Read Online Call of Sunteri (Keepers of the Wellsprings Book 2) by Missy Sheldrake - Free Book Online
Authors: Missy Sheldrake
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really going to ask to bring her back?” Flitt whispers. Rian’s frown deepens and I hesitate to answer. There’s a long, awkward pause and he finally scratches the back of his head and steps down into the street.
“I’m going back in,” he says quietly. I watch him pause at the guards, who are oblivious to him. He shakes his head and goes back down the street. When he emerges again, the guards stand at attention until he identifies himself, and then they allow him to pass.
“So, are you?” Flitt bobs before me, her multi-colored light brightening so much that I have to shade my eyes.
“I don’t know.” I let out a deep sigh. “It would help if they could see how she is now. To know she isn’t a threat anymore. I just wish I could make Rian see that he did the right thing by the choices he made for her.”
“You guys are all so complicated.” Flitt clicks her tongue. “We don’t bother lingering in the past. What’s done is done. Water past the willow tree.”
“Oh, is that right?” I cross my arms and lean back against the stone with a patronizing smile. “That must be why you’re so welcoming and trusting of us humans, especially Mages, hm?” I roll my eyes.
“That’s different!” she squeaks at me. Inside, Mya’s playing has slowed and the laughter has died down. I can hear the murmur of more serious conversation in quiet undertones beneath the music.
“I’m going in. Are you coming?”
“No way, it stinks in there. Like ale and smoke and people-sweat. Ugh. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Flitt.”
“Night!” She pops out of view and I’m tempted to follow her home. I’ve teleported to her grotto once before, but it was a dire situation. I’m not sure I could do it again. She’d probably call me rude if I did. Still, I don’t want to have the same circling conversation with Rian regarding Viala that we’ve had these past few weeks, and I know that once I go inside, that’s just where the discussion will lead.
“I don’t like going back on my word,” Rian whispers to me later in the hallway outside of my room. Everyone else has gone to bed, and I’m so exhausted I can barely stand.
“It’s ordered by His Majesty, Rian. He just wants to see her. He won’t keep her. She can go back to Iren after. You’re not breaking any word by asking to take her on a journey.” My eyelids are so heavy I can barely keep them open. This is exactly the conversation I was trying to avoid having again. “You never actually promised anything. You just agreed to spare her. What are you afraid of? Please help me understand.”
“What if…” he starts, and then pauses. I look up at him. His brow is furrowed, his jaw clenched. “What if bringing her back to Cerion somehow triggers memories? What if she remembers her past because of us? I just feel like it’s best for everyone if she’s left forgotten. We should have told them she was killed. Or maybe we should have told Iren to—”
“Don’t.” I interrupt him with a kiss. “You made the right choice, Rian. You spared her. She isn’t Viala anymore, she’s someone else.” Over Rian’s shoulder in the dim light of the hallway something moves. A shadowy figure. As soon as I focus on it, it flickers away so quickly that I wonder if it was ever really there at all. I rub my eyes. “I have to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be awful if I don’t.”
I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him, and he circles his arms around me and holds me close. Neither of us wants to let go, but we do eventually, reluctantly, and retire to our beds.
Chapter Five: Lurking in Shadow
Azi
“Who goes?” a guard’s call jolts me awake.
“Halt, I say,” he shouts. “Halt in the name of the Prince! Halt! Halt!”
“Halt!” More voices command, and with their shouts comes the whooshing sound of arrows leaving bows.
I’m disoriented at first until I see Mum bolt from her bed and grab her sword. This is our third night on the road and
“I’m going back in,” he says quietly. I watch him pause at the guards, who are oblivious to him. He shakes his head and goes back down the street. When he emerges again, the guards stand at attention until he identifies himself, and then they allow him to pass.
“So, are you?” Flitt bobs before me, her multi-colored light brightening so much that I have to shade my eyes.
“I don’t know.” I let out a deep sigh. “It would help if they could see how she is now. To know she isn’t a threat anymore. I just wish I could make Rian see that he did the right thing by the choices he made for her.”
“You guys are all so complicated.” Flitt clicks her tongue. “We don’t bother lingering in the past. What’s done is done. Water past the willow tree.”
“Oh, is that right?” I cross my arms and lean back against the stone with a patronizing smile. “That must be why you’re so welcoming and trusting of us humans, especially Mages, hm?” I roll my eyes.
“That’s different!” she squeaks at me. Inside, Mya’s playing has slowed and the laughter has died down. I can hear the murmur of more serious conversation in quiet undertones beneath the music.
“I’m going in. Are you coming?”
“No way, it stinks in there. Like ale and smoke and people-sweat. Ugh. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Flitt.”
“Night!” She pops out of view and I’m tempted to follow her home. I’ve teleported to her grotto once before, but it was a dire situation. I’m not sure I could do it again. She’d probably call me rude if I did. Still, I don’t want to have the same circling conversation with Rian regarding Viala that we’ve had these past few weeks, and I know that once I go inside, that’s just where the discussion will lead.
“I don’t like going back on my word,” Rian whispers to me later in the hallway outside of my room. Everyone else has gone to bed, and I’m so exhausted I can barely stand.
“It’s ordered by His Majesty, Rian. He just wants to see her. He won’t keep her. She can go back to Iren after. You’re not breaking any word by asking to take her on a journey.” My eyelids are so heavy I can barely keep them open. This is exactly the conversation I was trying to avoid having again. “You never actually promised anything. You just agreed to spare her. What are you afraid of? Please help me understand.”
“What if…” he starts, and then pauses. I look up at him. His brow is furrowed, his jaw clenched. “What if bringing her back to Cerion somehow triggers memories? What if she remembers her past because of us? I just feel like it’s best for everyone if she’s left forgotten. We should have told them she was killed. Or maybe we should have told Iren to—”
“Don’t.” I interrupt him with a kiss. “You made the right choice, Rian. You spared her. She isn’t Viala anymore, she’s someone else.” Over Rian’s shoulder in the dim light of the hallway something moves. A shadowy figure. As soon as I focus on it, it flickers away so quickly that I wonder if it was ever really there at all. I rub my eyes. “I have to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be awful if I don’t.”
I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him, and he circles his arms around me and holds me close. Neither of us wants to let go, but we do eventually, reluctantly, and retire to our beds.
Chapter Five: Lurking in Shadow
Azi
“Who goes?” a guard’s call jolts me awake.
“Halt, I say,” he shouts. “Halt in the name of the Prince! Halt! Halt!”
“Halt!” More voices command, and with their shouts comes the whooshing sound of arrows leaving bows.
I’m disoriented at first until I see Mum bolt from her bed and grab her sword. This is our third night on the road and
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