Ink Forged

~Conflicted Heart~

Vraylor was waiting for them when they returned to the Carneri Guild. He opened the carriage door, stepping to the side as Volt jumped down to the pavement, then offered a hand to Maevus. She took it without thinking and couldn't bring herself to mind when Vraylor wrapped an arm around her waist.

It was just as well. In her current state, a stiff breeze would have been enough to knock her over.

"My office," she heard Vraylor mutter. 

There was no response.

There was a rush of heat and light, the clash of voices and smell of magic. Maevus straightened, pushing away from Vraylor as the main hall came into focus. He relinquished his hold on her, but didn't allow her to move too far away. Maevus decided it would hurt her pride more to collapse in the middle of everyone than it would to have Vraylor keep her from falling in the first place.

"Come on, girlie," he whispered. "Let's get you upstairs."

Maevus held her tongue until they had passed all the curious eyes. She didn't speak as they walked up the stairs. It wasn't until Vraylor stopped outside her room that she finally looked up at him. "A rogue Encant," she whispered, then pulled her key free of a clever pocket in the waist of her skirt.

She walked into the room and sat on her bed, head cradled in her hands. There was a soft thud of boots and the creak of the door swinging almost shut.

"We have to hunt someone down," she said, the words straining her throat as she struggled not to break into tears. "An Encant who's refused the new laws. We have to—" A shuddering breath racked her, choking off her explanation.

A memory of bodies hanging from bridges, labeled with signs that read traitor, oppressor, slaver loomed in her mind. She remembered the broken glass frosting the cobbles, the fires that raged.

Maevus held her breath, entire body shaking with the effort of holding herself together.

A warm hand was laid on her shoulder, fingers squeezing lightly. "I figured it would be somethin' like that," Vraylor said, his voice low. "As soon as she called Volt. And it would please her to teach you a lesson."

When Maevus blinked, tears began streaking down her face. They clung to her lashes, blurring her vision. She swiped at her face, the tears leaving dark splotches on the sleeves of her shirt. It startled her when Vraylor crouched down in front of her and she quickly turned her head, not wanting him to see.

He gently turned her face back to his, fingers brushing away her tears. In an attempt to mask her weakness, she leveled an accusatory look on him. "You knew? Because she called Volt, too?" She let out a huff. "Sounds like he's her favorite hunting dog."

Vraylor's calm expression didn't flicker. "Somethin' like that, unfortunately."

"Then he can go by himself." Maevus shoved Vraylor away, nearly making him tumble backwards. His arms flew out, seeking balance as he shot back to a standing position. Maevus glared up at him. "I'm not going. I'm not going to hunt someone down and force them here!"

Vraylor gave her a condescending look. "She's not forcin' this Encant to a guild, Maevus. She's—"

"I know what she's doing," she snarled, shooting to her feet. "And I won't help her."

"Yes, you will." Vraylor sighed, running his hands through his hair. "You will, or you'll end up exactly where he's headed."

Icy fear grew around her heart like creeping vines. It was the same thing Volt had said.

"You don't understand." She wanted to shout, but it came out a whisper. "You don't understand why I can't—"

"Why you can't do this?" Vraylor let out a mirthless laugh. "You think I don't understand why you can't hunt down an Encant? Why you can't just duck your head and do what your told? You think I don't—"

"It's not about this one Encant!" Maevus yelled. She lunged forward, grabbing Vraylor by his shirt and attempting to shake him. "It's not even because he's an Encant! It's—" she dropped her head, forehead touching her hands where they gripped his shirt— "It's not that."

Vraylor stood still and silent for a moment. Then, moving very cautiously, like Maevus might bite him, he lifted his arms and wrapped her into a hug. One hand cradled her head, the other pressing between her shoulder blades. The tears came hotter and faster and she tried to push away, but Vraylor wouldn't release her.

"It doesn't matter why, Maevus," he said, gently patting her back. "It doesn't matter why this is hard. All that matters is that it is. And I am so very sorry you have to even entertain the thought of doing such a thing. I truly am."

Maevus finally gave in, slumping against his chest. The sound of his heart was loud against her ear when she turned her head. "But I still have to go. Don't I?" she said, words muffled by her thick throat.

His chest lifted with a sigh and he put his hands on Maevus' shoulders, leaning back so he could look down at her. His pale blue eyes were drawn and weary, filled with a sorrow that knew its own uselessness.

"I will never force you to take a job, Maevus," he said. His shoulders slumped. "But I can't risk the rest of the guild for you. I won't. If you disobey the queen, you'll be forced to run. And when you run, she'll turn her attention to me. To the guild. To root out the sickness."

Her stomach turned to lead as she let those words sink in. Vraylor was being dead serious—he would allow her to refuse this job. But what would that gain? Certainly not her freedom. Her mind turned to the few people she knew here. Steadfast Korie—someone Maevus was beginning to view as a friend. Joyful Letya. Loyal Kinai. Sweet Savrin. Even surly Lorn and his reluctant kindness.

She looked up at Vraylor and imagined a trace of fear shaded along the lines of his face. Fear for the lives in his care. For his family.

For her.

She sniffed, using her already ruined sleeves to dry her face. After one more calming breath, she met Vraylor's eyes. "I'll go," she said. "I'll go with Volt."

Vraylor nodded, a relieved breath puffing from his nose. "I know—"

"No." She shook her head, moving toward her dresser and yanking one of the drawers open at random. "You don't know. But, like you said, my...reservations aren't the only thing at risk here."

"Maevus..."

"Please go," she whispered. "Please just let me change my clothes, pack and tell Volt I'll meet him at the main door. The queen wants us to leave by tonight."

Maevus hunched her shoulders against the burn of his gaze burrowing into her. There was a quiet sigh and the soft creak of the door opening. Her hands fell still buried in the silk and soft linen of the blouses Korie had purchased for her.

"I'm sorry, Maevus," Vraylor said, his voice strained. "Believe me when I say if I could change it, I would. In a heartbeat."

Maevus didn't respond and the door shut as he left. Only then did she allow her knees to go weak, allow herself to collapse to the floor. She buried her face in her hands, sobs shaking her body.