Fulcrum of Light (Catalyst Book 2) C.J. Aaron (unputdownable books .TXT) 📖

city, the facades were marvelously sculpted, featuring lifelike works of art in stone and wood. The traffic in the alley was light, and the citizens he passed greeted him warmly before carrying on their ways. There were no spiteful words, or even the cold looks of indifference he’d grown used to within the confines of The Stocks.

Ryl focused on maintaining an even stride as his strength faded with every passing step. He urged his body on faster as the exhaustion sunk its claws deeper into his body. The sudden onset was alarming. Earlier in the evening, his body had felt better than it had in moons, yet his strength and endurance now failed at a startling rate, even without any strenuous activity.

He crossed another of the smaller avenues running north and south through the city. Ryl paused to catch his breath as he reached the other side. The intersection bordered the University on its eastern side; a row of sculpted stone benches lined its exterior of its grounds, their backs to the Avenue. Between the benches and University rested a small, immaculately maintained garden of flowers and short decorative trees.

Ryl collapsed onto the first stone bench to rest his legs. He took a large breath, marveling at the allaying fragrance of the flowers. Almost simultaneously, he was struck with another wave of sensations.

Calm and understanding.

He rotated his head, searching for the origin of the feelings. To his right, heading north up the illuminated avenue in his direction was a phrenic. The tattoos were immediately recognizable.

Kaep.

Her hood was down, her hair and cloak billowed out behind her as she moved silently toward him.

“Hello, Kaep,” Ryl called out as the phrenic approached. “How did you find me?”

She sat comfortably on the opposite side of the bench, laying her arm across its decorative back.

“You'll soon learn there's no need to ask questions for which you already know the answer,” Kaep said. “For those who know how to look, you are an easy one to locate.”

“The mindsight?” he quizzed.

“Aye, that’s right,” Kaep responded. “Your signature shines far brighter than the others. What are you doing here? Tonight's celebration is in your honor.”

Ryl looked away, absently surveying the flowers in the low light from the lanterns of the avenue.

“I fear that my strength has yet to return to where it needs to be,” Ryl sighed. “The poison demanded a far greater toll. Though Mender Brasley praises the speed of my recovery, I’m at the whim of my body’s unpredictable lack of endurance.”

Ryl looked down at his legs, willing the strength to return. He was mildly uncomfortable with the added attention.

“In truth, I needed to sit here, I don’t think I could have made it back to the room had I not stopped for a break,” he lamented.

Kaep looked at him with sympathetic eyes. A cheerful smile spread out across her face.

“Then I’ll walk with you. Let me be your crutch if you need one,” she rose to her feet offering Ryl her arm for assistance.

Her appearance was an unexpected boon. Ryl was grateful for her help rising to his feet as well as for her company. Kaep stood to his right, offering him her left arm, covered with the fabric of her cloak. The electric sensation that resulted from their contact was muted, yet he clearly noted its presence. Had he not been actively searching for the sensation, he was sure his mind would have written it off. He was hesitant to broach the subject, though his mind pondered the reasoning.

Kaep matched his awkwardly slow stride as they moved southward down the narrow avenue. The roads of Vim all appeared to run in straight lines that intersected at perfect right angles. All the roads were uniformly paved with tight fitting cobblestones and lit by the steady glow of lanterns that dangled above, just out of arm's reach. The tall wooden light poles were evenly spaced along the lanes.

There were few people traveling the alley as they made their way toward the Westfate. The ones they passed wore smiles and conferred boisterous greetings, most likely hastening toward the joyous noise from the square. Small pockets of celebrations had spilled out along the main avenue. They kept their heads down as they quietly weaved their way through the groups. Ryl wanted to avoid raising any extra attention.

Escaping the bustle of the main avenue, the alley ahead of them was clear save for a single group that lounged along the side of the academic building to the left. Their mood was strangely subdued when compared to the revelers in the avenues and square behind them.

Ryl felt a tingle of apprehension rise in his body as they moved closer to the gathering. The group had positioned themselves facing the avenue, their backs to the school behind them. Their apathetic yet annoyed stares reminded Ryl of the looks he'd grown accustomed to seeing from the guards in The Stocks. The similarities sent a chill down his spine.

“Ah, so the prodigal son finally arrives,” the man in the center of the group called out as Ryl and Kaep passed.

“This boy looks barely old enough to be removed from his mother's teat,” he sneered to the snickers from his peers.

Kaep froze in place before pivoting to face the speaker. Gone from her face was the casual hint of a smile; her lips pinched together into tight, thin lines. The anger that burned in her removed any trace of the cheerful young woman he’d been walking with. In its place was the searing stare of a relentless warrior.

The look was awe inspiring in its sheer ferocity.

Several of the men and women in the group shrunk back involuntarily at her nonverbal challenge.

“Mind your tongue,” Kaep hissed. A wave of pure scorn seeped from her body, breaking over Ryl and the small group. Several others shrunk back before she regained control over her emotions.

“Need I remind you the history The Stocks has taught us,” she cursed.

The man in the center seemed unfazed by the phrenic’s