The Gutter Shrike by Gwen DeMarco

Author:Gwen DeMarco [DeMarco, Gwen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Vallen tilted the amulet toward the lowering sun, entranced by the spectral sheen of colors. “Magic,” he murmured, more to himself than Nyssa.

“That, or we’ve been living on a diet of river mud for far too long,” Nyssa teased.

“I thought… I thought it was the stone that was magic or that King Jorek gave the stone magic. But I think it’s the liquid?” The shock turned into certainty.

The slightest hint of a frown creased Nyssa’s brow, her eyes narrowing skeptically. “But is it the liquid that’s magic, or just water imbued with magic?”

Vallen fell into thoughtful silence, his grip tightening around the amulet. “It doesn’t really matter. The problem is that either way, we can run out of it. It is a finite resource,” he said slowly.

Nyssa bit down on her lower lip, gnawing on it. “So,” she began quietly, the cogs turning in her mind, “how long do we have before we run out entirely?”

Vallen’s brow furrowed deeply as he considered Nyssa’s question. He cast his mind back to the sacrifice day when Nyssa had slipped him the amulet. From that moment until they had stolen the second amulet from the sanctum had been about two days. He hadn’t taken off the amulet in all that time.

His fingers unconsciously curled around the empty amulet. “About two days, though we don’t know how long Athura had it in her possession before she gave it to you. Perhaps it had been more used up than this one.” Vallen indicated the amulet around his neck. “However, I think we need to work on the assumption that we have two days to get out of the Dying Wilds before we risk turning into hyvas.”

Nyssa looked like she wanted to cry. “What if it is the stone that holds the magic but needs liquid inside it to activate? Why don’t we try putting normal water in the other amulet? It’s not working anyways so what is the harm?” Nyssa suggested.

Vallen nodded, giving her an encouraging look. He didn’t think her plan would work but didn’t want to discourage her. “Worth a try, Nyssa,” he conceded, his hand unfurling to give the empty amulet to her. He watched as her thin fingers clutched the pink stone, her brow furrowed with steely determination.

She bit her bottom lip lightly, uncertainty flickering in her eyes for the briefest of moments before reaching for her water skin. The cool liquid sloshed around gently inside the skin, making Vallen realize how parched he was. Nyssa slowly and steadily let a tiny rivulet of clear water trickle into the amulet.

Their gazes locked onto the amulet, watching and waiting with raw, unspoken hope. Would the ordinary water be transformed by the magic of the stone?

A minute passed, but nothing happened. The small bit of water remained the same clear liquid as it had started as, a simple reflection of their shared disappointment. The water had the smallest of sheen to it, but it was obvious it was from the last dregs of the magical residue.

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