Exile by Nikki McCormack

he’d said it would. The power woven into it reinforced her already substantial ascard connection. The sensation was comforting. Stepping forward, she threw her arms around Ferin’s neck in an embrace full of gratitude. After a second’s hesitation, he tentatively returned it.
    “Thank you, Lord Ferin.”
    “I’m only the messenger.” He chuckled, apparently satisfied despite his words of protest. “Without Ian’s creation skill, I doubt we could have done more than offer a you pretty ring.”
    “That would have been enough, but this is incredible.” She stepped back. “Can I offer you some wine? I do hope you can stay a bit. I would love to hear all the news from Lyra.”
    “I will happily stay until your questions run dry, my lady, and I would love some wine.”
    Gesturing for him to take a seat, she retrieved two goblets and selected a wine Caplin had given her, leftover from some gathering of the King’s High Council. A far more expensive selection than she could have afforded on her own.
    Ferin looked around the room, a knowing smile turning his lips. “I detect a Lyran influence in your décor,” he remarked. He chose one of the plush ivory chairs to sink into, tracing a line of blue embroidery with one finger.
    “Do you like it?”
    “Very much so. I may have to visit you often while I’m here just to get a taste of home.”
    A warm flush rose in her cheeks. “I would welcome the company,” she replied in earnest as she handed him his wine then sat across from him. “Tell me about Galyn.”
    Ferin actually flushed and she sipped her wine to hide a smile. “I hope it isn’t that obvious to everyone. I didn’t intend it to be a distraction,” he said, a touch of sincere worry in his tone.
    “I sensed jealousy from her when you greeted me. Not many here use ascard for more than healing though, so it isn’t too likely to come up,” she reassured. “Edan is skilled with sensing emotions, but I can’t imagine him taking exception to the two of you being intimate, especially given that you won’t be here the entire time.”
    Ferin nodded. “To answer your inquiry, Galyn and I have been together a year and eight months. She is… quite remarkable.” His candid smile made her laugh, then his expression turned serious. “What about you? I thought you were engaged.”
    Sorrow and frustration muted some of the happiness Ferin had brought to her lonely residence. She gazed into her wine. “Lord Caplin leveraged his status to help dissolve the engagement. So far, there haven’t been any repercussions, other than a few raised eyebrows, but I’ve managed to avoid Jayce with a little ascard assistance. Who knows what will happen when our paths finally cross.”
    “Yiloch will be glad to hear that you’re free of that engagement.”
    “Why do you follow him?”
    Ferin rotated his wine glass in his hands. “I am truly powerful at no skill. I developed my ascard ability a little in as many different skills as I could so that I could put my efforts to guiding others in developing those skills. I sacrificed expertise for the ability to teach a broad range of skill sets. All of my students surpass me.”
    It wasn’t an answer, but she went along with his train of thought, patient. “So you always wanted to teach?”
    He nodded.
    “But I didn’t think Lyra had any organized schools for using ascard.”
    “They don’t, not yet, but Yiloch wants to establish schools. That isn’t the only reason I follow him, but it is the primary reason. We share the same dream in that respect.”
    She sipped her wine then swirled the cup, staring into the red depths of the liquid. “How is he?”
    “He’s…” Ferin paused until she met his eyes. After a few seconds, he nodded in response to whatever he saw there. “He is handsome as ever and, when he isn’t pining away over you, he makes a fine emperor.”
    “I doubt he pines over me all that much.” She tried to sound flippant, but the flicker of