the chair opposite him.

Davian paused mid-mouthful, suddenly aware of just how attractive the girl was. Her tight-fitting outfit showed off her full figure to good effect, and he forced himself to focus on his plate as she leaned forward.

"That’s good the king is sending troops," he said, a little distracted. Then he remembered his vision, the one from Deilannis, and grimaced. "Hopefully."

"Hopefully," agreed the girl with an easy smile, amusement dancing in her eyes. "I’m Ishelle. You can call me Shel."

"Nice to meet you, Shel. I’m Davin. Davian." Davian shook his head, flushing as he corrected himself. His mind was sluggish.

Ishelle’s smile changed, and she looked… sad. "You don’t remember me, do you?"

Davian frowned. He opened his mouth to ask what she was talking about, but suddenly his tongue seemed thicker than usual, and the only sound that came out was an odd gurgling. He tried to focus on Ishelle’s face, but everything seemed blurry.

With a rising panic, he realized the expression on her face had not been sadness. It had been guilt.

He tried to stand, but the hard wooden floor of the tavern rushed up to meet him.

Everything faded.

Davian shook his head, then groaned at the motion.

His skull felt as though it were about to split in two, and movement seemed to only make matters worse. His mouth was dry and his eyelids gummed, but when he tried to move his hands to rub his face, he found that they were tied to his sides. He turned his head, looking around blearily from his position on the bed.

The room he was in was nondescript. The bed and a couple of chairs were the only pieces of furniture that he could see; otherwise the timber floors and walls were bare. A small window provided what little light there was, the illumination clearly originating from a street lamp, indicating that it was still night.

Vaguely, he began recalling the events of earlier in the evening. Ishelle had clearly drugged him with something – why, he had no idea – but if she believed she could keep him tied up, then she was going to be surprised.

He closed his eyes, reaching out with kan. There were sources of Essence everywhere – including people - but he chose to draw it from the fire that burned in the kitchen. He only needed a little, not even enough to extinguish the flames.

He solidified the Essence, made it razor-sharp and then sliced through his bonds, grimacing as he remembered where he’d learnt that trick. Once free he stood and stretched muscles stiff from disuse, feeling almost casual as he surveyed his surroundings.

Absently, he realised he had a Shackle around his arm. It made little difference to him – it only stopped Essence being drawn from within, something he couldn’t do anyway – but it was an irritation. He concentrated for a moment, intrigued. The Shackle was just a layer of kan, containing Essence within the body. Of course. He pushed at the metal on his arm with kan for a few moments, experimenting. The Shackle suddenly retracted, falling to the floor with a clatter.

He grinned to himself.

He strode to the door, drawing a little more Essence from the fireplace to ease the ache in his muscles. Immediately they felt looser, stronger. He reached for the door handle.

“Very impressive,” came a voice from behind him.

He spun, ready to defend himself. A man stood in the corner of the room; Davian was certain he had not been there a moment ago.

“Who are you?” Davian drew in the remaining Essence from the fire, as well as a little from the heat of the kettle that had been boiling atop it. Not much, but enough to do some damage if required. “Why did you take me prisoner?”

The man smiled. “Prisoner?” He sighed. “I must apologise for Ishelle’s… less than subtle method of delaying you. She had strict instructions to keep you here until I arrived. I’m afraid she was a little overzealous.”

Davian scowled. “You haven’t answered my question.”

The man sighed again. “My name is Driscin Throll. I am an Elder from Tol Shen,” he said, offering his hand. When Davian didn’t shake it, he dropped it with an impatient roll of his eyes. “You’re not a prisoner. You are here for me to make you an offer, nothing more. All I ask is that you hear what I have to say, and then you may continue on your journey.”

Davian gave him a suspicious glare. “Very well.” He concentrated, pushing through kan and searching out Driscin’s mind. He would find out exactly what this man intended before he agreed to anything.

As he stretched out, though, he found himself blocked by an invisible barrier. He frowned, probing the shield, trying to push past it, but it was no use. Driscin’s mind was being protected by another source of kan.

Driscin saw the surprise on his face and smiled. “As I said before. Impressive,” he said thoughtfully. He glanced towards the door. “You can show yourself now, Shel.”

Davian turned, expecting to see the door swing open. Instead there was a shimmering in the air, like a mirage in the desert; in an instant Ishelle stood before them, having seemingly appeared from nowhere. Davian took a half-step back.

“Haven’t seen that one?” the young woman asked with a cheeky grin.

Davian’s eyes widened. “You’re an Augur?” It was the only thing that made sense. Essence alone couldn’t make someone invisible, he was certain. Ishelle must have been using kan somehow. She’d been the reason he couldn’t Read Driscin, too, no doubt.

“Surprise,” said Ishelle.

Davian stared at her for a moment. “You drugged me,” he said, his tone accusatory. His head was beginning to clear of the effects of whatever she had given him, but he was still a little foggy.

Ishelle made a face. “I had to make sure you didn’t go anywhere. Driscin was only a few hours away, but you have a nasty habit of disappearing for long periods of time.”

Driscin waved his hand dismissively. “We’ll get to that later,” he said. “Sufficed to say, we know who you are, Davian.”

Davian leaned forward. “And who is ‘we’?” He focused on the strange man. He’d know if they lied to him, at least, even if they tried to mask it.

“The sig’nari. You might know of us as the Prefects,” replied Driscin. “We serve the Augurs, are their eyes and ears, carry out their wishes. And search out new Augurs, when they appear.”

Davian’s eyebrows rose. “The sig’nari?” he said dubiously. “I’ve heard this story before.”

“It’s the truth,” supplied Ishelle. “I’d heard rumours about them for years before they found me.”

“At the beginning of the Unseen War, we went into hiding,” continued Driscin. “But we kept watch. We waited. When one Augur dies, another is born within a few years; that is the cycle. So we knew that on that night, when the war began, new Augurs would soon be brought into the world. We have been vigilant ever since.”

Davian frowned. “Let’s say I believe you, at least for the moment. How did you find me?”

“Talmiel.” Driscin watched him closely. “A man there of… somewhat unsavoury repute helped two young boys across the border into Desriel. He robbed them, but immediately afterward he collapsed. Almost died. Three days later he awoke with no memory of the incident at all, and two years of his life missing into the bargain.” Driscin shrugged. “Talmiel is a superstitious town at the best of times. Word spread, and one of my men heard the tale. From there, we managed to piece together your journey as far as Thrindar.”

Davian grunted. “And after that?”

“I found you,” spoke up Ishelle.

“Shel has an unusual gift, even for an Augur. One touch, and she can know where someone is for the rest of their life,” explained Driscin.

Davian stared at the young woman. “I remember you,” he said suddenly, eyes widening. “The girl from the market. I bumped into you, knocked you over.” Ishelle smiled, and Davian sighed. “Or so it seemed.”

Ishelle leaned forward. “I tracked you all the way to Deilannis, but once you entered the city it was like you just… vanished. We knew you were on your way to Andarra so I waited here, assuming you’d come along this road eventually.” She scowled. “Waited here, in this backwater village, for a month. A month. I was only days away from leaving when I felt you again.” Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him. “How did you do it? I’ve never had anyone disappear from my tracking before.”

"Maybe I’m just special," said Davian.

Ishelle made a face at him and he restrained a smile, relaxing a little. Whatever their methods, he was beginning to believe that these people had no intention of harming him.

Davian leaned back. “So how many Augurs have you found thus far?”

Driscin shifted. “Including you and Ishelle? Two.” He held up his hand. “Understand, this is no easy task. It was difficult enough back when the Augurs were ruling; it’s a thousand times harder now that the Treaty exists.”

“I suppose I can see that,” Davian conceded. He crossed his arms. “So. You were going to make me an offer.”

“Come with us.” It was Ishelle, her voice pleading. “Help me find others like us, Davian. We can teach them; we can teach each other.”

Davian shook his head. “To what end?”

"This invasion came from Talan Gol," said Driscin seriously. "We don’t know much about it yet, but it seems clear the Boundary is weakening. Without the Augurs, there will be no way to strengthen it against whatever threats are beyond."

Davian hesitated. "And I do want to help with that," he admitted, " but the invasion hadn’t started when I was in Thrindar." Driscin wasn’t lying, but he clearly wasn’t telling Davian everything, either.

"True," said Driscin. "I suppose that has been a more recent shift in our focus. Originally, our aim was simply to gather the Augurs - to keep them hidden from Administration, let them learn from one another. Then, to eventually pave the way in the Assembly for the Treaty to be changed. Maybe have the Augurs return to a semblance of power one day." He shrugged. "Ultimately, that’s still our goal."

Davian stared at Driscin in bemusement, thinking back to some of his conversations with Wirr. "I don’t know much about politics, but that doesn’t sound like something that could happen anytime soon. Maybe not in my lifetime," he said quietly.

"It was always a long-term plan," admitted Driscin, unfazed by Davian’s pessimism. "But as it happens, this invasion may have changed that. Thousands have died, and as awful as that is, it has also reminded people of how important the Gifted are.”

He leaned forward. "The way the king has been acting towards us over these past few weeks is starting to make people nervous - it’s shining a light on the fact that Andarra’s most powerful weapon, its best defence, could be made impotent by one man’s prejudice. When all this is over, I guarantee that there will be an argument for changing that - renewed support for the Tols both in the Assembly and amongst the people. Andarra may not like us, but they are beginning to recognise our value. And the more that happens, the more sway we will have."

Davian gave a slow nod. "That’s good for Tol Shen… it doesn’t mean anyone will feel differently towards the Augurs, though," he noted.

"When we tell everyone that the Augurs are the only ones who can seal the Boundary, I suspect that may change too," said Driscin. "It should be enough to have the Treaty amended, to remove the ban. That’s more progress than we could have dreamed of a few months ago."

Davian leaned back, heart rate increasing a little as he assessed what Driscin was saying. Much still had to go right, but he couldn’t see any flaws in the logic. It was possible. "And if that happens, you want the Augurs to be overseen by Tol Shen. You want me to join Tol Shen," he concluded after a moment, enthusiasm suddenly waning again.

Driscin nodded. “The Athian and Shen Councils are too at odds to work together on something like this, and any association with Athian is political poison at the moment. The Augurs need to be unified, allied with somebody… reliable, if the Assembly is to ever take them seriously. Tol Shen is the only realistic option.”

Davian shook his head, unable to hide his reluctance. It all seemed perfectly reasonable - and yet he knew Tol Shen’s reputation. They were power-hungry, manipulative. The idea of their exerting any measure of control over a group of Augurs, over him, made him uncomfortable.

"No," he said after a moment. He glanced at Ishelle. "Once these invaders have been defeated, I will work with you to fix the Boundary - but that’s all. I don’t want to join Shen."

Ishelle made a face. “Because we’re all evil, I assume?” she said, sounding more amused than annoyed. “That’s what they teach you in Athian, isn’t it - that Tol Shen are more interested in power than what’s right, while every single Gifted from Tol Athian is a shining beacon of the standards of El himself?"

Driscin spoke up before Davian could respond, making a calming gesture in Ishelle’s direction. “You’ve grown up in an Athian school, and you’re reluctant. I understand.” He rubbed his forehead. “If you are concerned about the types of people you associate with, though, perhaps you should take another look at your friend Taeris Sarr before coming to a decision.”

Davian flushed. “You’re talking about what he did three years ago? That’s a poor example to choose, Elder Throll. I was the boy he rescued - he saved my life by killing those men. Hardly a black mark against him in my book.”

Driscin shook his head. “But you don’t know the whole story,” he said quietly. “Haven’t you ever wondered where you came from? Before the school, I mean.”

Davian stared at the Elder, puzzled. “Of course I have.”

“We think that Taeris knows,” said Driscin. “What we do know is that he is the one who brought you to Caladel as a child, who dropped you at the school’s doorstep. He’s followed you, followed your progress your entire life. It was no coincidence that he found you in Desriel, nor that he was there that day three years ago.”

Davian shook his head again. “He would have told me something like that,” he said, with more confidence than he felt.

“There’s more,” said Driscin. “He set up that encounter in Caladel, Davian. He told those men you were from the school. He wanted them to attack you, so that you would be forced to defend yourself, to discover you had powers.”

Davian scowled, his head spinning. “I don’t believe that.” It couldn’t be true - though there was no black smoke, nor any pain in his temples to indicate Driscin was lying. Davian snorted, ignoring the sudden sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. “How could you possibly have information like that?”

Ishelle shifted. “You surely didn’t think I’d miss the opportunity to Read you and your companions, back at Thrindar? There wasn’t time to get everything from him, but Taeris was far too preoccupied finding a way out of Desriel to worry about shielding himself." Her lips curled upward. "I know what you were thinking when you bumped into me, too, by the way.” She winked at him, and he felt himself blush furiously.

Davian took a few seconds to recover, then shook his head. "No. Either you’re mistaken, or this is some sort of trick. Taeris isn’t like that."

Driscin sighed as he saw Davian’s defiant expression. “Perhaps this is something you need to resolve for yourself.”

“And how can I do that, exactly?”

“Ask him.” Ishelle stepped forward, placing her hand on his shoulder. “You know how to see whether people are deceiving you - I’ve watched you do it for the last few minutes. You know we’re not lying to you, Davian. You owe it to yourself to at least find out if we’re right.”

Davian gritted his teeth; he still wanted to argue the point, but he knew it would just look like he was being unreasonable. “No matter what I find, it won’t change my mind about Tol Shen,” he said, a little defensively now.

“I don’t understand. Where else would you go?” Ishelle crossed her arms. “You don’t know anyone at Tol Athian, even if they were willing to take you in. The only other survivor from your school was Torin Andras, and you can be certain he won’t be spending his time around the Gifted.”

“How did you….” Davian trailed off, grimacing. “Oh. Well, if you know that, then you know we’re friends. I can do more by working with Wirr – Torin - than I could by joining Tol Shen, anyway.”

Driscin shook his head. “Don’t delude yourself on that front, lad,” he said, his tone gentle. “He’s a prince of the realm, the Northwarden’s son. You might be friends, but whatever passed between you at the school, don’t imagine you’re equals. Even if he wants to welcome you at the palace gates with open arms, he won’t be able to."

Davian frowned. "Meaning?"

"Meaning if you stay in the city to aid Prince Torin, you’ll be forever hiding, living your life in the shadows. It will be years before he can afford to be publicly associated with an Augur, regardless of how soon the Treaty is changed. Years before he can acknowledge your existence.” He looked at Davian with a serious expression. "Your influence would be limited at best. It would be a waste of your talents."

Davian gave Driscin an angry stare. The Elder’s argument was sound, but it wasn’t what Davian wanted to hear. He’d assumed that once he made it to Ilin Illan, made contact with Wirr, things would work out somehow. That he’d find a way to stay, to help the only friend he had left.

Driscin sighed as he watched Davian’s expression. "You are not convinced - that’s fine; perhaps we can change your mind in time. You at least agree that the Boundary needs to be sealed?"

Davian nodded slowly. "Yes."

"Good." Driscin stood. "Then do what you must, for now - go to Ilin Illan, help where you can. But think about what I’ve told you - and once these invaders are defeated, come and find me at Tol Shen. If you still want only to seal the Boundary and return to Ilin Illan, then there will be no pressure to join us permanently. You have my word.”

He nodded to Davian, then gave Ishelle a tight smile. Without further pleasantries, he left the room.

There was a long silence as Davian and Ishelle looked at each other awkwardly.

“Am I free to leave?” asked Davian eventually, his irritation at the way he’d been treated bubbling to the surface again, making him sound ruder than he meant to be.

Ishelle held up her hands in mock defence. “You are. But I thought perhaps a full stomach might make you a little less prickly,” she said, with a smile to show she was only teasing. She gestured to some buttered bread on a tray next to the bed. “You must be hungry. You should eat.”

Davian gave the tray a mistrustful glance.

Ishelle laughed as she saw his expression. “Nothing unusual in the bread. I swear it.”

Davian thought about refusing the offer, but at that moment his stomach growled. He hadn’t eaten since the small amount of drugged food he’d managed to ingest. And it would look petty. And, he may not get another opportunity to eat properly until he reached Ilin Illan.

Scowling, he took a cautious bite of the bread. When he was still able to move his arms and legs satisfactorily, he wolfed down the rest, all the while watching Ishelle with a wary expression. Despite her apparently having intended him no harm, he couldn’t bring himself to trust her again so soon.

He finished, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “I’ll be on my way,” he said, standing. “I’ve wasted too much time as it is.”

Ishelle frowned. “To Ilin Illan? Tonight? Surely you need some rest.” She gestured to the bed. “You can have this room free of charge, if you like.” She grinned, a dimple appearing in each cheek. “As compensation for being drugged.”

“Thanks,” said Davian in a wry tone, " but I don’t need it."

Ishelle kept smiling, unfazed. “How about we make a deal. To show there are no hard feelings, at least take a free meal. A proper meal. No drugs. And my company for the evening.”

Davian snorted. “You almost had me until the last part.” Ishelle continued to smile at him cheerfully, and he wilted, sighing. A proper meal was too good to pass up. “Very well,” he said reluctantly, making a weary gesture in the direction of the door. “Lead the way.”

They made their way downstairs into the common room. The innkeeper, a short, rotund woman of middle age, was soon bringing them their meals. When Ishelle offered to pay, the innkeeper refused, insisting that Ishelle’s coin was no good to her.

Ishelle shrugged at Davian’s questioning glance. "I’ve been here a month. She likes me."

"Your knowing exactly what she’s thinking has helped, I’m sure," observed Davian. He’d seen the thin lines of kan, stretching from Ishelle to the innkeep. Minute, almost unnoticeable, but definitely there. His new companion had been Reading her.

"Nothing wrong with that."

Davian snorted, shaking his head. Malshash had been clear about this, but it was barely more than common sense. Common decency.

Ishelle looked at him with genuine surprise. "You disagree?"

Davian gave an emphatic nod. "Yes. These people… regular people, they have no way of defending themselves against us. What right do we have to go prying inside their most personal thoughts?"

Ishelle shook her head. "You haven’t Read many people, have you? Most of them deserve everything that’s coming to them." She sighed, waving away his scowl. "Don’t pout. I’m not asking you to do it."

Their meals arrived, and the two began eating. They were silent for a while, then Davian paused as he saw Ishelle looking at him with a curious expression. She smiled, leaning back and dabbing at her mouth with her napkin. “So tell me about Caladel,” she said. She waved her hand impatiently as Davian gave her a wary look. “Not the attack; I know all about that. What was it like, growing up in an Athian school?” She shook her head. “I always thought it would be so… boring.”

Davian sucked in his breath; it stung to hear the destruction of the school mentioned so flippantly. “I’d prefer not to talk about it,” he said, trying unsuccessfully to keep the stiffness from his voice.

Ishelle grimaced when she saw his expression. Her shoulders slumped a little.

“I’m sorry,” she said after a few awkward moments. “I know I can be… blunt. Driscin says I rely on my abilities so much, I don’t really know how to talk to people any more. Maybe he’s right.”

Davian hesitated. She sounded… uncomfortable. Genuinely embarrassed.

He paused for a few more seconds, then sighed, leaning forward.

“It wasn’t boring.” He took a mouthful of food, chewing as he thought. He swallowed. “There was always a lot to do. Studying, practicing.” He scratched his head. “Sometimes, we got sent outside of the school to run errands.”

Ishelle raised an eyebrow. “I think you and I have different definitions of boring,” she said with a gently mocking smile. Despite that, Davian thought he could detect a hint of gratitude in her tone.

He shook his head in chagrin. “I’m not explaining it very well. My friends were there,” he clarified. “It was… simple. The school was my home. It may sound monotonous - it was monotonous, I suppose - but for the most part, I loved my life there.” With another twinge of sadness, he realised just how true that statement was.

Ishelle shook her head. “I cannot imagine being forced to stay in the one place all those years,” she admitted. “It sounds like just another prison, barely any different to what the Tols must have been like during the sieges. Essence and kan are both dull unless you can go out into the real world and actually use them.”

Davian leaned forward, glad of the shift in conversation. "I take it you aren’t a student at one of Shen’s schools, then - you never got the Mark? Because if you had, there wouldn’t have been much choice in the matter," he added dryly.

"No, thank the fates." Ishelle gave him a half-apologetic shrug. "I work in the kitchens at Tol Shen, when I’m not out with Driscin trying to find other Augurs. But Driscin always made sure I didn’t draw enough Essence to be bound by the Tenets." Ishelle frowned. "You did, though, I take it?"

Davian hesitated, then nodded. "I don’t remember it, but… yes." He fell silent as he thought about that day, thought about what Driscin had told him earlier. He had a sudden urge to ask Ishelle exactly what she’d seen when she had Read Taeris… but he knew that whatever the answer, he wouldn’t believe a word of it until he spoke to Taeris himself.

The moment passed, and Ishelle evidently sensed that Davian didn’t want to speak further on the subject. The conversation turned to lighter things as they ate and for a while, Davian actually found himself relaxing.

Soon enough, though, their plates were cleared and he remembered the long journey he had ahead. He sighed. He still mistrusted Ishelle, but the meal had been a pleasant respite from the road. "I should go soon," he observed. "Before I do, though - is there anything else you can tell me about this invasion?"

Ishelle shrugged; it might have been Davian’s imagination, but he thought he saw a flash of disappointment on her face. “The Andarran army was about to meet the invaders, last I heard. Hopefully that will be the end of it."

Davian shook his head. "No. A while back, I… saw something. The invaders, camped outside Ilin Illan. That’s why I’m trying to get back there. If there is going to be a siege, they will need all the help they can get." He raised an eyebrow at her. "You could come. Two of us could make a real difference."

Ishelle hesitated. "No," she said slowly. "I don’t think that’s for me."

Davian made a face but nodded, having not really expected a different response. “Have you heard if the king is going to change the First Tenet, to let the Gifted fight?”

Ishelle shook her head. “Nothing beyond what Driscin said earlier. King Andras has made some strong statements against the Gifted in the past few weeks… if those are anything to go by, it’s not likely.” Her eyes narrowed. “You have been isolated, haven’t you? Tell me, Davian, in truth. Where did you disappear to? How did you do it?” Her eyes burned bright with curiosity.

Davian grimaced; he had no desire to talk about Deilannis. He could see the determination in Ishelle’s eyes, though - her desire to know how he’d escaped her for so long.

He quickly came to a decision. “Let’s trade. If you tell me how to make myself invisible, I’ll tell you how I avoided your tracking.”

Ishelle considered for a moment. “You first.”

Davian smiled, knowing he had her hooked. “Not a chance.”

“Nothing else you want to know more?”

“Invisibility,” Davian replied in a firm tone.

Ishelle sighed. “Very well.” She played with her fringe idly. “It’s not terribly difficult, once you get the hang of it. Encase yourself in a kan shield, but rather than have the kan absorb Essence, make it redirect it – a little like when you draw it out of the environment, I suppose. Bend it around yourself, so it’s as if the Essence is passing through empty space.” She grinned. “It was an accident, to be honest. Driscin and I were testing ways of deflecting attacks one day, and, surprise!” She made a dramatic gesture. “Driscin nearly had a heart attack.”

Davian smiled. “I can only imagine.”

Ishelle grinned. “Driscin thinks it works by bending the light,” she continued. “The Essence drags it around the shield, rather than letting it through.”

Davian glanced around at the other occupants of the room. “I probably shouldn’t test it right now,” he said regretfully.

“Try it on an object. Something small so no-one notices,” suggested Ishelle.

Davian gave her an approving look, then concentrated. He covered his bowl in a tight mesh of kan, then altered its properties so that it redirected Essence as Ishelle had suggested. Nothing happened; Davian adjusted the hardness of the kan a little, making it act almost like a mirror.

The bowl wavered in front of him, then vanished.

Davian’s eyes widened, and he felt himself grinning. “This could be useful,” he mused.

Ishelle beamed. “You have no idea,” she said with a wink. She leaned forward. “Your turn.”

Davian looked her in the eye. “I’ve changed my mind, actually.”

Ishelle gaped at him for several seconds.

“You lied to me?” she eventually choked out in quiet, outraged disbelief.

“Fair is fair,” replied Davian cheerfully. “You should have been checking. And anyway, you drugged me. I think we might be even now.”

Ishelle stared at him, caught between shock, annoyance and amused chagrin. “You’re serious. You’re not going to tell me.”

Davian shrugged. “Perhaps we can make a new deal. I’ll tell you if you come to Ilin Illan.”

Ishelle looked at him through narrowed eyes. “Tempting, if I thought you would hold up your end of the bargain.” She shook her head, smile rueful. "I suppose I’ll just have to wait until Tol Shen to get it out of you, then." She hesitated, looking him in the eye, suddenly serious. "Speaking of which. You are going to come, aren’t you?"

Davian inclined his head. "As soon as this invasion has been defeated - but as I said, it will just be until we figure out how to seal the Boundary." They both stood. “Thank-you for the meal,” Davian added sincerely.

Ishelle nodded. “Thank-you for the company,” she said with a small smile, apparently willing to forgive his deception. “And keep safe. I don’t want you dying until I get that answer from you.” She nodded towards the stairs. “If you change your mind about staying the night, you can have the room upstairs. First on the left. It’s paid for until tomorrow, and I thought you might like somewhere familiar to sleep.”

She flashed a pretty smile at him and then before he could respond, spun on her heel and disappeared out the door.

Davian stared after her for a moment, not sure whether to be irritated or amused.

He shook his head, but despite his best efforts he felt a small smile force its way onto his face.

Still smiling, he walked up the stairs to the room, shutting and locking the door behind him. He had no intention of staying the night, but before he left, he was going to take advantage of the lamplight and the comfortable bed.

He was going to keep searching through his book for information about Aarkein Devaed.