“We won’t harm the elf for now, it is not why we came here.”
I don’t miss the ‘for now,’ but I’ll take it. After all, Merrin can’t lie. I reluctantly nod, but his words spark my own questions.
“There are some things I need to know before you go,” I say with more power and authority than I feel. The four magicians look at each other, coming to some silent agreement.
“You may ask, but we may not be able to answer them,” Ellis responds with a slight smile.
“Where have you been?” I shoot at Grayson, before looking back at the other magicians. “Why are you here? What happened in the courtyard? What happens next? Is Wilson safe?” As soon as I start asking, all of the questions start spilling out, my voice becoming more desperate with each one.
“I suppose I should start,” Grayson begins wearily, leaning forward and rubbing a hand over his haggard-looking face. “I left a couple of days ago to meet up with Merrin. We had been in contact for a while, and I knew I had to get you out of the agreement with the priests. I’m not strong enough on my own, I needed backup. So I rode as fast as I could and met with Merrin.” He gestures towards the older magician, who nods his head. “He agreed with me, and we went in search of other high magicians who would support us.”
“When Grayson told me of a blessed woman who he had seen in a vision from the Great Mother, I knew we had to help,” Merrin says, continuing the explanation. “The priests have become twisted over the years, and the magicians used to keep an eye on them, keep them in line.” He sighs now, seeming weary. Whether that is from his story or their travel here, I don’t know. “However, the state we are in with the war… most of us are needed on the front lines. I was at the academy, training the new magicians, and I knew Ellis would support us, so we travelled to where he was stationed.”
“Pierre required a bit more encouragement, but eventually the four of us returned. I was hoping to gain more support, perhaps bring back some of the lower level magicians to keep around, but I got this… feeling, like an urgency I’ve never felt before, and I knew I was needed here,” Grayson interjects, taking over again, his eyes locked on mine as he explains. “From there we travelled as fast as we could, but we were not fast enough.” His sorrow is evident as he speaks and shakes his head, grief lining his features. Pulling my gaze away, I look at the other magicians, and see similar expressions on their faces—even Pierre looks regretful at the loss of life.
“When we arrived, they were rounding up the last of the slaves for slaughter,” Ellis murmurs, and I feel a tightness in my chest. Any hope I had that some of my fellow slaves were rescued dies as I see his expression and slow shake of his head. “We weren’t able to save any of them. Bodies were piled up higher than a full-grown man.”
I feel sick at his explanation, being able to imagine it all too well. Closing my eyes, I lean back into my chair, reminding myself I’m safe as I try to push away the images their words create in my mind.
“At first, I thought you were in there…I might have gone a little crazy.” Grayson’s sheepish words have me opening my eyes and looking at the magician questioningly.
“He went into euisa,” Ellis clarifies, and something clicks in my thoughts as the story comes together.
“That’s why you didn’t go into euisa earlier when you saw me with Vae—the elf. You had already thought I was dead, so in comparison, it wasn’t enough to trigger you.” I quickly correct myself, but he doesn’t seem to notice my slip up. “I thought you might have earlier when Jayne was talking about the guard who took me.” He nods sagely as I speak.
“I already thought I had lost you once today, so it’s going to take a lot to send me back into euisa.”
My heart beats painfully in my chest. I knew Grayson cared for me, but I had always assumed it was more in a guardianship way out of responsibility.
Is he saying he… No, he cares for me in the same way he cares for Jayne.