James Islington - The Shadow Of What Was Lost

Without hesitating, Asha pressed the open end of the silver torc onto her arm.

Everything… shimmered.

A moment later the door swung open. A tall, thin, blue-cloaked Administrator strode through, freezing when he realised a lamp was already lit. His eyes moved straight to Erran, who was now standing with his back to the door, examining a shelf.

"What are you doing in here?" said the Administrator angrily, his voice booming around the warehouse.

Erran turned, and Asha shook her head in silent admiration at his nonchalant expression. "Administrator Ionis," he said politely, giving a slight bow. "Duke Andras asked me to store something for him in here."

The man called Ionis crossed his arms. "I recognise you. That servant that kept spilling drinks when I met with Elocien a few weeks ago." He shook his head. "I don’t believe you. This area of the palace is strictly off limits, and the duke knows it."

Erran looked hurt. "Duke Andras will confirm he asked me," he said in an injured tone. He reached into his pocket, producing the ring Asha had been handling a few moments ago. "See? I was just trying to decide where it goes."

Ionis studied the ring with narrowed eyes. "It goes wherever there is a space. There’s no order to any of this junk." He shook his head, taking an object of his own from his pocket and tossing it on a nearby shelf. "Give me that, and come with me. I’m not letting you out of my sight until I speak to Elocien, so I hope for your sake you’re telling the truth."

"Of course, Administrator. I’m happy to help."

Ionis gave a brusque nod. "You’re alone in here?"

"Yes."

Ionis looked around suspiciously but eventually nodded again, apparently satisfied. "Then let’s go."

"Just let me get the Duke’s key. I left it lying around on one of these shelves," said Erran, his tone embarrassed. "I wouldn’t want it to be locked in here. It might be a while before someone can come down here again to fetch it."

He started walking towards a shelf near where Asha stood. It took her a couple of moments to realise his words had been directed at her.

Moving as quietly as possible she slipped around the Administrator and through the still-open door, breathing a sigh of relief as she emerged into the passageway beyond. Erran had been right; the door required a key to unlock it, no matter which side of it you were.

Once outside, she set off at a light jog for the main section of the palace.

As soon as she was certain she was alone, she removed the Veil from her arm. Her first thought was to head for her rooms - after such a near miss, she wanted nothing more than to collapse onto her bed and rest - but after a moment, she made for Elocien’s study instead.

Fortunately there was no-one waiting outside today; either Elocien had dealt with all the concerned nobility, or he had grown sick of them and had ordered them to leave him alone. Asha suspected the latter.

She knocked, relieved to see Elocien when the door opened.

The duke frowned around at the empty hallway. "Ashalia. This isn’t the best time…"

"It’s urgent, and it won’t take long."

Once she was inside, she drew the Veil from her pocket, showing it to Elocien. "I was helping Erran look for something we could use amongst the Vessels," she said quickly. "An Administrator came in while we were there. Ionis, I think his name was. I hid with this, but Erran didn’t have time. He told Ionis you sent him down there to store a ring."

Elocien nodded calmly, as if this was entirely expected. "Thank-you, Asha. Ionis won’t be happy, but he rarely is. Don’t worry. It will be fine." He made a face. "You should probably use the Veil again, though."

Asha frowned. "Why?"

A knock came at the door.

Asha pressed the silver torc back onto her arm as Elocien rose. He checked to see that she was no longer visible, then opened the door.

"Ionis! What a pleasant surprise," said the duke in an amiable tone, stepping back to let the Administrator in. "And Erran, too, I see. How can I help you?"

Ionis made no move to enter. "This young man says you gave him this key " - he handed the storeroom key to the duke - " and sent him to put something in the Old Section?"

"That’s correct. A silver ring," confirmed Elocien. "Erran has been with me for years. I trust him."

Ionis' face tightened, and he reached into his pocket and handed the ring across to Elocien before turning to Erran. "You may go," he said curtly.

Erran nodded, looking relieved, then vanished down the hallway.

"Would you like to come in?" asked Elocien, gesturing inside his study.

Ionis' eyes bore into the duke’s. "He shouldn’t have been down there, Your Grace." He made no move to enter.

Elocien sighed. "Do you really think I would have sent him if I didn’t think he was trustworthy?"

"That’s not your decision to make. Administration won’t be happy. Your Grace."

Elocien leaned forward slightly, and his tone changed. It was still friendly, but the words had steel beneath them this time. "Administration answer to me. As do you. You would do well to remember that."

Ionis matched Elocien’s gaze, unperturbed. "As you say." He moved to walk away, then hesitated, turning back. "What happened to you, Your Grace?"

The duke frowned. "I don’t know what you’re -"

"Yes you do." Ionis studied Elocien’s face closely. "You used to believe in our purpose here. The importance of the work. You know the worst part of today? I believed that boy, even before I came up here. A few years ago I wouldn’t have even had to check with you. I would have known he was lying." He shook his head, eyes narrowed. "Something changed, but I was never able to figure out what."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ionis," said Elocien, sounding weary.

Ionis gazed at the Northwarden for a few more seconds, then snorted in disgust. "Of course you don’t."

He spun on his heel and vanished down the hallway.

Elocien watched him go, then closed the door. "You can take it off again."

Asha didn’t respond for a moment. She’d been half-listening to the conversation, but there had been something else that was distracting her. Something she’d noticed when she’d put the Veil on the first time, but had been too flustered to pay it any attention.

The Veil was drawing Essence from her. From her Reserve. It was only a thin stream of energy, but… it was definitely there.

She closed her eyes, reaching out for Essence herself. There was nothing there… but the momentary disappointment faded as she considered the possibilities.

The art of making Vessels had been lost hundreds of years ago, so very little was known about their operation. But if they could tap a Shadow’s Reserve….

It meant that becoming a Shadow hadn’t destroyed her Reserve, only blocked it off.

It meant that, just maybe, Davian had been right. There could be a cure, a way to reverse it.

Trembling, she released the Veil from her arm, allowing herself to fade back into view. Elocien looked at her in concern as he saw the expression on her face.

"What’s wrong?"

Asha hesitated, a dozen thoughts flashing through her mind at once.

If this was true for all Vessels, and all Shadows, then the implications of what she’d discovered were enormous. Shadows lost their Mark, were not bound by the Tenets. They could use Vessels however they chose. Use the weapons. Perhaps not as effectively as the Gifted - most Shadows were Gifted who had failed their Trials, after all - but each one could still count for a hundred normal soldiers, if they could be convinced to defend the city.

On the other hand, she trusted Elocien, but… he was the Northwarden. Was this something he would feel obliged to warn Administration about? Because given how much Administrators already feared the Shadraehin, and by extension all Shadows, she shuddered to think what the reaction might be to news such as this.