Chapter 25

Diana sat on her stool beside me and made me repeat the movements she had instructed me to do. They were repetitive, but I could feel the difference in just a few days we had started exercising my hand. She helped flex my fingers when needed and massaged the scarring. She was very patient with me and encouraged me to keep bending, even though it sometimes hurt.

Diana had removed the splints, but I needed to keep my three fingers bandaged for another couple of days to ensure they healed right. It had been a relief since the splints made me itch something terrible. I was lucky that Xander's healing ability helped speed up the process.

The last few days had been quiet. We were alone in the house while Xander and Gideon planned our trip to Perch. One of Gideon’s men had sent word to their headquarters that we would make way for them. I had no notion if they had mentioned me. I figured the risk was too significant to write that in a letter if someone other than leaders in the rebellion intercepted it.

Diana was holding my hand and working her fingers deftly on mine. Though she had not seemed interested in making conversation that morning. This troubled me. I knew she wasn’t the chatty sort, but she seemed distant ever since my identity had come to light, and it became a recurring event. I hoped it wasn’t because she held ill opinions of me.

I cleared my throat and eyed her inquisitively.

“Will you be joining us on the road to Perch, or do you have a family to go back to in Seagull’s Bay?”

She stayed silent for some time before delicately placing my hand back on my lap.

“Yes and no,” she said in a dry tone, “I don’t have any family there.”

Did her family perish during the uprising as well?

“Where are they? If you don’t mind me asking.”

Diana stayed silent for a few seconds after I had asked the question. She looked like she hesitated in giving me an answer. Diana looked into my eyes quickly before returning them to the task at hand. She took a long breath, then slowed down her rubbing of my fingers. I noticed the side of her mouth quiver slightly before finally speaking.

“They were killed when my village was raided shortly after Osprey came into power,” Diana’s face was distant and sad, “I left my home city to find work. I was a midwife and healer for the village I had settled down in. When Osprey’s men came, they suspected me of being a wielder and killed my husband and six-year-old son in front of me. They did that to provoke me to do magic to stop them. They didn’t even show remorse when they understood I was completely normal.”

The air had been knocked out of my lungs. I didn’t know half the cruelties the people had suffered when the hunt for Unnaturals started. When I was captured and sold as a slave, it cut me off from the outside world. I was beaten, whipped, hit, and starved during my indentures, but I never had to endure the sight of someone I loved being killed, and I couldn’t even begin to process what that must have been for her.

“I’m–I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s fine. It happened a long time ago, and I have come to terms with it. Dwelling too much over the past won’t bring them back.” She sighed, rubbing her face with her hands.

“You’re going to have to stop being sorry for everything, Ida. None of what’s happened is your fault. I see the guilt and shame in your eyes. No one blames you. I saw the painting of lash marks on your back, and I remember the sad state you were in when you were thrown at my feet upon your arrival at High Hill. You’ve suffered as much as we all did. You probably even experienced it more because of what you kept telling yourself. You must let go of those feelings and embrace who you are. This world needs you, and what better ruler than someone who has experienced its hardship firsthand? Take it all and rise from the ashes left by Osprey’s burning tyranny.”

The strange dream with the cardinal bird came into my mind. Was that what it meant? What of the swarm of birds at the end? Did it represent the rebellion swarming to defend me or Osprey’s army descending upon us? The thought of it sent shivers down my arms. Whatever it meant, I knew that Diana’s speech was something I badly needed to hear. I had to work on myself and learn how to let go of the past. I just thought that it was something easier said than done.

“Thank you,” I whispered softly to her. “I think I needed to hear that.”

Diana squeezed my arm affectionately in her way and got up to poke the fire, preparing it to boil some spiced wine.

The sun streamed inside the cozy room and warmed my cold hands. The weather had been friendlier lately, which I hoped was a sign that spring was coming.
Hopefully, the warmer conditions would make our journey to Perch more enjoyable.

While Diana had her back to me, I flicked my right hand, concentrating my energy on creating a small sphere of light. I felt the pulse of magic flow through it, but nothing happened. My movements had to be fluid, but with my fingers still mending, it seemed I wasn’t ready yet. I would need to keep exercising to regain the gracefulness required to accomplish such a simple spell. I backed into my chair in defeat and sighed.

“Don’t worry about it. It will come back in time.”

Diana’s words startled me. She still had her back to me, so I wondered if she had seen what I had done. I had been careful when I met with Diana, Gideon, and his men in the kitchen a few days before, not to let slip that I was a wielder. Gideon knew, but I didn’t know if the others knew, and I had wanted to keep it that way. I didn’t mind if they had doubts, but I didn’t trust them enough to let them see me do magic and confirm their suspicions.

“There was a magic wielder in my village who taught me the art of healing. I am accustomed to magical auras. Although I do not have this gift, I have a sensitivity to magical energy.” She said as to answer my silent question. “I have a feeling it’s how they could capture and kill most wielders. I think Osprey has people with the same receptivity to it as I. You’re very good at hiding your energy, but just now, you gave yourself away.”

“Are there many people like you?”

“Some, but few. You have to get attuned to it before you can start noticing it. I’m certain that if you practice, you’ll be able to hear it in others too. It’s like a hum of magical energy.”

She returned by my side and placed a cup of warm wine on the table in front of me. I brought the rim of the cup to my lips and sipped on the beverage. I had wondered how Osprey had weeded out the wielders from the humans. Her theory made complete sense, now knowing that some people could feel or hear magical surges.

My chain of thoughts was broken when the front door opened, and Xander came in. I drank the sight of him. His midnight-black hair seemed ruffled by the wind and had curled from its new, unaccustomed length. His thin, sleek black wool coat made him look regal, and all the blackness of his attire made his gray eyes stand out from his face. He truly was handsome.

I hadn’t expected him back so early from his last trip to the salt mines. He learned that the rebellion was ambushing some shipments and diverting the cargo into a secret facility, selling most of the wares for weapons and food. Xander had sent a report to his father explaining his findings. A letter had returned yesterday, with orders to find where they were storing the shipments and destroy them.

Xander had let the duke know he was following a lead and that he would head to the city of Maple. It was about half a day’s ride from Perch, and the district was under the governance of Baron Mallard. It wasn’t as wealthy as Airedah’s capital, but it was still a somewhat prosperous area. His region worked mostly lumber and produced coal and tar from the tree resin.

We wouldn’t be bringing the staff with us, only Diana and Leo, since he had mentioned to his father that he needed to keep a low profile while sniffing the rebels out. It was less conspicuous to be a smaller party than to have a whole household staff following in a separate carriage. It would draw too much attention on us.

We would have to tread carefully once in Mallard’s region. Xander would have to appear at the baron’s estate and request the rights to make his investigation on his lands. He had the duke’s official document to vouch for his intentions. I didn’t know how Xander could play his part so well. Although I knew he was working for the rebellion, I thought it must be hard for him to pretend to not care about his own beliefs and the rebellion's cause. Playing two sides was a dangerous thing. Things could get out of hand without notice.

Xander’s eyes quickly found me, and he settled in the main room close to me, bringing me in his arms as he sat down.

“Everything ready for tomorrow?” He asked while eating some food I hadn’t finished since morning.

“Yes. I packed light when we came here. If I had known that we would meet with a baron, I would have brought prettier dresses before we left Seagull’s Bay.”

I had aimed for comfort more than looks since this trip to Saltsburry was meant to be an escape to recover and heal.

“Good. Gideon will pose as our coachman for the trip while his men follow on horseback. Once we reach the city of Maple, we’ll need to go see Mallard and announce ourselves. There are still formalities we need to keep if we want to go to Starling Castle and evade prying eyes.”

I tried to smile, but his undertone had me worried. Osprey’s peerage was all renowned fighters and fierce politicians. If Baron Mallard was anything like Duke Kestrel, I feared a repeat of my past interrogation could be a very probable situation. I desperately hoped that it could be avoided if we were careful.

Xander gave me a knowing look and extended his hand for me to take it. He could feel my worry through our bond.

“You’ll be fine.” He promised.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: What do you think will happen next with Ida and Xander once they read Baron Mallard? I hope you are enjoying this book. Please leave a comment to let me know how I'm doing so far. Don't forget to leave a review and share with others.