The Dark Ability: Books 1-4 by D.K. Holmberg

Author:D.K. Holmberg [Holmberg, D.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ASH Publishing
Published: 2017-09-04T06:00:00+00:00

The Tower of Venass

Chapter 1

Rsiran Lareth stood before the sloped roof of the freshly painted wooden building. It was new construction, and unlike most buildings in Elaeavn, made of wide rough sawn timbers rather than block or stone. A building like this was meant to be temporary.

“You don’t need to do this.”

Rsiran turned to Jessa. Her face still hadn’t lost that haunted expression, the aftermath of what she’d gone through when Josun had abducted her, and her normally flushed cheeks looked pale. Brown hair hung longer than it had since he first met her, passing her shoulder. A length of ribbon tied it back. She pulled on it, bringing it around her shoulder and twisting it between her fingers. Another nervous tick she’d acquired. A yellow flower was woven into her lorcith charm, the first day she’d worn one in many weeks.

“I haven’t come here since I learned.”

“It’s not like you haven’t been busy,” she said.

Rsiran sighed. Since returning from rescuing Jessa from Ilphaesn, he’d spent his time fortifying the smithy he’d taken over. Bars of the heartstone alloy now lined the inside of the walls, worked together as a barrier. He’d not risk Jessa’s safety again and let someone like Josun reach her. Now, no other Sliders would be able to enter the smithy, keeping them safe from the threat from the Forgotten for now. As far as Rsiran knew, only he could Slide past the alloy.

“I still should’ve come before now,” Rsiran said.

She grabbed his hand and turned him toward her. Her green eyes seemed especially bright under the full moonlight. Were he Sighted, like Jessa, he might see the tight lines of worry around her eyes that had been present since he’d rescued her from Josun. Instead, his ability was different. Once thought to be a dark ability, he’d finally come to accept his gifts from the Great Watcher.

A hard-packed path led away from the building, winding back toward the rest of Elaeavn. This was separate, almost on the edge of the Aisl Forest, and surrounded by enough trees that you had to know where to look to find it. In spite of that, the steady sound of crashing waves carried even here, bringing the scent of salt air to mingle with the earthy odor of decay.

“Why? What has he done to deserve that?”

Instead of answering, Rsiran checked the knives stuffed into his pockets. He didn’t need to touch them to know where they were. The lorcith pulled on him, connecting to him in a way he still didn’t fully understand. Like his father, he had lorcith in his blood. That was part of the reason he’d come tonight.

“I need answers. Della only has so many.” He thought about what Della had told him of his ability and of the Elvraeth, remembering her hesitation. “And some she won’t share.”

“You think she’s trying to hide something from you?” Jessa didn’t chide him as she once would have. Neither of them felt completely comfortable with what had happened to them.

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