we found in Dyn Mab so grievously injured we all doubted he would survive. We intended to spend only one winter there, but Nic remained too ill to travel, and we weren’t comfortable leaving Snakekiller behind to tend him on her own. She’s strong and powerful, but hefting the weight of a grown man—an invalid—it’s quite a chore. Even after much healing and time, Nic’s better, but still unable to travel long distances.”
Nic…
The name echoed through Aron’s awareness, and for a moment, he completely forgot himself. Only the sudden mental grip of Dari’s mind-talents stopped his free fall in remembering the boy from his visions. He had a sensation of her shaking him, and quickly checked his own essence, concealing the colors as quickly and efficiently as he could with such a shock.
After a moment, Aron realized that both Stormbreaker and Lord Baldric were looking at him, but Hasty and Terrick didn’t seem to notice.
“Nic Vespa. At least he says that’s his name.” Terrick had a grin that reminded Aron of Zed, friendly and relaxed. “I’ve had my doubts about his story, but he was in such a bad way when we came across him in the streets. Can’t blame him for not wanting to risk his people ever finding out where he’s gone.”
“There are a fair number of Vespas in Dyn Mab.” Stormbreaker sounded almost casual, but his steady gaze at Aron carried the force of a rebuke. “Most are upstanding goodfolk, but I suppose any orchard can grow bitter fruit.”
Aron shivered under Stormbreaker’s scrutiny, and forced his attention to cooperate enough to control the color of his legacy. The name Nic Vespa scrawled through his mind like words carved in bright colors, shades of red—yet it didn’t seem right. Terrick might have a point, that the rescued boy had lied about his name to keep himself safe from his attackers.
Nic. He told me his name was Nic, on the other side of the Veil.
Yet Aron knew it was possible to shade the truth, if Nic had a strong enough graal.
Hasty made a snapping motion with both hands. “Poor Nic’s back was twisted near to broken, and he took what looked like a hammer blow to his head. Broken legs, broken arms—I’ve never seen anything like it. Whoever attacked the lad meant for him to die, and die horribly. We thought he was gone from us more than once.”
No! Lie down! Aron twitched at the shout of his own memory, at the image of a broken boy whose spirit was trying to leave until Aron shouted at it the night the manes attacked. He had told Nic … what? To heal himself. Aron had ordered Nic to heal himself.
Cayn’s teeth.
Had Nic lived because Aron had used his graal to command it?
Was that even possible?
Aron almost lost his own control again, but caught himself at the last minute. He was beginning to shiver in earnest, and he wished he could go back to the High Master’s Den to sort out his confusion.
Surely it wasn’t possible to use his legacy to keep someone alive. Dari would have told him if that was the case.
But then Dari hadn’t realized it was possible for him to use his graal to command her in her Stregan form. Perhaps there were other uses of the Brailing mind-talent that she didn’t know, or perhaps, even, that the Fae had withheld from the Furies during the years of peace.
Aron stole a quick glance at Dari, but all her attention was focused on Hasty and Terrick.
If she knew anything like that, she would have told him.
Of course she would have.
If it is possible, and if I could have been there when the Guard attacked my family…
No. That was too awful to contemplate. To think he might have had the power to keep his parents and brothers and sisters alive, with just words. Aron’s teeth chattered, and he had to press his lips together to stop the reaction.
Stormbreaker’s eyes narrowed, and he seemed on the verge of standing and sweeping Aron out of the room when the bells started ringing again.
Lord Baldric cursed. “Messengers. Brother preserve me, but I’d rather kill the lot of them than hear one more plea or demand to do with this infernal war.” He grumbled to himself another moment, then seemed to gather his temper but for the glowing flush in both cheeks. “No matter. The Brothers manning the keep will see to them. I’ve told them I don’t want to be bothered. Go