She sat back, resting her head, closing her eyes, and she could practically feel that dark energy out there, swirling around her, pressing in upon her. It flowed toward her through the Toral ring, almost taunting her, reminding her of its existence.
“Aren’t we quite the pair?” Jayna said.
Eva started to laugh. “I suppose we are.”
Jayna sighed. “We aren’t finished with this though. I know you don’t want to talk about it now, and I’m perfectly willing to let it drop, but eventually, the two of us will need to have a conversation.”
Eva just looked off to the side, saying nothing.
Jayna started to get up but hesitated. “I’m going to need to find more information about what Raollet told me.”
“About me?”
“About you. About sorcerers. About the founding of the Sorcerers’ Society.”
Eva turned her head, watching her. “What did he tell you?”
“He suggested that the Sorcerers’ Society was founded by the twelve followers of Sarenoth, and that Sarenoth was somehow involved.”
“And you believed him?”
“I don’t know if I have any reason not to believe him.”
“What if he’s trying to manipulate you?” Eva asked.
“You know him better than I do. Is that something he would do?”
“I don’t know him all that well,” Eva said, turning her attention back to the fire. “When we got to the city, and you wanted me to start making contacts, I did the same thing I always do. I started going to antiquities shops.”
Jayna bit back the slight smile she felt at the comment. What did it say about Eva that the place she went for information when she came to a new city was an antiquity shop? It fit with the kind of power she possessed, the power she tried to hide from herself—the power Jayna was starting to understand, even if Eva didn’t want to.
“Assuming he’s not trying to manipulate me, it doesn’t really make a difference. At this point, what I need to do is find more information.”
“Which means you intend to go to the outpost.”
Jayna nodded. “I figured that’s where I can find those answers more directly.”
“Will he help you?”
Jayna took a deep breath. “I don’t know. Given everything else that’s happened, I don’t know if Char will be willing to, or if he’ll side with the Society.”
“It’s not just siding with the Society, is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it’s more than just siding with the Society. You’re asking him to realize that some part of who he is, some inherent aspect of the kind of power he possesses, has its roots in a darker place.”
“You could say the same thing about my sorcery,” Jayna said softly.
“You could, but you’ve gotten out. You aren’t so bound up in that identity—not the same way he is.”
“I don’t know if he’s as bound up in that identity as you’d think.”
“I’m not sure. I’ve spent some time around him since we’ve come to Nelar. I may not have the same experience with him as you do, but I recognize a man who’s tied to what he does.”
“Do you, now?”
Eva glared at her. “Don’t do that.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“I see the accusation in your eye.”
“It’s not accusation. I was trying to be playful, and apparently I didn’t do it so well.”
“No. You did not.”
Jayna got to her feet. “Anyway, I do need to go to the Society outpost, if only to try to find what records they might have about the founding of the Society. If Char has something that might help me understand, then . . .”
Jayna didn’t know what she would use that information for, but it would help her further her knowledge and understanding of the twelve—and the darkness that Ceran wanted her to defeat. It could provide her with names, which might be valuable.
“We’re still going to have to figure out what’s taking place here in the city.”
“What do you think it is?”
“I suspect it’s tied to the sorcerers, and the dular, and . . .” Jayna shrugged. “I don’t really know. But we can keep digging into that. It’s something else I can ask Char about when I go see him.”
“And not about me?” Eva asked carefully.
“No. Not about you.” She wouldn’t tell Eva that Char was looking into information about her just yet. That would come later, when Eva decided she wanted to know more about herself—what she was and what she might be able to do. Eventually, she would have to accept that, wouldn’t she?
Jayna headed toward the kitchen, carrying the bottle of wine and her glass, when the front door opened.
Topher entered, grinning at her. “Jayna. You came back. Eva was back here earlier, but she didn’t want to talk.” He pouted for a moment. “Then again, Eva never wants to talk. I figured you might though.”
“I’m just getting ready to head out,” she said.
“Already? You’ve had a long day. Why don’t you stay? I can make you some food. We can sit and talk.”
Food sounded good, and Topher’s cooking, in particular, sounded wonderful. She didn’t necessarily need to go now. Nothing would change in the interim. Along with finding information about the founding of the Society, she had to look into the Ashara and learn what she could about them, but she doubted these enchantments would be used to attack Char or the Society inside the outpost. It was too well-protected.
“I suppose I could sit and eat.”
She pulled out her chair, taking a seat at the table, and Topher laughed. “I didn’t mean just yet. I just got back from doing what you asked me to do.”
“And what was that?”
“Looking into the dular. Did you know that Rosal has taken over his father’s position?”
“I didn’t,” Jayna said, sitting up. “What happened to his father?”
As far she knew, he hadn’t been injured in the attack. She’d protected him, removing the bloodstone from his home before anything could’ve happened to him. That should have kept him safe.
“I don’t know. They don’t really like to talk about it.”
“They?”
“The seven. You know they’re particular about what they share.”
“I don’t. I’m not connected to that part of Nelar. That’s why we have you, Topher.”
He grinned at her. “You do have me for that. That’s great. And well, I don’t know if I can tell you a whole lot more than that, just that Rosal is leading the family now.”
Jayna leaned back in the chair, frowning. It surprised her that Rosal would be leading his family. He had never struck her as particularly skilled. He was pretty, sure, but not all that talented without using the bloodstone. That said, he certainly could be charismatic—she saw that when he spoke at the market, working on selling the bloodstone enchantments. He could be compelling, but for him to lead one of the great houses within the city . . .
It just didn’t fit.
If her plan to go to Char for help didn’t pan out, she could always go to Rosal for information. Whether he’d answer her was a different matter, however.