dismissed early, Ariana set out in search of Sian. He was not difficult to find, as he had been spending almost all his time in his quarters. Alone. The sentinels and ministers did not disturb him. She suspected they were afraid of the enchanter, and were well pleased when he was not in their way. Many of the ministers' wives had been known to dote on palace guests, feeding them too often and having silly parties at all times of the day. If that guest was an unmarried man, he would be introduced to the eligible daughters with matchmaking in mind. But they, too, left Sian alone. She suspected he was too dangerous for them, and for their daughters.
It was his eyes. He probably thought it was the odd shade of purple and the unusual shifting patterns there that put people off, that made people jump when they first saw them, but he'd be wrong. Sian Sayre Chamblyn had the eyes of a man who knew darkness. Ariana had quickly grown accustomed to the unusual color and the way they seemed to have a life of their own; she would never grow accustomed to the shadows that lurked there.
She knocked on his door, but as it was the middle of the day, she had no qualms about opening the door when she did not receive an immediate answer to her knock. Sian had told her very little about what he'd discovered in Level Thirteen, always promising "later," after he'd discovered more about the Isen Demon. Well, "later" was today. It was, in fact, right
now
.
The quarters the enchanter had been assigned consisted of one large room which held anything a man might desire. A massive bed. A chest for his clothing—which was apparently all black. A small table, for the meals he took here. A tub, which sat in one corner until it was time for it to be filled by a queue of servants bearing hot water.
Sian sat before a massive desk, which was littered with small books and loose papers. His head snapped around as the door opened. He was surprised to see her. So surprised, it took him a moment to gather his wits and say, "I did not call for you. Get out." With that, he returned to his study.
Ariana considered leaving .the room, but not for long. Superior as he thought himself to be, Sian was here to help her. How could she prepare to fight when she did not know what she was up against?
She ignored his command and walked toward him. "What do you know about the Isen Demon?"
"Not enough," he answered sharply, not even bothering to rise from his hard-backed chair.
"I don't suppose you can flick your talented fingers and make him go away."
She did not realize the possible misunderstanding in the words "talented fingers" until Sian raised his eyebrows ever so slightly. Ariana felt the warmth of a blush on her cheeks. Beyond that, she showed no reaction.
"I have not found a spell to rid us of the demon, no," Sian answered, "but I have many more volumes of palace witches' ledgers still to study."
When Ariana made it clear she was not going away to leave him in peace, Sian grimaced. "I don't suppose you have heard of a crystal dagger?" he asked.
"No. Is there mention of one in the ledgers?"
"The prophesy my grandfather penned mentions such a weapon. He does not give details as to where it can be found or if it will defeat the demon. I thought perhaps you had heard of it."
"No." Ariana stepped closer to the desk, and to Sian. "May I see it?"
"See what?"
"The Prophesy of the Firstborn."
It seemed that Sian paled a little before turning back to his papers. "No. Not at this time."
"Why not? For all I know, you… made it all up."
"I am not in the habit of creating false prophesies for my amusement, or for yours. The prophesy is as I told you."
"But—"
"When the time is right, I will show it to you," he said sharply.
"When will the time be right?"
He sighed and turned to glare up at her as if she were a bothersome child. "When I say the time is right. Don't you have lessons to attend to?"
"No. I'm finished for the day."
"Surely you have something to
It was his eyes. He probably thought it was the odd shade of purple and the unusual shifting patterns there that put people off, that made people jump when they first saw them, but he'd be wrong. Sian Sayre Chamblyn had the eyes of a man who knew darkness. Ariana had quickly grown accustomed to the unusual color and the way they seemed to have a life of their own; she would never grow accustomed to the shadows that lurked there.
She knocked on his door, but as it was the middle of the day, she had no qualms about opening the door when she did not receive an immediate answer to her knock. Sian had told her very little about what he'd discovered in Level Thirteen, always promising "later," after he'd discovered more about the Isen Demon. Well, "later" was today. It was, in fact, right
now
.
The quarters the enchanter had been assigned consisted of one large room which held anything a man might desire. A massive bed. A chest for his clothing—which was apparently all black. A small table, for the meals he took here. A tub, which sat in one corner until it was time for it to be filled by a queue of servants bearing hot water.
Sian sat before a massive desk, which was littered with small books and loose papers. His head snapped around as the door opened. He was surprised to see her. So surprised, it took him a moment to gather his wits and say, "I did not call for you. Get out." With that, he returned to his study.
Ariana considered leaving .the room, but not for long. Superior as he thought himself to be, Sian was here to help her. How could she prepare to fight when she did not know what she was up against?
She ignored his command and walked toward him. "What do you know about the Isen Demon?"
"Not enough," he answered sharply, not even bothering to rise from his hard-backed chair.
"I don't suppose you can flick your talented fingers and make him go away."
She did not realize the possible misunderstanding in the words "talented fingers" until Sian raised his eyebrows ever so slightly. Ariana felt the warmth of a blush on her cheeks. Beyond that, she showed no reaction.
"I have not found a spell to rid us of the demon, no," Sian answered, "but I have many more volumes of palace witches' ledgers still to study."
When Ariana made it clear she was not going away to leave him in peace, Sian grimaced. "I don't suppose you have heard of a crystal dagger?" he asked.
"No. Is there mention of one in the ledgers?"
"The prophesy my grandfather penned mentions such a weapon. He does not give details as to where it can be found or if it will defeat the demon. I thought perhaps you had heard of it."
"No." Ariana stepped closer to the desk, and to Sian. "May I see it?"
"See what?"
"The Prophesy of the Firstborn."
It seemed that Sian paled a little before turning back to his papers. "No. Not at this time."
"Why not? For all I know, you… made it all up."
"I am not in the habit of creating false prophesies for my amusement, or for yours. The prophesy is as I told you."
"But—"
"When the time is right, I will show it to you," he said sharply.
"When will the time be right?"
He sighed and turned to glare up at her as if she were a bothersome child. "When I say the time is right. Don't you have lessons to attend to?"
"No. I'm finished for the day."
"Surely you have something to
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