I nodded.
“Where did she learn to heal with warrior practices?”
“She didn’t have magic, but she studied with a very inclusive group of Bodymelders when she was young. She adopted their techniques. It took more work, more time, since Bodymelders can use their power as influence and she couldn’t, but it only made her want it more. Work harder for it.”
“That’s why you’re helping Lancaster, isn’t it?”
“My mother taught me most of what I know, but the best thing she taught me was that no one deserves to suffer. I can’t say I necessarily agree, given the crimes the fae have committed.” I scowled. “But I can’t dishonor her by forgetting.”
Only the thought of her careful ministrations as a healer and her thoughtful guidance had me outlasting the disdain the fae wrought.
“Lancaster implied something earlier,” I began as we extinguished the mystlights and traipsed toward the staircase. The rest of the inn was quiet, thank the Gods. Everyone needed to rest after tonight. “I asked why his and Mora’s magics are so strong, and he wasn’t able to answer. I think it’s connected to the gods.”
Celissia’s gaze drifted to the dimly lit hall above. “Did your mother ever teach you about healing practices besides those of the Bodymelders?”
I shook my head, not following that train of thought. “Did your tutor in the citadel?”
Celissia clasped her necklace, a large oval stone with a rainbow hue when it caught the light. “No, but my family has ties to very powerful healers, so I’ve always dug deeper into the practice.”
“Bodymelders?” I asked.
“Some old, ancient bloodlines that tended toward it. Mostly dormant now. But I’ve found that there are some sources of magic we really should be learning more about. Things from the isles and beyond.”
“The Sorcia Isles?” I asked, and Celissia nodded.
Sorcia magic had been locked behind their gates for thousands of years. No one on Gallantia knew details of it, save the rogue nomadic sorcerer. They used spells and talismans to work, things that Bodymelders didn’t rely on given their abilities came from the land.
“How did you pull Vale from her session tonight? Not even Cyph can normally draw her back.”
Celissia avoided my eyes as we stopped at the top of the stairs. “I tapped into some unique branches of healing practices while in the citadel.”
“Isn’t that sort of study restricted?”
“Isn’t it difficult for humans to learn warrior ways?” she countered. I was about to argue thatrestrictedanddifficultwere not the same thing, but perhaps that was her point. “Your mother sounds like a spirit the world could have used more of.”
“She was,” I said. “Especially with the hatred and greed stemming through Ambrisk today.”
Celissia smiled. “Much like your mother, I want the world to suffer less.”
“Thank you for your help tonight,” I said, the sentiment wrapping around my heart. “I couldn’t have done it all on my own.”
“Of course.” She nodded. “Good night, Santorina.”
“Good night, queen-to-be.”
She waved off the title, but I couldn’t help but think that if it hadn’t been a ruse, if she and Barrett actually were to rule together, perhaps they’d create a throne worth bowing to.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Ophelia
“They said…what?”Tolek asked. With my head resting on his chest—right above his heart—I couldn’t see his face, but the unease was clear in his voice.
“That I shouldn’t dig too deeply into the whims of the stars.”
“And that was Valyrie?”
“Yes,” I sighed, sitting up to face him. “Which only makes me more uncertain about all of this.”
