The Shadow's Edge: A Fantasy Romance Novella (The Chanters Novellas 2) by Rachel Song

Author:Rachel Song [Song, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Songbird Publishing
Published: 2024-07-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

They were able to get two rooms at the inn, which was a miracle considering the holiday and the wagons that had come in from the surrounding settlements for the celebration. There was a flat area at the back of the village where travelers had pitched tents beneath the trees or thrown canvas tarps over their wagons to create a space for their families to sleep. Small cook fires flickered like fireflies, and some of the travelers were selling small things, from produce to trinkets to jewelry and clothing.

As the sun sank below the horizon, the roasted pig was pulled from the pit where it had been cooking for the better part of two days. Isabel watched in delight as the meat was pulled and prepared, and people gathered around in excitement.

“This reminds me of our celebration of the coming of the rainy season in Ineti,” Karim said as they waited in line to get a plate.

“Do you roast a pig?” Isabel grinned.

His mouth tipped up. “Goat, actually. It’s hot and dry for most of the year where my clan lives. We get very little rain, so most people raise animals. But when the rain does come, we celebrate with food and drink and dancing.”

She tried to imagine Karim dancing and couldn’t. She wondered how different the dances he’d grown up with were from the whirling reels and jigs she’d danced in the village. She caught herself watching Karim. She was struck again by how little she knew about him, about his life before all this.

They each got a plate filled with meat, simmered beans, and a plethora of roasted vegetables, as well as a mug of ale. Karim pointed out an empty table on the other side of the bonfire, and they made their way over and sat down.

“All right,” he said, peering at her over his mug of ale. His eyes flashed. “We need to talk about your magic.”

Isabel rolled her eyes. “I thought you said the point of this little venture of ours was fun.”

“I also said my goal was to get you to talk to me.”

“You are talking to me.”

“Isabel.”

She leaned back in her chair. “What do you want to know? What happened earlier today . . . I told you already. That’s never happened before. Well, except in the Mediran dungeon.”

Karim nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it. About why.”

Isabel’s shoulders tensed. “And what did you come up with?”

“I told you before that my affinity is weaving wards to make things . . . more like themselves.”

She nodded.

“And yours is to draw shadows to you. Existing shadows.”

She waited for him to go on.

“It’s— I think it’s me. My magic. It coaxes yours to be more of itself. More shadow. And it’s like”—he waved a hand in the air—“I don’t know, we became shadow.”

Isabel stared at him. Became shadow. A new hollowness settled in the pit of her stomach.

“It’s not like anything I’ve heard of before. Or even read about.” His fingers curled around the mug of ale.

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