The Shadow Of What Was Lost by James Islington Read Free Book Online Page B

would speak to them on my behalf, though,
I would be in your debt.” Talean wasn’t like the Administrators in Caladel – or
anywhere else, if the stories were true. He believed in the Treaty, in
protecting the Gifted just as much as protecting everyone else from them. He
would do his best to help.
    Talean gave him a slight smile,
clapping him on the shoulder. “Just remember that we Administrators are not all
bad, and that will be payment enough.”
    Davian nodded, unable to summon a
smile in return. “When can you talk to them?”
    Talean glanced out the window.
Davian followed his gaze to see three red-cloaked figures – one of them Ilseth
– striding across the courtyard towards the Elders’ quarters.
    “No time like the present,” noted
Talean, pulling his blue cloak across his shoulders. “I’ll find you as soon as
I have an answer.”
    Davian swallowed, suddenly
nervous again as he watched Talean hurry after the newcomers.
    He made his way back to his room,
avoiding eye contact with the other students he passed. Word had spread of
tomorrow’s Trials, and everyone knew what that meant for Davian; with less than
a hundred people living within the school walls, his inability to use the Gift
was far from a secret.
    Some people still stopped him as
he passed and wished him luck for the morning, their expressions bidding him a
pitying farewell. Those conversations always died out, the well-wishers
trailing off awkwardly and eventually retreating. Others glanced away when they
saw him, as if they feared that by acknowledging him, they would somehow share
his fate.
    He’d thought that reaching the
relative safety of his quarters would help matters, but he only had to glance
at the faces of Wirr and Asha – who were waiting for him – to know he was
wrong. The rims of Asha’s eyes were red, and Wirr was more subdued than he had
ever seen his friend. Davian opened the door to let them inside, then slumped
onto his bed, the last of his energy leaving him.
    Asha and Wirr sat either side of
him, silent for a time. Asha eventually put her arm around his shoulders and
pressed him close to her. Her physical proximity would normally have made
Davian awkward, but today it made him feel like his heart was being wrenched
from his chest.
    Just like everyone else, this was
her saying goodbye.
    They sat there for what seemed
like minutes, Davian letting Asha’s soft blond hair press against his cheek.
Eventually he took a deep breath and straightened, forcing a smile.
    “If you two could stand it one
last time,” he began in a light tone, careful not to choke on his emotions, “
perhaps you could keep me company this evening?”
    They both nodded immediately. “Of
course,” said Wirr. He hesitated. “Do you want to practice at all?”
    Davian shook his head. “I just
want to spend some time with my friends,” he said softly.
    Wirr’s face twisted for a moment,
revealing the depth of his pain. It was gone in an instant. “Then so it shall
be,” he said with a smile.
    After a while longer they
wandered back downstairs, taking their dinner and then finding their usual spot
atop the tall, west-facing wall of the school. The view over Caladel and the
ocean beyond was spectacular as always; the setting sun bathed everything in a
warm, almost otherworldly orange glow. A few of the returning fishing vessels
were silhouetted against the glittering water, making their way tranquilly into
harbour at the end of a long day. A great hawk circled above them; the three of
them just watched the majestic creature soar for a while, mesmerised, silent
but completely comfortable in each others’ company.
    Davian closed his eyes for a
second, capturing the image: sitting with his friends high above everything,
his troubles for just a moment held at bay. It was perfect. A perfect farewell
to his friends, his life. He would remember this and always think of better
times.
    They talked of small things.
Davian decided not to tell them