Page 49 of The Jasad Crown
Blue eyes looked directly at me.
Gasps sounded around me. Maia and Namsa skittered back, cursing in Resar.
Somehow, I wasn’t surprised he had heard me. That across mountains and hills and trees, my voice reached him.
Turn around!
Just as the nisnas snapped its arm forward, Arin whirled.
The vision went black. The suspended water crashed into the lake and sprayed me, Maia, and Namsa. The three Visionists collapsed, narrowly saved from falling into the lake by their companions. They must have emptied their stores completely.
I found myself once again at the center of attention as all eyes left the Visionists and turned to me.
“How did you do that?” Namsa demanded.
“Do what?”
“He looked right at you!”
“She summoned him!” another voice cried out. “She created a portal!”
The murmurs grew, rising until I couldn’t pick out individual voices.
“The Visionists can’t create portals,” Efra shouted. I braced myself for his barrage of accusations. “The Silver Serpent is sensitive to magic, remember? The Visionists always refuse to conjure visions of him for fear he would sense the trace of their power. They held up this vision with him at the center for nearly twenty minutes, and indeed, their fear was confirmed. The Malika just happened to be standing in front when he sensed it.”
If someone had asked me at the start of this week whether it was more likely I’d plunge into a sea full of ancient monsters, watch Arin ride Al Anqa’a, or experience Efra defending me, I would never have chosen the last option. I would probably have jumped out of the nearest window, but I wouldn’t have predicted this.
“We can’t risk casting a vision near him again,” Lateef agreed. He’d been standing behind the Visionists when they collapsed. “What if he manages to see into our side?”
“We learned our lesson,” Efra said gruffly. “But our goal has been accomplished. The kingdoms will turn against one another. The careful order the Silver Serpent sought to maintain is broken.”
Their moods lifted, the Urabi started filtering back into the mountain, chatter of food, war, and sleep mingling among them. Efra, Namsa, Maia, and I remained at the lake.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I don’t need you to defend me.”
“I do not intend to repeat it.” Efra cast a hard glance at the crushed ice floating over the lake. “Your power fills them with hope. Hope is all that has sustained us through years of horror and desolation. I will not let you tear it from them by revealing the dark underbelly of your magic.”
Namsa held up her hands. “Efra, consider your accusations. The Commanderissensitive to magic. It’s entirely possible your story holds truth.”
Efra scoffed. “Don’t be naïve. She was watching the nisnas approach him like her heart was on the Awaleen-damned butcher’s block. We have no idea what her magic is capable of because sherefuses to use it. But let us review, shall we? Her magic conjured a kitmer in the middle of the Victor’s Ball, it destroyed a wing of the Citadel, and it summoned the Sareekh—theSareekh, Namsa—to her rescue. She could have easily started to create a portal without realizing it.”
Maia cleared her throat. “Portalists are extinct, though, aren’t they? The only known one allied with the Mufsids.”
“Am I speaking to a wall?” Efra threw his arms wide. “Her magic doesn’t follow any accursed rules!”
“All magic has rules. Consequences.” Namsa turned to me, a speculative gleam in her eyes. “We just need to find out what hers are.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
SYLVIA
Namsa delayed me, waiting until the others had vanished into the mountain before she spoke.
“They are gathering for the Aada in there.” She inclined her head toward the entrance. “They’ll be expecting you.”
“What more is there to discuss?” I brushed a crusted strand of my hair away from my mouth. I hadn’t had a chance to wash up since last night. Thanks to my luxurious soak in the brine and sediment of Suhna Sea, I could pick up a curl and crack it between my fingers. “Nobody listened to me earlier. Any tidy scheme you might’ve had before won’t survive Galim’s Bend. In hours, Felix will have soldiers posted up to his hairy nostrils. Orban will likely declare a curfew and arrest anyone out past the hour. Who knows what Lukub will do? Vaida might start throwing anyone whose name ends with anainto the Traitors’ Wells.”
“It was a mistake to authorize the attack without your input. Don’t give us an opportunity to repeat it. Come listen to what we have to share with you, Essiya.”
