By the Pact: Book 1 of Pacts Arcane and Otherwise by By the Pact (epub)

Author:By the Pact (epub)
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0000000000000
Published: 2021-10-25T19:51:43+00:00

Ryell took a deep breath before knocking on the door. The student who’d led him to the archmage’s quarters had already left, her absence bringing an end to the Towers’ formalities. The first time he’d come here, he’d entered in company of Yoreus, so the overzealous mages left him alone, but this time he wasn’t so lucky, and high mages took their time contacting the archmage to confirm whether he, indeed, was expecting a Devanshari guest, while Ryell had to wait in the reception area.

The frustration of the time wasted didn’t help when he thought of the reason he was seeing Yoreus in the first place. The previous visit had had its consequences, since even though the archmage considered himself indebted to Ryell, he’d somehow gotten Ryell to run a simple errand for him, and the nature of that errand left him torn. He’d promised to share with the archmage what he’d learn about Cahala’s dealings with Gildya, and even though he loathed the queen, he couldn’t help wondering whether, by helping Yoreus, he was becoming a traitor himself.

That brought a cringe to Ryell’s face, and the grimace reminded him his wounds were hardly healed—the outcome of said errand. And if it wasn’t enough, there were also those two long days in a demonologist’s presence…

The memory of the gray-skinned Tivarashan woman made him pause mid-move, even though his knuckles were already at the door. As much as he wanted to loathe Kamira for who she was, it seemed that the Light had sent her on his path to remind him that not all people were the same. Just like Cahala qi’Devanshari was nothing like other noble Devanshari, Kamira didn’t match the image of demonologists he’d met during his homeland’s siege. Sure, she had a sharp tongue and spoke her mind without reservation, but during the two days he got to spend with her, she’d never searched for an opportunity to deliver a jab unless he provoked her.

He chased away the image of her confident, slightly playful smile, even though it was Kamira who’d advised him to keep close ties with Yoreus for as long as he could. He suspected ulterior motives, but she shrugged his accusations off in her usual manner, and he had to admit that even if she wanted, there was no way she could use him against Yoreus. That thought gave him pause when he realized that the archmage would likely do the same if he saw the opportunity, and being indebted to Kamira made Ryell reluctant to do anything that could be considered betraying her.

He shook his head. As soon as he delivered the promised information, he should find a way to sever the acquaintance and keep away from High Towers, leaving the archmage and the demonologist to their own games.

With that thought, Ryell knocked on the door.

In less than a heartbeat, it opened, and Atissa’s brown arms surrounded his neck. “Ryell!” She kissed his cheek, and her breasts, covered only with the thin cloth of her gown, pressed against his chest.

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