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.The air crystallized and swirled in the vortex created by its passing.Duvan gripped tightly onto Slanya's hand, determined not to let go.He brought his other arm up to protect hiseyes.Tossed into the air by the heaving ground, they flew airborne.He did not let go, and when the two of them came crashing down, landing hard and skidding down the slope, he still hung on.He was determined not to lose her.Tyrangal liked her, and despite her previous isolation from real-world issues, Duvan found himself concerned about her.He would do his best to protect her until their mission was fulfilled.He'd given his word.They rolled down the slope and skidded to a stop next to a small patch of spellscarred bushes.How anything could grow in here always amazed him.And as he watched, the bushes doubled in size, then dried up, withered, and died.The silence that followed left his ears ringing with the screech of the passing wave.And for the moment, they were in a small pocket of calm.For the moment."You all right?" he asked, getting to his feet and brushing the rocks and debris from his hair."I think so," she replied.Her voice quavered at first as she stood next to him and took stock of herself."Yes, I seem to be all here."He laughed."Corporeal unity—always better than the alternative."She gave an amused snort."Agreed.""Let me see if you've got any splinters," he said."The shards are so sharp they can be difficult to feel, and if left they'll work into the skin.You don't want that.Believe me, I know from experience.""Good to know," she said.And as he examined the exposed skin on her face, he discovered that he was touched somewhat by her story about being orphaned when her aunt had died in the house fire.Despite his dubiousness about the telling, Duvan felt sure there was a good deal of truth behind her story.Perhaps heunderstood her; he too had been orphaned.Perhaps she could understand him.He removed three shards from her face and neck."Please check me," he said.Her head was close, her measured and even breath on his face.She smelled of lilac soap.She pulled a shard out then looked into his eyes."I—I think that's all of them."Duvan looked away, but the look of concern or connection or whatever it was that passed-between them stayed with him.He'd only ever felt that kind of connection for one other person—his twin sister, Talfani.This look was fleeting and perhaps only imagined after all.We'll wear gloves and goggles and face scarves from here on in," he said, and he heard traces of anger in his voice.Anger at what? he wondered, but now that he was aware of it, he recognized that he was truly angry."Done," she said."Thank you.""I owe you my life," she said."I should thank you." At her gesture of appreciation, he felt the anger Well inside.Why did she have to be so kind? Why did he care so much? It was infuriating.** ****** ***In the privacy of his office, Gregor scratched absently at the white hair over his spellscar and stared at Vraith."You seriously believe this young man could be.what did you say? 'A threat to your entire order'?"Vraith gave a tight smile.She had sent her entourage into the courtyard while she and Gregor spoke of more sensitive matters.Kaylinn had excused herself."I said he could be a threat to our operation—our plans for the ritual.It depends on what we discover about his powers.""He seemed to me to be unconcerned with the affairs of the Order," Gregor said."More interested in relatively petty activities, really.I wouldn't concern myself with him." Gregor didn't despise small-time thinkers, but he certainly had no deep respect for them either.He was going to make an impact on this world; he would achieve greatness.Of that he was certain, and those who had no aspiration for deep impact on the world—for greatness— deserved little respect."I don't take chances," Vraith said, her tone serious."Not when it costs me almost nothing to avoid this risk.We need to discover if his ability is controllable and how much power he has over it.His power is a threat, and we need to determine how much it has the ability to derail our plans."Gregor nodded.He didn't really care about Duvan as long as he got his plaguegrass.Though he did worry about Tyrangal's reaction if she learned of his complicity in helping the Order capture Duvan.He would have to do something to prevent her from finding out.Still, it would not do to anger Vraith at this time.The Order of Blue Fire had its fingers in too many affairs in Ormpetarr.This situation would require finesse and diplomacy.Outright defiance had the potential for dire consequences."Duvan and one of our clerics left this morning on an important mission for me," Gregor said."Where did they go?" Vraith asked."The Plaguewrought Land.""When—""And I am not certain when they will be back," he continued, cutting Vraith off.Gregor was growing annoyed at being treated like a subordinate."But it will be no later than noon tomorrow."Vraith frowned."I'd rather not wait that long," she said with a sigh."But I see that I will have to.Very well, I willsend Beaugrat and a party to scour the border.When they come out, we will take them by force.""I just need what they're carrying," he said."They're gathering a vital component of the resistance elixir
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