“Will I what?”
“Supply me with memories?” He grinned at the face I made. “I never grow tired of seeing that look on your faces when I ask. You don’t forget them, of course. We’ve got silver heartsglass for a reason. Our hearts can rarely be replaced, but the upside is keeping our memories intact, no matter how much of them I draw out. We don’t forget. Can’t tell if that’s a blessing or a curse most days. You’ll feel a bit out of sorts for a week, but you’ll be all right. In exchange, I give you information. My customers make up the bulk of the city, all cities.”
“I would be honored to do all I can to help you. But what kind of hearts do you make?”
“Difficult hearts, of course. The money I earn from forging one heart can keep me fed and clothed for a couple of years. The nobles can afford it. All the backstabbing and politics and scheming, I imagine, having their hearts taken away by some rivals and such. They’ll want a new heart quick for that before they go completely in someone else’s power. Once I get a new heart ready, the old heart stops working, you see, becomes worthless in enemy hands. I’ve got hearts in reserve, primed for the day some nobleman loses his heart to someone out for his blood and needs an immediate replacement. They lead very exhilarating lives is all I can say.”
“But can’t you do the same thing for Lady Mykaela?”
“Ah, yes. Missing her own heart too, isn’t she? Dark asha hearts are more complicated than your commonplace weaselly backward politician. Too many rare ingredients to find, too expensive. There’s still three or four key things missing from your mentor, and she’s been hunting for years. Memories from breaking free of a possession—that’s difficult enough to find. Memories of a False follower, a Faceless committing—well, committing False follower atrocities—that’s even more difficult, considering how secretive they are, how they’d rather die than be taken alive, and how you’d still require their permission. No, Tea, I think Mykaela will have to resign herself to a lack of heartsglass. She’s been doing well without one so far. As no one knows where King Vanor had it hidden, I suppose it’s a good compromise, even if it isn’t the compromise she wanted.” The Forger cuffed Junior lightly on the back of his head. “Say something, idiot.”
“I’m making a heart for an old man,” the boy said amiably. “Growing dementia.”
“I’ll try to make as many visits here as I can,” the Forger said. “But usually Junior here does the extracting for me. I won’t be around when you’re older, given my age—don’t give me that vile ‘but you’ll live to be a hundred’ speech,” he added when I opened my mouth. “I am a hundred. I won’t be here forever, and Junior’s slow on the uptake but good enough with his hands to work the forge. You’ll be the primary Dark asha when I pass on the title to him, so I expect you to keep him out of trouble. Damn fool’s got a bleeding heart of his own, would build hearts for anyone who asked if they cried hard enough.”
“But is that necessarily a bad thing?” Prince Kance asked.
“In this business, it is.”
“That doesn’t strike me as a fair trade,” Fox pointed out. “You get her memories, and all she gets is information?”
“True enough.” The Heartforger reached into the folds of his robe and produced a polished white stone no bigger than my thumb. “Lady Mykaela turned over to me a certain seeking stone used one summer night a few months ago. I destroyed the parts I didn’t need, wove my brand of magic on what remained, and feel it only appropriate for you to receive this.”
“Why?”
“I’ve bespelled it with a young soldier’s determination and an old woman’s stubbornness. Wear this on your person at all times, and anyone else seeking to control your mind will find it an uphill battle.” He waved a finger. “Whether they eventually succeed though, depends entirely on your own resolve. Take this as a show of goodwill on my part, I suppose.”
“Then let me return the favor,” I said, closing my hand over the small stone. “What memory would you like me to provide?”
The Heartforger was surprised but pleased, though he tried to hide it. “Any memory?”
“Whatever you need.” I didn’t think I had any experiences too traumatic for me to relive over again, and I assumed the memory he would try to take was when I first raised Fox from the dead.
“I usually wait until the second meeting to provide a list of my demands. But if you insist, there is one thing I’ve been hoping to finish tonight…”
He reached over and traced something in the center of my forehead.
I felt an odd sensation, a sudden influx of memories bubbling to the surface, like the Heartforger was rifling through the pages of my mind.
“Ah, this one should do nicely.” There was no pain, but I felt my thoughts being gently prodded toward—
“Fire and calm, these two; water and flash. Much like my sons. This is Prince Kance.”
The boy smiled at me, and I felt my cheeks prickle with heat. “It is my honor to meet you, asha.” He bowed.
“That will do.” His hand left my forehead, but with it trailed a little sliver of mist that wrapped around his finger. He guided it into his heartsglass, and we watched it disappear into its bright depths. I was still red. I knew Kance and Kalen saw nothing, but that made no difference to my embarrassment.
The Heartforger rose with a grunt, joints creaking. His apprentice abandoned his study of Fox and rushed over to assist his master.
“I’ve got a long night’s work ahead of me still,” the old man said. “Never a moment’s rest. You have my gratitude in indulging an old man’s curiosity, Lady Tea, you and your familiar. Good night, Your Highness, Lord Kalen.”
“That was the first time I’ve ever watched him at work,” Prince Kance said once the two had left. “Though I must confess I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Did you, Kalen?”
Kalen only shrugged.
It was difficult to be in the same room with the boy who your first memory of had just been handed over to be measured and processed like medicine.
Fox’s face was devoid of expression when he looked at Prince Kance, but I could practically feel his grin. So it came as a surprise when he merely said, “I don’t believe I was able to thank either of you for taking care of Tea that night at the cha-khana.”
Prince Kance smiled at him. “That won’t be necessary. If anything, Kalen and I should be in your debt. To be a Dark asha is no easy life, and I know the sacrifices you all make to keep our kingdoms safe. I hope we didn’t inconvenience you too much tonight? The Heartforger can be persistent.”
“Oh, no—I had nothing to do today. I mean, I had my classes and practice but not at night, which I’m sure Your Highness knows—not that I had no plans tonight, just that there are no classes for asha at night—”
Kalen cleared his throat. “I am going to step out for some air for a bit.”