Thealos glanced at her and felt himself blush—if that were possible.
She started to rise, but he managed to brush his hand against her sleeve. It sent stabs of pain down his forearm.
“Thank you.”
She smiled and bent down and kissed his cheek. “No, Quickfellow. Thank you. I’ll go help Blayne in the kitchens. You should feel honored, Quickfellow. This is the nicest room in the Wee Kirke.”
She started to the door and opened it. Then she stepped back, startled as two men entered.
Jaerod and one of the Mages of Safehome.
Thealos recognized the color and style of the Shae’s robes from his Foretelling months before. The wellspring, which churned within him still, confirmed it. Jaerod nodded and a familiar prickle went down his broken back. Even shuddering hurt.
Exeres rose respectfully, placing the cloth into the bowl next to the bed.
The Mage of Safehome lowered his cowl, revealing shoulder-length silver hair. The tassels on his robes swayed with the movement. He stepped forward, Jaerod two steps behind and to the left in a sign of deference.
The Mage looked at Ticastasy first. “Hello, child,” he said with such tenderness in his voice. He took her hands and clasped them in his, like a grandfather would to a favored one. “You have done so well. Thanks to you, our friend lives. And thanks to you, the magic of Safehome has been protected. Do you still have it, child?”
She bit her lip, flushed, and nodded.
“Give it to me. It is time to return the magic to where it belongs, lest it fall into the hands of those who would open its prison.” He held out his hand.
Ticastasy didn’t hesitate. She withdrew a small pouch hidden beneath her shirt and withdrew the gleaming jewel.
Just looking at it caused a wave of revulsion and fear through Thealos. He cringed inside himself, hearing it whisper to him, yet the voice was sluggish, heavy, thick with the weight of the taint. The Mage of Safehome took it and shielded it from Thealos’ eyes.
“You have done so well, child. Go now. I must speak with Thealos alone.”
Exeres nodded and started from the room as well. Jaerod caught the Zerite’s sleeve, whispered something to him, and Exeres nodded before leaving. The door shut softly.
Thealos stared at them, wondering what he should say. His tongue felt swollen.
“You don’t have to say anything, Thealos. You have done what you were sent here to do. What we knew you would do.” The Mage looked at him seriously. “The experiences you have had are meant to teach you. I hope you will take to heart those lessons. For someday you will need them if you truly desire to be a Ravinir and to walk the streets of Safehome. Yes, Thealos. The true Safehome. The very city that brought the Shae to this world. And to others.”
He approached Thealos’ bedside. “You are weary and broken from your experience. But sometimes things must be broken to be re-shaped. It was what the term Ravin means, does it not? To break is to be broken. If you are broken, you can be made anew. Not restored to what you were; to be made over into what you will become. The breaking is the process that begins the transformation. It involves great pain. But if in the end you become what you truly desire to become, what you were truly meant to become, then you will see at that day that the pain is fleeting. On that day you will understand that it served its purpose. Silver must be purified by fire to remove the dross. And so must each of us.”
Jaerod said nothing. He stared at Thealos, his expression hard, pained—hopeful.
“If I understand this someday, then I accept it,” Thealos said hoarsely. He coughed, knifing his side in the process.
The Mage smiled. “Well enough. The other teaching I want you to remember is this. Every form of magic has its opposite. Or shall I say, every form of magic can be used for good or for evil. The Earth magic. Life magic. Even the Oath magic. A warning I give you, Thealos Quickfellow. You will continually be tempted to use it in ways that are Forbidden. Resist those urges. Remember what Jaerod warned you of when you began taking the Nine Oaths. Never flaunt the Oath magic. Never use it for greed. You will know the difference. But it will not be easy choosing it. Do this, if you choose wisely, and we will meet next in Safehome where I will give you the blade and the medallion of a true Ravinir. Where you will be able to swear others to the Nine Oaths, as Jaerod did with you. Seek us. We will seek you. When we call, you must come. No matter how ill-timed it may seem.” He looked down at Thealos sharply. “No matter how ill-timed it may seem to you.”
“Aye,” Thealos said. It was the only proper answer to give a Mage of Safehome.
The Mage smiled and turned to Jaerod. “We must depart.”
Jaerod nodded and glanced over at Thealos again.