“Will she get upset?” I asked.
“She’ll be sullen for a few hours, but then it turns into determination and I’ll have to drag her to bed because she’ll practice all night if I’d let her.”
Now his comment about her being a mini Janco with more focus made sense. Despite his grumbling, I had the feeling Ari cared for Reema.
“You’re going to miss her,” I said.
He remained quiet for a while. “Yeah. I am. And I’m sure Lacole will, too. She’s been helping me with more than training. There were times Reema needed...er...female supervision, like in the baths.” Red splotches spread across his cheeks.
I suppressed my mirth over Ari’s embarrassment. We watched Janco run circles around Reema, but I was impressed with her tactics.
“Do you want to join them?” Ari asked. “Get some practice?”
“Not now. I promised to take Reema riding. And I’m going to need to rest before my training starts.”
Concerned, Ari turned to me. “What training?”
I searched his expression. “Didn’t Janco tell you?”
“All I’ve heard from him is complaints about Little Miss Assassin and Owen the Bastard. We haven’t had time to catch up. Why? What’s wrong?”
The desire to let Janco tell his partner about my situation welled, but Ari deserved to hear it from me. So I told him about the morning I woke up unable to tap into the power source.
The crease between his pale blue eyes puckered into full worry. “And you’re not immune like Valek and Opal?”
“No. Magic affects me like everyone else.” Unfortunately.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Yelena. Will you get your magic back?”
“Hopefully once I figure out why it’s gone, I’ll be able to reverse it.”
“I’m here for whatever you need. Okay?”
“Okay.”
He frowned at nothing in particular, his gaze distant. “Well, that explains why Valek asked you if Leif can tell when a person’s memories have been altered by magic. I wondered why he didn’t just ask you to check with your Soulfinding abilities, but I’ve learned to ask Valek those types of questions in private.”
Interesting. “In case he has a grander scheme in mind?”
“Yeah. He always has a grander scheme in mind. And I, for one, can’t wait to see what he has in mind for Owen.” Ari punched his palm. Hard.
* * *
After Reema finished her lessons and cleaned up, Kiki took us on a ride through Castletown. We stopped in town and I sent a quick message to Leif. Only an hour of daylight remained, and the air held the crisp scent of cold as we trotted into the surrounding farms.
Reema sat in front of me, still in high spirits after her sparring bouts with Janco. I’d found that even when you were being trounced by him, it was hard to get angry at him, and it appeared he had the same effect on her.
However, her good mood didn’t last once she heard the news of being able to return home.
“Don’t you miss your parents?” I asked in the heavy silence.
“I do, but...”
She had made friends here. “You’ll miss Ari and Lacole?”
“Kind of.”
“You’ll miss training?”
“Yes, and I’ll miss being treated like an...adult.”
“But you’re not—”
“Forget it. You don’t understand. Only Teegan and Fisk understand. Besides, it doesn’t matter. I can’t refuse to go home.”
“It’s safer.”
“It’s boring.”
Ah. The heart of the problem. I thought about what she’d said, puzzling over why her brother and Fisk might understand. She had lived on the streets for most of her life. First with her mother and Teegan, and then with just Teegan after their mother died. Fisk, too, grew up on the streets, begging. No time for a childhood when you were fighting to survive.
“Can I make a suggestion?” I asked.
Reema tensed. “Sure.”
“In order to be treated like an adult, you need to act like one. Make a deal with your parents.”
Her ponytail swung as she shook her head.
“Just hear me out. The deal is that you promise to attend school without complaining and to earn high marks, and in exchange they continue your training. Your mom learned from Valek, and your father is an excellent swordsman.”
She twisted in the saddle, meeting my gaze. “That might work!”
“Don’t sound so surprised.” I smiled. “Reema, can you promise me one thing?”
Her excitement dimmed. “It depends.”
“Promise to make a friend and have fun once in a while. Stupid kid fun.”
“Does stealing pies with Uncle Leif count?”
“No. You need to make a friend who is closer to your age. And Teegan and Fisk don’t count, either. Will you promise?”
Reema bit her lip, then nodded. “Yes, I promise.”
“Good.”
We returned after dark. Reema helped me take care of Kiki before we entered the castle. I escorted her to Ari and Janco’s apartment. We interrupted an argument about cats. Reema immediately took Janco’s side. When I gave her a questioning look, she mouthed, Stupid kid fun. I laughed and left them to their debate.
Halfway back to Valek’s suite, I stumbled over a wave of exhaustion. Leaning against the wall, I considered my day. Nothing should have drained my energy like this, although I hadn’t eaten since I woke. Hunger was an infrequent visitor, and the thought of food created another swell—this one of nausea.