Chương 31: Falling Down

Water is probably one of my favorite things in the world. For my entire life, in fact. It's what makes the plants grow, it's what humans use to stay healthy. It washes, encompasses. It can be dark and foreboding, yet life giving and affirming. But wielding it… now that is something truly beautiful. And slightly terrifying. From washing my hands and making little rivulets go exactly where and when I want them to, to showering and controlling the pressure as the water hits me.

All of them small exercises that will hopefully lead to more finesse and bigger things.

"You're way too preoccupied." Minx nudges me as I enter the scrying room, apple clutched firmly in my hand.

"What?" I glance around, even though I can't sense anyone in my vicinity but her.

"What do you mean?"

"You're concentrating too hard on harnessing your abilities, silly." She grins at me, and I suddenly feel like she's decades older than me. Is that Minx or that weird channeling vessel thing she does? I don't think they're separable.

"Maybe I am. Some of them are just…" Something clicks in my mind. People are made up of blood and tissue, but also water. Is that how I healed Xan? Have I been tapping into both elements more than I assumed this whole time? Not just with plants and their potency.

"Yes to whatever realization you just had." Minx giggles in the way that used to annoy me back when we had classes together. It's now I realize that maybe she's always been seeing in this strange double vision. It certainly would explain a lot. Water and Earth would work together to heal. Ever since I experimented in the forest, I realized that I have both elements, but it's taken me this long to realize just what that might mean. Did mom know this too?

The constant tune that rings in my ears goes up half a tone, almost like it's laughing at me too. Just got to get through this scrying session. I promised Lennick and Ellir that I'd take one on a week when I'm at the Enclave.

"Are you here to scry?" I ask. Minx stares at me blankly for a moment before breaking into a smile.

"Yes! Sorry. It's been one of those headache days. They just won't stop lately." I lean up against the wall, keeping an eye on everyone while my mind works rapidly sorting through scenarios and dismissing the ones that are ludicrous. Mom and Dad knew that I could do what I can do. They nurtured me for as long as I can remember. For as long as they could. Even alone in my early teens, I kept up with my alchemical abilities. Which in turn caused me to hone my channels without realizing it.

Whenever I ask a plant to give me its all, I'm not only using earth magic, but water too. There's no growth without water. Does Aarron know that too? Or is he only aware of my earth affinity? And do I want to tell Lennick this?

"Taria?" I glance over to see who's called me. It's one of the Novices. A Fourth-Blade if I'm not mistaken. Jan. That's it.

"What's up, Jan?" I ask, glad of my almost total recall. Jan. Han. Xan. What is it with those names and assassins? Their black eyes blink up at me from where they're seated and I can see that dull look in their eyes. That's what happens when they've taken the serum we create to enhance scrying—and they've been attending the bowl too long. I really wish the Prefect didn't demand scrying duty of people who have no gift for it. Jan has less ability for it than Xan does, and that's saying something.

A carrier pigeon would be more reliable than Jan scrying to reach us in an emergency. Sure, it won't be as fast, but at least the message won't be garbled.

"You're relieved," I say when Jan still doesn't respond. Their eyes are so glazed they may as well be one of the sweet buns in the dining hall.

"Thanks." The Fourth-blade Novice stumbles out of the room, and I just have to hope he makes it back to his quarters before he passes out. The rest are working with the water enhanced bowls. Where we use the Datura extract to enhance the properties of the water itself. That's what most scryers use—some just need that extra personal boost. I look through each report as I get them. Some are run of the mill assassination requests. Several require information netting.

Others are havoc creation, or having messages delivered. Those are often directed toward Bryony. But in some cases, the end result of not listening will just result in our services being deployed anyway. So those come to us. Come to think of it—how does it work that Bryony and Nightshade requests don't just get lumped in together. I know the bowls themselves are hundreds of years old—but I've never really worried about how things did what until now. Something else I'm inclined to chalk up to magic.

Another question to ask Lennick.

"Taria." The tone of my name speaks volumes and I step over to Hamish's side immediately. He's an apprentice—a solid one. Fourth-Blade too, about to hit fifth if I've heard correctly. As soon as I'm up close, he hands me the form he's filled out.

"This one is different. But I can't tell why." Astute too. Good eye. Hamish is a promising trainee. I might often wear my moods on my face, but right now I'm making an effort not to seem shocked. It's a report. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. From Sevrin. It appears to be a run of the mill relay, but the tone is wrong. Underneath it screams: Urgent.

"Thanks Hamish." I grab the report, glance at Minx who is watching me, and ask.

"Can you keep an eye on this for a bit?" She nods, standing up to take my place. I didn't want to have to go and see Aarron so soon after realizing that he's known about me from the start. That for all I know this entire thing with me tithing to Nightshade is because he orchestrated it. I can't afford to think about that. It's not something I have time for when one of our own is in trouble. Lennick catches me as I'm about to exit the alchemy area.

"Taria? You in a rush, I have to…" But then he gets a good look at my face and nods.

"I'll talk to you after you deliver that then." I was fast, but don't run. Assassin's should never be conspicuous. The message refers to trouble in Sorrishen which is to the south of Korrien. Most of its coastline is rocky, with islands scattered out into the bay. It's warmer down there, and borders on Mirrati—our most tropical environment. But there's something about the way it's written. I run through the potential Korrien Enclave code interpretations that could apply.

I raise my fist to knock on Aarron's door, clipping it loudly three times.

"Come in," he says after a momentary delay. There's no surprise in his expression when I step through into his room. It's as meticulous as always. Boring even. Keeping it so spotless is probably the only way he can hide his true self from everyone. If only I knew exactly what he was. He looks up at me, pushing his papers to the side.

"What is it?" I hand him the report wordlessly and he blanches somewhat upon reading it.

"Ah." It's all he says as he reads it several more times. Then he pulls out parchment and begins to jot several things out while re-reading again.

"Dismissed for now. I'll likely need you and Xalin within the next two days. Be prepared for a longer trip." He doesn't even look at me, yet I'm clearly dismissed. And, as my brain is wont to do, I've memorized absolutely every word in that briefing I handed over. I'll go over it with Xan shortly. Leaving his room, I touch the stone of the wall before I exit the door, willing it to tap into whatever is inside for me. Only, it's more than that. I've gotten better at dealing with stone and earth.

I want that information because my trust in my Prefect has been shaken. He betrayed me before I even knew him. I will repay him for that. Let's see just how much access to magic he has. Since speaking to Lennick, I'm fully aware that just closing a door shouldn't keep my own magical eavesdropping out of it. Which means, Aarron has some sort of magic already at his disposal. The more I remember, the more I learn about him the more I hope my suppositions are wrong.

Lennick is waiting in the lab, going over some of the potions the Apprentices have been working on. He's frowning as he makes notes in a massive ledger that I only remember as: the grading book. Every year group has them. Every single intake records the results of each and every recruit. It's like a light goes on in my head. That means there have to be records of Aarron too, right? Time for that later. Priorities.

"There you are," Lennick says, not looking up. His voice coaxes me back from going on a deep dive into possibilities.

"What did you want?" I ask, before realizing I'm being snappy and taking a breath.

"Is everything okay?" he asks, and I can see the genuine concern. Hear it even, but something stops me from telling him everything. It could be a misstep either way I look at it.

"Yes. There was just a concerning communication. Aarron will need both Xalin and I for an assignment shortly." There's something holding me back. Whether it's just my own suspicions, a type of premonition, or my elemental connections, I don't know. But my gut doesn't usually fail me. There's no noise coming from Aarron's study through my connection. But it's not one of those severed link absences. This is more because Aarron isn't speaking. He's probably still poured over his paperwork.

"I had some questions about our area of study." Lennick asks smoothly.

"Would you let me draw your blood and analyze it?" Blood? He wants my blood. Does that mean I've been wrong all along and Lennick is actually linked to the Blood Sect? A sliver of panic threatens to wind itself up and through me, but I quash it. Lennick is a lot of things. Curious about nature. Blunt when someone isn't studying and thus not grasping a concept. He's protective of his alchemy lab. But he isn't a Blood Mage. I need to figure out what it is he's wanting it for. Breathe. Yeah, yeah.

Thanks for the reminder magical channels.

"Why would you want to analyze my blood? What would that tell us?" Because I don't use blood magic, I think but don't say out loud. I'm not cheating the system. He raises an eyebrow.

"It's like when we delve deeper into plants in order to understand them. We have to open them up. Essentially in 'opening' a human we acquire blood and tissue. Only, we don't have to open you up for that. We can just extract a tiny amount and then you and I can look at it. See if the key is in there?" Why did he have to go and make so much sense? The thing is that I'm completely certain we won't find any clues in my blood. I hesitate and Lennick smiles.

"It was just an idea. I'm trying to figure out other aspects and angles, that's all." He goes back to his grading.

"I'm not opposed to trying new things. It's just that in this case, my blood isn't a key to this."

"Key to what?" Farin stands at the door. With all the people coming and going from the scrying lab, I didn't quite register her specific presence. Her perfect blond hair is tied up in a high ponytail and her leathers just a little tighter than I would personally find comfortable. Each to their own though. Sometimes I wonder how our yearmate Mavix moves in his too.

"Key to her ability to alchemically match any single plant or herb I have regardless what history has taught us." Lennick's answer is so smooth I almost think he's had that one prepared for a while. Thing is, he's not wrong. The only lie is that we now know why I can and how I manage it.

"Oh." Farin smiles and wanders into the room.

"She's always been able to do that, right?"

"Yes. It's always been fascinating. We're trying to see if there's new concoctions we can use. The less antidotes people have available to potentially combat some things, the better. At least for our profession. Right?" Lennick looks up, a smile crossing his lips. It's colder than I'm used to seeing from him and sends a chill up my spine. So, that's how he acts when it's someone he's not overly fond of.

"What can I do for you then, Farin? Did you need me for something?" he asks, keeping a faint trace of impatience in his voice.

"I'm here for Minx. I need her help with some things." Damn it. I forgot I asked Minx to watch over the scryers for me.

"I'll grab her." Farin falls into step with me as I enter the room.

"Everything okay, Taria? You've been looking a little worn lately." I glance at her.

"You're very friendly all of a sudden." Without missing a beat, she grins.

"Well, it seems Minx has taken a liking to you. While I think you're frightfully dull, Minx sometimes sees diamonds in the rough. Maybe you're not as hopeless as I thought."

"Oh. Wouldn't that be lovely," I mutter under my breath.

"Minx. Thanks for watching over them for a while for me. Farin is looking for you." A shadow passes over Minx's face before a smile takes its place so fast I think I might have imagined it.

"No worries. Sorry Farin." She turns to her friend, face crinkling with a happiness that I suddenly question.

"I forgot we were supposed to meet up for lunch."

"It's fine." Farin glances at me.

"Do you want to join us?"

"I'm on shift. Minx covered for me while I delivered something to the Prefect." Your uncle, I want to add, but admire my own restraint. Farin nods.

"I get it. Maybe we can do dinner!" The fakeness of her tone, of her words, it hits me like it's trying to make my blood boil. That's when I know for certain that I am the target of what she's supposed to have been investigating. Only I don't know why.

"Perhaps." I answer, but Minx interrupts me before I can say anything else.

"I thought you were busy tonight? Don't you have a contract to prep for?" Minx eyes lock onto mine, like she's trying desperately to tell me something. Or perhaps that part of her that conveys her visions is. Either way, I slap my hand over my mouth as if in shock at my own forgetfulness.

"How could I forget that? Sorry Farin. I'll have to take a raincheck." Farin doesn't skip a beat, her mask perfectly in place.

"That's no trouble. I'll find a date where we're all free and let you know." I watch them go, the hum around me discordant with its usual purring tones. I'm not sure how, but Farin just gave me an invitation that is somehow also a threat.