Frost Like Night Read Online Free PDF Page B

weren’t many of us left after the war. Which is why we took the approach we did—our members have been waiting all over Primoria for a conduit-wielder whose goals aligned with our own. The Order has been building a defense—but Angra’s forces include the armies of at least three kingdoms now, and every soldier is infused with his magic. We could hold him off well enough in Paisly’s mountains, but we do not have the manpower to defeat his threat on our own. But we will help you—the Order may believethat magic has no place in Primoria, but our circumstances have forced us to become experts in it. We’ll help you learn how to control it so you can use it the way you plan to—to get the other keys to the chasm from Angra and destroy all magic.”
    My heart nearly ricochets out of my chest. “You know about that, too?”
    Rares smiles sadly, the fire reflecting yellow in his dark eyes. “Being part of the same magic allows for a mental connection. Touching another conduit intensifies the reaction—you’ve experienced that through skin-to-skin contact with other conduit-wielders. But truly strong conduits can access thoughts and memories without physical touch—until you trust your magic enough to use it all the time, to block such intrusions. You’re welcome, by the way, for getting Angra out of your mind. Someday you’ll have to hold him off on your own, but for now, he can’t access your thoughts.”
    I touch my temple. “Wait—could Angra hear my thoughts before I knew he was alive?”
    Rares nods once. “Yes.”
    Nausea grips me and I reel forward, head in my hands. He could have heard anything—all my plans, all my feeble attempts to stop him. It had nothing to do with him touching me. He could have talked to me whenever he wanted . Who else could he do this to?
    But I know. He did it to Theron—he could do this toanyone who isn’t actively protected from his Decay by pure conduit magic.
    I glare at the flames before me. “So you fought him off for me. But how ? I’m not Paislian, and Paisly’s magic should only affect your people.”
    â€œMagic rules are different for human conduits,” Rares says. “I couldn’t affect a normal Winterian, but you are filled with the same magic that runs through my body. We’re linked, just as I’m sure you’ve discovered you’re connected to other conduit-bearers. Though the Royal Conduits were created to obey only certain bloodlines, the magic in them is, at its core, the same—and therefore, all conduit-wielders are connected. I’m sorry for the unconsciousness, but your endurance will increase. You were only out for about three hours, not even long enough for me to carry you out of Ventralli.”
    I gawk at him. I wasted three hours sleeping .
    Anything could have happened in that time. Mather and the Winterians could be safely out of Rintiero—or everything I fear could have come to pass. And not only that, but if we’re going to Paisly, the journey will take weeks—every moment we waste is another moment that Angra’s grip on the world tightens.
    And I don’t even know his plan. I don’t know what he intends to do next, who he will kill, which kingdom he wants to destroy first. . . .
    Metallic anxiety fills my throat, making it impossible to swallow, to breathe, to do anything but stare at Rares as thethudding ache across my skull resumes.
    No time to waste.
    â€œYou said you’ll help me get the keys from him,” I force out. “With all the Order’s knowledge, you must have asked your magic how to destroy it too. And it told you the same thing it told me—by sacrificing a conduit and returning it to the chasm?”
    Rares nods slowly.
    â€œAnd you’re going to help me get the keys from Angra,” I repeat. “You’re going to help me destroy all magic.