James Islington - The Shadow Of What Was Lost

Ishelle shook her head. "You haven’t Read many people, have you? Most of them deserve everything that’s coming to them." She sighed, waving away his scowl. "Don’t pout. I’m not asking you to do it."

Their meals arrived, and the two began eating. They were silent for a while, then Davian paused as he saw Ishelle looking at him with a curious expression. She smiled, leaning back and dabbing at her mouth with her napkin. “So tell me about Caladel,” she said. She waved her hand impatiently as Davian gave her a wary look. “Not the attack; I know all about that. What was it like, growing up in an Athian school?” She shook her head. “I always thought it would be so… boring.”

Davian sucked in his breath; it stung to hear the destruction of the school mentioned so flippantly. “I’d prefer not to talk about it,” he said, trying unsuccessfully to keep the stiffness from his voice.

Ishelle grimaced when she saw his expression. Her shoulders slumped a little.

“I’m sorry,” she said after a few awkward moments. “I know I can be… blunt. Driscin says I rely on my abilities so much, I don’t really know how to talk to people any more. Maybe he’s right.”

Davian hesitated. She sounded… uncomfortable. Genuinely embarrassed.

He paused for a few more seconds, then sighed, leaning forward.

“It wasn’t boring.” He took a mouthful of food, chewing as he thought. He swallowed. “There was always a lot to do. Studying, practicing.” He scratched his head. “Sometimes, we got sent outside of the school to run errands.”

Ishelle raised an eyebrow. “I think you and I have different definitions of boring,” she said with a gently mocking smile. Despite that, Davian thought he could detect a hint of gratitude in her tone.

He shook his head in chagrin. “I’m not explaining it very well. My friends were there,” he clarified. “It was… simple. The school was my home. It may sound monotonous - it was monotonous, I suppose - but for the most part, I loved my life there.” With another twinge of sadness, he realised just how true that statement was.

Ishelle shook her head. “I cannot imagine being forced to stay in the one place all those years,” she admitted. “It sounds like just another prison, barely any different to what the Tols must have been like during the sieges. Essence and kan are both dull unless you can go out into the real world and actually use them.”

Davian leaned forward, glad of the shift in conversation. "I take it you aren’t a student at one of Shen’s schools, then - you never got the Mark? Because if you had, there wouldn’t have been much choice in the matter," he added dryly.

"No, thank the fates." Ishelle gave him a half-apologetic shrug. "I work in the kitchens at Tol Shen, when I’m not out with Driscin trying to find other Augurs. But Driscin always made sure I didn’t draw enough Essence to be bound by the Tenets." Ishelle frowned. "You did, though, I take it?"

Davian hesitated, then nodded. "I don’t remember it, but… yes." He fell silent as he thought about that day, thought about what Driscin had told him earlier. He had a sudden urge to ask Ishelle exactly what she’d seen when she had Read Taeris… but he knew that whatever the answer, he wouldn’t believe a word of it until he spoke to Taeris himself.

The moment passed, and Ishelle evidently sensed that Davian didn’t want to speak further on the subject. The conversation turned to lighter things as they ate and for a while, Davian actually found himself relaxing.

Soon enough, though, their plates were cleared and he remembered the long journey he had ahead. He sighed. He still mistrusted Ishelle, but the meal had been a pleasant respite from the road. "I should go soon," he observed. "Before I do, though - is there anything else you can tell me about this invasion?"

Ishelle shrugged; it might have been Davian’s imagination, but he thought he saw a flash of disappointment on her face. “The Andarran army was about to meet the invaders, last I heard. Hopefully that will be the end of it."

Davian shook his head. "No. A while back, I… saw something. The invaders, camped outside Ilin Illan. That’s why I’m trying to get back there. If there is going to be a siege, they will need all the help they can get." He raised an eyebrow at her. "You could come. Two of us could make a real difference."

Ishelle hesitated. "No," she said slowly. "I don’t think that’s for me."

Davian made a face but nodded, having not really expected a different response. “Have you heard if the king is going to change the First Tenet, to let the Gifted fight?”

Ishelle shook her head. “Nothing beyond what Driscin said earlier. King Andras has made some strong statements against the Gifted in the past few weeks… if those are anything to go by, it’s not likely.” Her eyes narrowed. “You have been isolated, haven’t you? Tell me, Davian, in truth. Where did you disappear to? How did you do it?” Her eyes burned bright with curiosity.

Davian grimaced; he had no desire to talk about Deilannis. He could see the determination in Ishelle’s eyes, though - her desire to know how he’d escaped her for so long.

He quickly came to a decision. “Let’s trade. If you tell me how to make myself invisible, I’ll tell you how I avoided your tracking.”

Ishelle considered for a moment. “You first.”

Davian smiled, knowing he had her hooked. “Not a chance.”

“Nothing else you want to know more?”

“Invisibility,” Davian replied in a firm tone.

Ishelle sighed. “Very well.” She played with her fringe idly. “It’s not terribly difficult, once you get the hang of it. Encase yourself in a kan shield, but rather than have the kan absorb Essence, make it redirect it – a little like when you draw it out of the environment, I suppose. Bend it around yourself, so it’s as if the Essence is passing through empty space.” She grinned. “It was an accident, to be honest. Driscin and I were testing ways of deflecting attacks one day, and, surprise!” She made a dramatic gesture. “Driscin nearly had a heart attack.”

Davian smiled. “I can only imagine.”

Ishelle grinned. “Driscin thinks it works by bending the light,” she continued. “The Essence drags it around the shield, rather than letting it through.”

Davian glanced around at the other occupants of the room. “I probably shouldn’t test it right now,” he said regretfully.

“Try it on an object. Something small so no-one notices,” suggested Ishelle.

Davian gave her an approving look, then concentrated. He covered his bowl in a tight mesh of kan, then altered its properties so that it redirected Essence as Ishelle had suggested. Nothing happened; Davian adjusted the hardness of the kan a little, making it act almost like a mirror.

The bowl wavered in front of him, then vanished.

Davian’s eyes widened, and he felt himself grinning. “This could be useful,” he mused.

Ishelle beamed. “You have no idea,” she said with a wink. She leaned forward. “Your turn.”

Davian looked her in the eye. “I’ve changed my mind, actually.”

Ishelle gaped at him for several seconds.

“You lied to me?” she eventually choked out in quiet, outraged disbelief.

“Fair is fair,” replied Davian cheerfully. “You should have been checking. And anyway, you drugged me. I think we might be even now.”

Ishelle stared at him, caught between shock, annoyance and amused chagrin. “You’re serious. You’re not going to tell me.”

Davian shrugged. “Perhaps we can make a new deal. I’ll tell you if you come to Ilin Illan.”

Ishelle looked at him through narrowed eyes. “Tempting, if I thought you would hold up your end of the bargain.” She shook her head, smile rueful. "I suppose I’ll just have to wait until Tol Shen to get it out of you, then." She hesitated, looking him in the eye, suddenly serious. "Speaking of which. You are going to come, aren’t you?"