Smoke and Memories (The Dark Sorcerer #3) - D.K. Holmberg Page 0,32
center of the shop. “Take the shield, for example. You might think it’s simply an intriguing enchantment, and perhaps it is, but it’s also an item that reflects a history of our people.”
“Our people?”
He glowered at her for a moment. “As you can see from the markings along the surface of the shield, there is an intention behind it. You can learn much from the type of markings, much about the people. What they celebrate. What they fear. What they thought they needed to defend themselves against.”
Jayna glanced at the spear again before turning slightly to look at the shield. He was right. She hadn’t given much thought to that before, but knowing what a person had been afraid of would offer insight into them.
“What have you learned?”
“Most of the items from within Nelar reflect fear of the El’aras.”
Jayna took a deep breath, but the humidity in the air made it difficult for her to inhale fully. The shop had a strange, almost bitter odor to it as well, which added to her discomfort. “You said most.”
“Not all. There are other items that have been used for other purposes.”
“Such as what?”
He smirked at her. “Such as defending against sorcery.”
Jayna shook her head. “The Sorcerers’ Society has only served in an advisory role.” As soon as she said it, she realized she had defaulted to what the Society had trained her to do and say. She knew it wasn’t entirely the truth. It was just what she had been taught.
“I am surprised Jayna Aguelon would respect such untruths so willingly,” Telluminder said.
“What else have you uncovered?”
“I suspect you are not as interested as you would have me believe.”
“On the contrary, I am very interested. I’m trying to understand what influenced the city of Nelar.”
“What influenced it before? Why, people have always influenced the world.” He nodded around his shop. “The dular have been a part of the world for a long time. They have offered their own connection to the world, and have attempted to make contact with those who share in their abilities.”
“Like the sorcerers.”
“You view sorcery as something comparable to dular magic, when it is dissimilar.”
“They come from the same place. The dular just don’t have the same potency as sorcerers.”
“No,” he said, glancing from Jayna to Eva. “Sorcery involves finding power within yourself, but it also involves putting that power into the world, placing your influence. The dular find something more intuitive. They use emotion and themselves and . . .” He waved a hand. “I suppose it doesn’t matter to one such as yourself.”
Jayna looked at a small sculpture resting nearest her. It looked like a bowl, reminding her of the memory bowl she had used on Matthew.
“All power in the world has its own unique source,” Telluminder finally said. “Even yours, Jayna Aguelon.”
He watched her, and there was something in the way he said it that left her wondering whether he knew more about the nature of her power than he let on. She had done her best to try to conceal the source of her power while she was within the city, and didn’t think anybody here knew the truth of how she connected to magic, but maybe she had not been as skillful as she had thought at hiding how she was bound to others.
“You know quite a bit about the power within Nelar,” she said.
“Not as much as some, but more than most.”
“Who else in the city knows more than you?” He smiled, but didn’t answer. “I see. You don’t want to reveal them.”
“I don’t want you to think you need to go elsewhere. I do believe we have agreed upon a transaction.”
Jayna chuckled. “That’s what this is about. You want to make sure you’re paid.”
“I am a salesman,” Telluminder said.
Jayna just shook her head. “I will ensure you’re paid regardless.”
It might have been better if she had offered to purchase something from him, seeing as how he was a salesman—or, at least, he wanted her to believe he was a salesman—but Jayna suspected Telluminder was something more.
Someone with magic of their own would be useful. Maybe he could help her learn things about the city. He had been here a long time.
Ceran had remained absent, and the longer Jayna remained here, the more likely she was going to attract notice. It would limit the kind of things she could do and the ways she could act within the city.