“What’s happening?” Thealos asked. His cheeks were flushed and he looked angry.
“Was hoping you could tell me. Shearmur wants us to go have a look.”
“It’s Forbidden magic, Allavin. By the gods, the air reeks of it. I can feel it…ban, I can feel it from here.” His expression soured. “The Sorian are down there. Both of them.”
Allavin swore softly. “We’ll get close but not too close. You ready?”
Thealos’ hand dropped to the hilt of his weapon.
*
Thealos and Allavin crossed the rolling hills between the army of knights and the village of Castun. The air reeked with a sooty, heavy, spoiled smell. Thealos touched the small pouch of stones at his waist and loosened the string, ready to scoop them up if he sensed danger. The sky writhed with darkness overhead as the pall spread, leeching the light specks from the starry sky. The howling wind came behind them, shoving them both with the strength of its fury.
Allavin led the way, and Thealos let him. It would be easier that way with his friends, he decided. How would they understand the gifts he had received on swearing the covenants of the Oath magic, and yet not be able to tell them what the oaths were and the powers they gave him? Even now, he felt his thoughts spinning with memories that rose up from the wellspring. In days long ago, the skies had turned black and wreathed with flames. Back when the Sorian had ruled every empire. Many Ravinir had seen it, and their memories churned inside Thealos now. The stench of the magic only confirmed what the borrowed memories told him. Sorian were at work in Castun. And what were they twisting with their magic now?
Their boots whisked against the tall prairie grass. Neither bothered using the stepwalking technique. That would only slow them down. An itch, a craving, inside Thealos made him long to draw the stones and invoke their power. To become nothing more than a whisper. Someone that Allavin could not see. Not even Flent’s sharp eyesight would be able to spot him. His hand strayed to the pouch again, but he clenched his fist and resisted the feelings. The magic tempted him constantly, just as Jaerod said it would. A true Ravinir learned when to summon it—not to become a slave to it.
“I think we’ve gone about two miles…”
Allavin whirled and waved for him to stop talking. The woodsman approached him and bent near his ear. “The wind is behind us, lad. Anything you say gets thrown ahead of us. Do you know the Shae hand signs?”
Thealos swallowed and shook his head.
Allavin frowned. “That’s why they invented it. We’re too close to the Bandit army now. They’ll have some scouts watching for us just as we’re watching for them. I don’t know how close they are. Just…just try not to speak, all right?”
Thealos nodded, and they continued south. The winds suddenly stopped, and it seemed as if everything in the world fell dead. Both of them halted, listening as the chirp of crickets started up again, followed by some distant buzzing and the shush of the prairie grass.
Breathing in the smells, Thealos nearly started choking. The smell of Forbidden magic filled the air still, but the wind brought in fresh smells from the Inland plains now. Kneeling, Thealos pressed his fingers into the dirt. He cocked his head, uneasiness stealing over him. He could not sense the presence of Earth magic.
Allavin crouched near him. “What is it?” he whispered.
Thealos shook his head. “The Earth magic is…it’s gone. I…I can sense none of it.”
He plumbed deeper into his feelings, trying to capture a spark of it, just a little taste to reassure him.
The Earth magic had drained away for miles around. There was not even a mote of it left…a hint of its flavor. He bit his lip and shook his head, furious at the desecration. The land could die without enough Earth magic to sustain it. It was strictly Forbidden to do that! The grass would die, the insects would fade. Birds would fly by without a place to nest. It was…wrong!
Something piqued Thealos’ senses, making him look up suddenly. He sensed it clearly in the void of Earth magic—the presence of another person.
He knew the other person was a Shae.
Allavin unslung his bow and fitted an arrow. “Where?” he mouthed.
Thealos pointed to the next rise of hills. “Another Shae. If I can sense him, then he can sense me.”
Who was it? Xenon? He reached for the stones again before catching himself.
Allavin flattened himself even more. “Where’s your bow?”
Thealos shook his head. There wasn’t time to explain the oath that prevented him from slaying a man with an arrow in return for not being able to be slain by one.
The darkness overhead retreated quickly, revealing the bright pinpricks of light in the sky again.
“Ban,” Allavin whispered. “We’ll be seen.”
Thealos put his hand on Allavin’s shoulder.