“I could, couldn’t I? You know, it never really occurred to me toundo my father’s legacy.” She seemed almost delighted by the idea, even thoughthey’d spoken of it before. Thana was just glad it seemed to add spring to herstep.
Soon enough, they reached a section of the palace wall that wouldhave to be scaled in order for them to reach the secret entrance. Thana castabout for anyone watching, then said, “Up and over,” and cupped her hands togive Sylph a boost.
“Thana,” Sylph said quietly, her tone affectionate. Darknessconcealed her expression.
“What?”
A grinding sound came from the wall, and a darker patch appearedin the center, a door created with Sylph’s power.
Warmth suffused Thana’s cheeks as she hurried through. “Fine.Just don’t be so noisy.” And after what had happened underground, Sylph’s powerstill unnerved her as much as it awed her.
The sound was slight as the wall closed behind them. At the endof a short passage, Thana pressed her hand to a pyramid inset in the real wallthat led into the palace, and the door swung open, admitting them into thesecret passages. Safely inside, Thana lit a light pyramid and hoped sheremembered the way to the caverns beneath the palace.
* * *
Sylph couldn’t help feeling a sense of privilege as Thana led herthrough the dark. Here were halls even mightier than the ones she’d grown upin, a sight few outside of the Umbriels had ever seen, that her father wouldlikely never know.
But Thana knew them. And the rest of the Order, strange denizensof somewhere in between noble and peasant. She thought of the areas of town they’dgone through, with as many layers of poverty and privilege as there were stratain the earth.
And Sylph belonged here now, thanks to power she’d been born withrather than her social status, though she hadn’t discovered it until itthreatened to strip that status away. But it was also a power that no one couldtake from her.
She touched her stone pyramid to remind herself of this fact, notimmune to the irony of taking comfort where she’d once found only terror. Thesolidness of the palace embraced her like a friend, and she sensed the otherpyramids that were part of it, mostly traps, which fled like ghosts through hersenses.
But there was another. Made from crystal that felt closer to thenew variety than any sort that came from the Allusian mines. It didn’t flee butsat below the palace, pulsing like a heart, a malevolent energy that drew themind like a flash of movement drew the eye.
She slowed, sensing another unknown magic. “What is that?” shewhispered, unable to keep the awe from her voice. “That pyramid?”
The look on Thana’s face said she knew, but she didn’t want tosay or perhaps dreaded admitting. “Uh. I was hoping you wouldn’t feel that, atleast not yet.”
Sylph waited for an answer to her question before she asked ahundred others, but Thana seemed reluctant, a suspicious turn in such anormally eager teacher.
Finally, Thana sighed. “Gunnar wanted to be the one to explain.”Her face said volumes Sylph was only beginning to learn how to read.
“He can’t explain it better than a pyradisté,” she said slowly.“So do you mean he wants to hide something, perhaps tell me the officialexplanation if one is ever required?” And though she was suspicious, and herfather’s lessons urged caution, she also couldn’t help being relieved thatThana didn’t want to lie to her. Quick on the heels of that came anger. Weren’tthey past the time for secrets? “Haven’t I earned some trust?”
“It’s…not my secret to tell.”
Not good enough. Sylph stopped, a wealth of feelings bubblingaway. She wanted to bring up everything they’d meant to each other, the timethey’d spent in each other’s arms, but she couldn’t use something as beautifulas that for any reason. She took a deep breath. “If this pyramid affects whatwe’re doing—”
“It doesn’t. At least, I hope not. If the rogue pyradistés havediscovered it, it could be what they’re after in the palace. They’ll be ascurious as you are.” She frowned hard. “But it’s nothing they can use, nothingwe can use. The less anyone touches that thing, the better.”
Sylph fought her temper, banning her emotions as she’d done somany times. “If you’resaying this, it must be true, with how often you’ve encouraged me towardmagic.”
Thana gave her a little smile. “Please tell me that means you’llforget about this.” She offered her hand.
Sylph took it and squeezed. “Not a chance.” She gestured forThana to lead the way again.
Thana groaned as she complied. “Tell me I’m not going to becaught between you and Gunnar.” She sighed heavily, and Sylph patted hershoulder.
“If the pyradistés are after that pyramid I feel below, then itis a part of our current predicament, and if they get their hands on it, Ishould know what it does in order to defend against it. Would the prince notagree?”
“I don’t know. Ask him.”
Sylph chuckled. She would help him either way, but she wasn’tabove letting him think she might walk away. If he thought her talentinvaluable during their current trouble, she had more power than she’d thought.
And she was tired of being kept in the dark.
However, she wasn’t willing to let Thana be confused for a momentregarding her loyalty. She turned her and kissed her soundly. “No matter what’ssaid or done, I’m on your side, and I won’t leave you in peril.”
“Likewise,” Thana said, giving her a kiss in return.
Sylph cocked her head. “Even against the prince?”
Thana groaned again, and Sylph had to chuckle. “There’s no reasonfor you to be on opposite sides. Ever,” Thana said. “He won’t ask you to shareall your secrets either.” She hung her head. “And I’m sorry to have to keepthis from you, but I can promise I will do as good a job keeping your secretsfrom him. Or haven’t I proven myloyalty?”
Yes, when she’d first smuggled Sylph out of the palace againstthe queen’s
