Cathrynne instinctively threw up a shield, using receptive magic from Lara’s ring. It deflected the flying shards. I’m learning, she thought with grim satisfaction. Luckily, the water that spilled on the floor doused the smoldering embers. She stared the mess, drawing deep breaths.
It reminded her of the nightmare. The endless plain of ice and fire. Once again, Julia Camara’s prophesy came back to her.
“When he falls from grace, you must not interfere. You must let him serve his penance, even if it lasts forever.”
“Penance for what? And why would I interfere?”
“Because you love him.”
Now Cathrynne wondered if she was speaking about Alluin Westwind. Was her own father destined to be this Dark-bringer? Because she certainly didn’t love Gavriel Morningstar.
Cathrynne’s hands knotted in the quilt. She felt a sudden urge to be gone from Everfell. She could not stand to be there another minute! She didn’t belong here, and she certainly didn’t want to face Gavriel in the morning. Didn’t want to hear his pleas or excuses—or worse, his frosty silence.
She lit a fresh candle and quickly donned her trousers, jacket and bodice, which Mia had laundered. Wearing the uniform of the cyphers made her feel calmer, more in control.
She’d make up a story. No one need know she’d been here. And Gavriel would never risk his precious reputation, so she could count on his silence.
Cathrynne left Everfell through the unlocked glass doors to the terrace and strode down the drive for a mile or so until she reached the road leading southwest towards Arioch. She did not look back.
***
The walk into the city was long and tedious, with plenty of time to think. Did her mother and grandmother know what Gavriel had done? Cathrynne thought not. They would not have allowed him through the front door if they did. No, they disliked Morningstar on principle.
Yet now that she’d cooled down, Cathrynne had to admit that he had another side to him. Playful, kind, passionate, protective. She would be with that man in a heartbeat. But it was impossible. At least he had the decency to come clean before they slept together. Gavriel did have honor. She could not fault him that.
Now it was time to face the witches of Arioch. A guilty warmth spread through her as she recalled his ardent kisses, but they would never know about that. Never.
She firmly shoved Lord Morningstar from her thoughts and mentally reviewed what she would tell Felicity Birch. She decided to stick to the truth as much as possible, especially about the kaldurite. The stones had caused at least two deaths that she knew of, but maybe some good could come of it. If seers had a way of blocking the ley, they might not go mad—or at least they would have more control over their gift. And cyphers could protect themselves against the magic of full witches!
Cathrynne grew excited as she thought of all the ways that kaldurite could save lives. She’d never had a say in important decisions before, but they would have to listen to her this time. She was the only person besides Kal who knew exactly where the source was. She could speak for the voiceless, for those with no influence. Cathrynne bit her lip. Would Gavriel tell his father about the Clear Creek Mine? If so, she needed to act fast.
The sun was high by the time Cathrynne arrived at the chapter house. She went straight to Felicity Birch’s office and rapped on the door, eager to hear the advice of her trusted mentor. The familiar voice came from within, crisp and commanding: “Enter.”
Cathrynne pushed the door open and froze. Felicity sat behind her desk, but she wasn’t alone. Marvel Yew, head of the Satu Jos cyphers, sat in a chair opposite. Her hair was braided tight to her head, and the burn scars along her neck and jaw were clearly visible in the bright daylight. The flame and forge of her province was emblazoned on her jacket. Silver eyes locked on Cathrynne, a vivid contrast to her dark skin.
“Rowan,” Marvel said grimly. Her whip-thin frame uncoiled from the chair. “You have impeccable timing. I just came to deliver a warrant for your return to Kota Gelangi.”
Felicity frowned. “Where have you been? I heard about the incident at the Lenormand School, but then you disappeared again?—”
Marvel cut her off with a sharp gesture. “She can save her explanations for the High Council.”
Cathrynne had expected punishment, but not this fast. “What have I done?” she asked in a subdued voice.
There were many, many possibilities. Best to determine exactly how much they already knew.
“We have witnesses who saw you abduct the Machena girl,” Marvel replied, her features stern.
The “witnesses” could only be Markus Viktorovich and Berti Baako. The prospect of facing them again sent a spike of ice through her belly.
“I didn’t abduct Kal,” Cathrynne protested. “I was trying to save her!”
“Then where is she now?”
“I don’t know. The forcing went wrong and she got away.”
Marvel’s expression hardened further. “Forcing? You aren’t supposed to even know how to do that!”
Cathrynne opened her mouth, then closed it again.
