A Trial of Sorcerers: Book One by Kova, Elise (universal ebook reader .txt) 📕

pursed her lips and that only made him laugh. “Your curiosity about my homeland is no secret. If you’d intended for it to be, you would’ve intentionally thrown at least one question during your examination today.”

Eira sighed and admitted, “I am fascinated with Meru, yes.”

“I’m flattered.”

“What?” She met his amethyst eyes.

“So many of Solaris take a stance of begrudging acceptance toward what you once called the Crescent Continent. To know that there are those who wish to learn about us with a genuine interest warms my heart.”

“I see.”

“Where does your fascination come from?”

Eira shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She didn’t want to keep lying to the man. But she also hated feeling bare and exposed. Her curiosity surrounding Meru hadn’t earned her a good deal of favor from her peers. At best, it’d earned her teasing.

“I think I’ve always thought it was fascinating. I grew up in Oparium—it’s the closest port to Solarin in a valley to the east.”

He nodded. “I’m familiar with it.”

“I grew up seeing the ocean and all its vastness every day. It seemed to beckon to me. I wondered what was out there. Then, when I was twelve, I learned the crown princess was speaking with the Crescent Continent—as I knew it then. In the years that followed, there was an explosion of information in Solarin about a wide world we never even knew we were a part of. Who wouldn’t be excited?” Ferro smiled a little at this and Eira returned the expression. “And then…”

“Then?” he encouraged.

“Then, when I was fifteen, I was privileged to attend the ball where our princess announced her betrothal to the Voice of Yargen.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I saw him.”

Ferro chuckled. “Taavin has made quite the impact on our world, as has your princess. It’s fitting they have ended up together.”

“That’s what I say! But you’re right. Most people in Solaris don’t seem to grasp how perfect they are for each other.” The engagement had been met by resistance, to say the least. Which had prompted their marriage to be postponed longer than normal by royal standards.

“So, a young girl’s fascination, fueled further by a romantic whim on meeting a handsome elfin—”

“I said nothing about romantic,” Eira interjected, a flush rising up her neck.

Ferro ignored her. “—turned you into one of the leading experts in Solarin on the subject of Meru…if your instructor Mister Levit is to be believed, and as your test scores support.”

Eira wondered what Mister Levit had said. Perhaps the kind man had been the one to help arrange this meeting for her. She didn’t dare let herself think that Ferro had been interested in her of his own accord. “I just try and learn what I can.”

“How would you like to learn more?”

“Are you offering?” There was no way she could say no.

“I admit, I am just as much fascinated by you as you are by me.” Ferro’s eyes roved across her. Eira fought a shiver. No one had ever stared at her so intently, with so much focus and fascination, void of any judgment or harshness. It was a little uncomfortable, but not entirely in a bad way. “I worked hard to ascend to the rank of ambassador as quickly as possible so that I might come and explore this previously closed-off land I now know as Solaris.”

“It never occurred to me that Meru might be as fascinated by us as we are by them.”

“Your island—no, continent, you call it, correct?” Eira nodded and he continued, “Your continent has a storied history in both our records and lore.”

“It does?”

“Indeed. A fascinating place where the legends say the gods and their champions once walked.” He chuckled and Eira followed suit. “Of course, such a thing is ludicrous. But I imagine the stories were grounded in some truth surrounding the now-gone Crystal Caverns.”

“Perhaps.” They had been a mysterious place of even more mysterious powers.

“In any case, I think that we could help each other.” Ferro’s smile was dazzling. “If you are open to it, I would love to have these little chats with you as we’re able. You can tell me of your life here, and I’ll share with you my life on Meru.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Eira didn’t see any reason to refuse. There was no harm in merely talking. Was there? “If you don’t mind, I’d love to hear more about these legends—”

“One more thing,” Ferro interjected. “Before we get to that, I’d like to make sure that you and I are aligned. I have no intention of telling anyone else of our discussions. While nothing untoward is occurring, I wouldn’t want to give the look of impropriety or favoritism, since I will be designing your final two trials.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Eira tucked her hair behind her ears, thinking a moment. “Well, as you said, we know we’re doing nothing wrong. I don’t see why our meeting needs to be public knowledge.” The only person Eira might tell would be Alyss. And Eira knew that Alyss would keep it secret, and not judge her too harshly…hopefully.

“Good!” Ferro clapped his hands together. “Now, I want to know more about your magic, and then I will tell you a legend.”

“Mine?”

“The elemental affinities fascinate me. I’ve been told that sorcerers of a particular affinity cannot be harmed—at least not lethally—by elements of their affinity.”

“That’s true.”

“So, I wonder, can a Waterrunner drown?”

“Yes, though not easily.” Eira’s mind wandered to the underground spring she’d seen earlier, deep in the depths of the palace. She imagined a Waterrunner, far bolder than her and with a voice like ice, diving into those equally cold waters, never to emerge again. “It’s not easy to drown a Waterrunner, as our innate sorcery will spring to action, preventing water from harming us. Our magic forms a bubble around us, underneath the surface. But, that very act, however instinctive it is, saps our power.” Eira pursed her lips. “It’s difficult to explain. But, if kept under long enough, we would run out of magic