“Caretaker?”
“Yes. I collect it when its job is done.”
Riggs stared at her. “That new guy can draw it.”
The pitcher of cream jarred enough in her hand to spill a few drops. “Tezpulled the sword?”
“Yep!” Riggs’s eyes glowed metallic.
“Well, now.” She placed the pitcher on the table and fetched sugar from the cupboard while I slid the sword back into the scabbard. Then she looked at me. “Have you dreamed of Tez?”
I gaped at her. Caliel had pointed that out too. And now Riggs was staring at me as though I’d sprouted antennas.
“I-I saw him in Drosfi, when we were escaping the city. I think he’d just arrived there, and we were leaving.”
Cara sat down. “That isn’t what I asked.”
I swallowed. “Yes. I had a dream with him in it.”
“You’ve dreamed of him?” Riggs’s voice shook.
“It was just a dream,” I insisted. But it had felt very real at the time.
Cara suddenly had a cat-with-cream smile on her face. “Hmm.”
“Hmm, what?” Riggs sounded like he was ready to explode.
“All will eventually be revealed,” she said mysteriously.
“If I don’t get some reveal right now, I am going to throw the sword in the lake,” Riggs threatened.
“That’s been done before.” Cara smiled.
It might have been my imagination, but I thought I saw steam emerge when Riggs exhaled.
Cara took pity on him. “The forgers of that sword infused it with a magic far more powerful than anyone can wield today,” she said. “And its abilities are not well understood. Even the sheath has magical properties.”
“Magic,” Riggs gave an eye roll worthy of Adilyn. “Perfecto.” He rubbed both hands over his head. “So what does all this have to do with me?”
“Only the sword knows that,” Cara stated.
Riggs leaned toward her, slapping both hands down on the table with enough force that it shook. “It’s just a blasted sword!”
“It has the shape of a sword,” she replied quietly. “It has a fine edge and perfect balance. But believe me when I tell you that it is only a guise for something very ancient that was created to lead us forward in troubled times.”
Their gazes met, and I swore I heard the clash of metal. But my own heart was racing for what this could all mean.
Not just for him. But forus.
“I’m nobody’s leader,” Riggs said through clenched teeth.
“The sword isn’t always about leadership. It’s about creating change,” Cara stated. “Who wields the power, is the true question.”
“Stop speaking in riddles.” Riggs glowered at her. “Maybe it belongs to this Tez guy.”
Something flickered in Cara’s gaze, but all she said was, “Maybe. He is also more than what he seems.”
Riggs exhaled loudly and pushed back from the table. “Well, I’ve had enough of it. You are its caretaker; you can have it back.” He strode to the door. “Give it to someone else. Use it to decorate your garden. I really don’t care.”
