Read Online The Tears of Elios by Crista McHugh - Free Book Online Page B

distant as her body moved further back in her chair. “Sepharium is a smooth white stone that, as you've learned from your translations, can hold the power of a spell, making it permanently cast on whoever possesses the stone.” She paused. “You are going to write that down, aren't you?”
    Gregor's jaw hung like open drawbridge. So she’s sharing secrets with me now? He fumbled for another quill and wrote, “A smooth white stone,” as he repeated the words.
    “Yes, but when it's been used in the ritual you are interested in, it absorbs the color of the magic. Are you familiar with the auras of magics?”
    He finished his note before replying, “Human magics are blue, elvan are green, and demonic are red, right?”
    She had that all-knowing smile on her lips again. “Yes, but there are more magics than that. For our purposes, however, your knowledge will suffice.”
    He yearned to ask for more about the other magics, but he decided he should focus on only one subject at a time. “So where can I find sepharium, and how can I distinguish it from other smooth white stones?”
    “It hums.”
    Gregor dropped his quill and ran his fingers through his hair once more. “Are you teasing me again?”
    “No, I'm serious. Sepharium hums when you hold it. You just have to take the time to listen to it.”
    “Is this some kind of riddle?”
    She shook her head. “Sometimes the one thing you desire most is right under your nose.”
    She hobbled to the fireplace and ran her hand over the hearth before grabbing an iron poker and striking the stones. A loud clang filled the room. Gregor cringed, hoping Ben and Sal would not come up to investigate. She knelt, picked up the largest fragment that resulted from her blow, and grunted as she struggled back up to her feet.
    “Listen,” she said as she approached him.
    At first, he thought his mind was playing a trick on him, but as Ranealya brought the stone fragment closer, the sound became louder. It was high-pitched and sounded more like singing that humming.
    She leaned close to him so the stone dangled between their ears. Her warm breath brushed against his face. “Sepharium hums, like this.”
    He turned his head and found her face inches from his. Her tawny eyes shone with a light he had never seen before in them—as if she, too, was under the spell of the music. He leaned forward to close the space between them.
    She retreated, placing the white stone fragment on his desk before she moved away. “You have the largest piece of sepharium I've ever seen cemented in your fireplace.”
    He picked up the stone and ran his fingers over it, watching in amazement as the rough edges morphed into a polished surface under his fingertips. He held the stone up to his ear once more, listening to music far more beautiful than any human voice could ever be. “So I can use this in my ritual?”
    “As long as you don't try to cast too powerful of a spell into it.”
    He listened for a few more seconds before forcing himself to lay the stone down on his desk. He documented his findings, taking care to describe the intoxicating song of the sepharium. “How is it that you know so much about sepharium?”
    “It is well known to those versed in elvan magic.”
    “Are you a mage, too?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t possess the gift, if that is what you mean, but I have seen my fair share of magic. Or at least enough to recognize certain things such as the healing powers of hykona leaves or the hum of the sepharium.”
    “I'm sure there is a great deal you could teach me.”
    Her expression puzzled him. The corners of her mouth twitched as if she was trying to smile, but her eyes grew sad. “Perhaps, but there are some things you should never learn. Be thankful your human life is so short.”
    “I can only imagine all the things you’ve seen in your life.”
    Her eyes flickered on him. “You're better off imagining than knowing.” She limped back to her bed, her normally graceful