Sing to the flow of the river, to the shadows of black and of blue

Chapter 26

Oh, and the stars align every night...

"Good day, archmage Varnyzian."

"Stephanie of Arcadia, now there is a face I'd not expected on an early morning! It has been several summers since we last spoke, has it not?"

Rings of milky water rippled in time with the woman's words, her features otherwise perfectly clear, reflected on the surface. Steph bowed her head, happy to see the familiar grey eyes, the elegantly arranged white-streaked hair, the glint of the emerald jewels the councilwoman never appeared without.

"It has indeed, though one could be forgiven for thinking otherwise, as you don't look to have aged a day."

"Ah, I see you are still honey-tongued as always," archmage Varnyzian chuckled, clasping her hands before her. "Now, what have you called me for, child?"

Holding out the drawing she'd made of Gabriel's mark, Steph spoke quickly of what befell him, of the murders and of her theories, trying to remain succinct, as an archmage's time was often precious, and always limited. The councilwoman betrayed nothing of her thoughts as Steph asked for possible help, but there was tension in her jaw, her voice measured as she agreed to look into the matter, and to reach out in two days' time, at the same hour. Steph bowed low to the archmage's fading image, sighing once the surface in the copper bowl stilled, looking down to Valkyrie.

"Here goes nothing. She didn't look thrilled..."

Garry placed a bowl of fruit, a slice of bread and a cup of milk on a table, sitting Steph down the minute she walked into the Black Lantern.

"It's barely past dawn, no one's awake yet except us two fools, and you look like you've not slept a wink. Get some food, young healer, you've earned a bit of rest."

Before she could say a word or hand him a coin, he'd hobbled back into the kitchens. Steph smiled to herself, grateful and warmed by the kindness, and set to enjoy the quiet morning, the plump raspberries and sweet peaches. Soon, she heard careful footsteps down the stairs, and found the one person she was always most delighted to see. Last night, Steph had almost given in. Alex had felt so fragile in her arms, so desperate for comfort, it would've been so easy to lean down and... No. She hadn't wanted Alex to think she'd taken advantage of the situation, and had walked away as soon as she'd realized the line she'd been so close to crossing. Thrown herself into research, leafing through every book she owned in the hopes of finding anything at all about curses, to no avail. Now, as the bard joined her at the table, with a timid smile and sleepy eyes, Steph willed herself to focus on what would matter to her most.

"I've spoken to one of my Guild's council members. She said she'll look into it, we'll have to wait a couple of days to hear more, I'm afraid, but it is a start. I promise we'll find a way."

"I know you will, you always do," Alex sipped at her own cup, then frowned. "You haven't slept at all, have you? Will you please promise me that you'll get some rest as soon as you're done checking on the boys?"

Alex's eyes were so gentle, her voice so concerned, that Steph had no choice but to agree. It wasn't long before Gabriel, Charlotte and Ethan awoke, and after seeing to their respective wounds – all of them clean and healing – Steph returned home, put a sign at her door to keep customers away, and fell asleep after only a minute. Her last thoughts drifted to Alex, her eyes, her lips, and as she gave in to slumber, wondered if they tasted as sweet as ripe peaches.

The day was a blur, both Steph and her friends kept busy and scattered around the village, although she returned to the tavern to tend to Gabriel, and listened to Alex sing for as long as she could. The next day was no better, Ryan away in the mountains to pacify a dispute between hunters, Alex staying by her brother's side, and Steph pacing in her shop, anxious to hear what the archmage would have to say. So much so that she found herself waking long before dawn, unable to stay in bed, and was dressed and ready before the first rays of light appeared. The copper bowl was filled, the summon spoken, all she had to do was wait, and pray.