Page 28 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 7

“Do you think some Eyros are in the mix?” Fiona asked.

“Yes, I’m sure there are,” Grayson said. “So we’re going to have to keep our thoughts as carefully clean and neutral as we can. Don’t think past the present moment if you can help it. Don’t project your thoughts in any way. We have to suppress all emotions, too. Strong emotions will draw an Eyros’ attention to us.”

“Even though we’ll be able to keep them out of our heads as we’re all Immortals,” Ryder added, “that will actually be a detriment in some way.”

“They’ll realize we’re odd and come in to investigate,” Fiona nodded. “Right.”

“There are plenty of people in the square outside of the Spire that we can likely scout out who is allowed in and who isn’t. If they have any passwords or secret handshakes or whatever paranoid stuff that Kaly has instituted,” Grayson said, “we need to be on the lookout for those.”

Fiona’s forehead furrowed. “I wonder…”

“What, Fifi?” Charlie asked.

“These may be true believers. Those clothes Rakash and Cirillen are wearing–and now you’re wearing–are definitely the first version of Order robes,” she said.

“And you used to be a Confessor in the Order,” Grayson said, catching on quickly. “You think that it’ll be something to do with the faith that will get us into the Spire.”

She nodded. “Undoubtedly. Kaly will be trying out their ideas here. Seeing what sticks. Indoctrinating all of them. So let’s keep an ear out for that.”

“Let’s do this thing,” Grayson said.

For a moment, the wind shifted and it blew up from Solace. A scent–rotten and familiar–reached his nose. Grayson looked up at him curiously when Ryder stiffened.

“What?” Grayson asked.

He let out a soft breath. “Legion is here.”

First Fledgling

Fiona got up on her tiptoes to see more of the square down below. She was certain that she would recognize the massive, hulking figure of Legion. But she saw only the relatively slender Vampire figures crossing to and fro. She turned back to Ryder.

“I won’t ask if you’re sure, because I can tell you are. But where are they?” Fiona asked.

Ryder was shifting from foot to foot as if he wanted to both run towards where Legion was or scoop up Grayson and run away. Grayson’s head was lifted and his nostrils were flared as he scented the air too. Unlike Ryder, it was clear that Grayson would be running towards Legion.

“Ah, yeah, I smell their stink,” Grayson growled. “But I can’t locate the source.”

Nightshine rolled over his eyes and his fangs were out. The impression of wanting to hunt was even stronger with him than with Ryder, but Ryder had his revenge on Legion with the last hunt. Fiona wasn’t surprised by this. Grayson had to stand back and let Ryder handle Legion, never getting his chance at revenge for Legion holding Ryder in a soul gem for who knew how long. Grayson was also a new fledgling and there was a natural jealousy between fledglings.

“They’re somewhere nearby. Maybe not the city. Maybe the wilds.” Ryder’s eyes tracked the area around them. “Legion would not be comfortable in Solace with all those Vampires. And the Vampires wouldn’t be comfortable with them either.”

Fiona remembered Legion’s effect and was not surprised. Her shoulders twitched.

“So what should we do?” Charlie asked, his face going almost comically dismayed if not for the seriousness of what was happening here. “Split up? Or still go down together?”

Ryder chewed his inner cheek. “Let’s go down together for now, but if the scent returns or gets stronger, I’ll lead Legion off while you head to Seeyr.”

“We will lead them off,” Grayson corrected with a flash of silver eyes.

“My beloved, perhaps it would be better if you remain–” Ryder began.

But Grayson stared at him. “We will do it.”

Ryder nodded reluctantly.

This would be part of the push-pull between them, Fiona realized. The Master-equal issue. Ryder’s desire to protect his new Childe would be overwhelming. But Grayson was no true Childe. Not really anyways. He had the knowledge and strength of an Immortal, but she was seeing that there were some of those sharper edges of a newly turned Vampire too. Regardless, Ryder would have to bow down more than he would have with a normal fledgling.

“All right then we’re agreed. Let’s head down,” Ryder said.