The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani (story reading .TXT) 📕

Berrila remains still, her eyes focused on my arm, the coolness of her magic flowing through my body, easing the aches and bruises I’ve collected. I lean my head against the high back of my chair and let myself breathe.

“There,” Berrila says finally. She gently tugs at the stitches in my arm. I tense, but not only does it not hurt, the stitches come away in her fingers like so much fluff. The magic has already separated them and pushed them out of my skin.

“Use your arm gently. You want your skin to stretch as it would for normal use; you do not”—she eyes me darkly—“want to tear through the magic holding your skin together. It is not actually healed. Be gentle.”

I dip my head meekly. “I understand.”

Berrila swivels to Mina, who has watched this all silently from a few paces away. “See that she gets plenty of rest and doesn’t try to lift anything heavy. I’ll leave a tea for her to drink, which should help with the blood loss, if you’ll see it brewed for her.”

I hope fervently it’s altogether different from what Bren’s healer gave me.

Berrila turns back to me, reasserting her glower. “And if Mina has to come fetch me again, everyone will hear about it.”

It would be a threat, except that she seems to be seriously worried for me. I dip my head, grinning. “Yes, Mage Berrila.”

With a snort of amusement, Berrila gathers up her bag. I cannot imagine that such a woman really knows about the snatchers, or would protect them while caring so much about her patients. Perhaps I’m wrong. Or perhaps she doesn’t know. I blink away the thoughts. First, I have to ascertain that the Darkness really is an attack, then I can worry about who knows what.

Alyrra walks with Berrila into the hallway, and I can hear the faint sound of their conversation as they stand just outside.

“And thank you, Mama Mina,” I say politely to Mina.

“Why didn’t you say you were injured?”

Is that hurt in her voice? I look up, taken aback, but she’s smoothed out her features. Perhaps she’s just irritated.

“I was hoping not to draw too much attention to it. And I felt fine for the most part.”

“Fine except that you were falling down.”

“Just a little off balance.”

“Because you’ve taken a serious injury, Rae!”

I blink at her, relatively certain I never gave her my nickname to use. Did she pick it up from Alyrra?

“I’m sorry,” I say finally, since I don’t know what else I can offer.

She lets out a sigh and turns away, shaking her head.

A moment later, Alyrra steps back into the room. “Mina, would you give us a few minutes?”

Mina dips her head and departs, shutting the door behind her.

Alyrra waits until the faint sound of Mina’s slippers fades to quiet. Then she asks, “Rae, what happened?”

“Mina said you received a letter?”

“It didn’t say much, other than that you were injured but safe, and would be returned to us once you were ready. What do I need to know?”

I tell her, as quickly and succinctly as I can, all I’ve learned from the brickmaker’s boys, how they were enslaved and transported. I don’t mention Niya’s sash. I don’t dare, because Alyrra is royalty, and she could demand it from me for study, and without a stronger story about where I got it from, I may not be able to protect Niya. Instead, I tell her that I’d been given the Blessing cup and stone on my way home.

“I want to see what they actually do. The cups are purportedly charmed to remove any trace of illness from the children.”

“But you don’t believe that.”

“I . . . think there might be more than that at play.”

Alyrra moves slowly to sit on the corner of the bed. “Why would you suspect that?”

“I can’t say,” I admit. “But I believe the enchantments don’t need to remove memories.”

Alyrra gazes unseeingly at the embroidered coverlet. “If that is true, this could get very difficult.”

An understatement of epic proportions, if the Circle is involved. “I know.”

“I hope you’re wrong,” Alyrra says. “But it’s best not to make assumptions. We’ll need a mage not affiliated with the Circle to look into it. Do you have someone in mind?”

I hesitate. “I thought I’d ask Verin Stonemane.”

Alyrra raises her brows.

“You remember how he met me my first day? He visited our ranch once, to buy horses. I think he’ll at least hear me out, and I can’t think of anyone else to go to.”

“He’s an ambassador from a foreign government,” Alyrra says. “He’ll have to be very careful navigating any information that could affect politics here. But if you think he might assess them, it’s worth a try.”

I nod, not at all sure he’ll help. I hadn’t considered his role, or the politics at play, especially between the royal family and the Circle.

“Regardless, once you’ve spoken with him, I’d like to see the items myself.”

“Of course, zayyida.”

Alyrra’s eyes drop to my sleeve, still pulled up to bare the cut. “I also would prefer it if you did not go into the city anymore.”

I hesitate, considering this. I don’t want to see Bren again, or risk meeting the Black Scholar, but I’m not sure I can do everything I need from within these walls. Then again, the Scholar will surely kill me if he catches me again. And this time, he won’t wait to do it.

Alyrra, watching me, says, “I know you are committed to this work, Rae, but it’s too dangerous for you to go back out. If there’s any need to meet our contacts, I’ll send Sage.”

“As you wish.” I’d almost forgotten meeting Sage at the stables and going with her to that first meeting with Artemian and Bren. “I don’t think I need to meet them again. But I do need to keep working on this.”

Alyrra rubs her mouth, and in that movement I see the uncertainty she’s been hiding. “We will keep working on it, I promise you that. But, Rae,