Page 105 of The Last Syphon

Fraener had been with her for the start of the morn, like he always was. Around midday, however, he had gotten the itch to fly. To be in the sky. To feel the wind against his scales and the sun boring down upon him. Inara often wondered, too, if it was uncomfortable for him to be in his miniature form for too long.

“He’ll be back soon, though. He never stays away for longer than a few hours at a time.”

Felix nodded. “The soul-link?”

“Yep. The moment we’re separated, there’s this ache in the centre of my chest. Dull, at first, but it gets worse and worse as time goes on.”

“It must be so strange, having your soul tied to another like that.”

“Strange, yes,” she agreed. “But worth it in every way.” Deciding it was as good a time as any to prove her point, because she did love proving her point, Inara remembered Prince Walder’s words from the night before, searched for that power deep within her—the power that did not belong to her but that she was able to access and⁠—

She jumped, disappearing in an instant and reappearing on his other side in the blink of an eye.

Felix screeched, a hand flying to his chest as he leapt out of his skin. “Fates, fuck!” His gaze whipped from the spot she was standing in to the spot she was standing in now, back and forth, back and forth, eyes wide. “What the fuck was that?!”

“Shhhh!” Several people hushed, different voices echoing around them.

“Fuck. Sorry!”

“Shhhhh!” An older woman on the same floor chastised, a thick brown book open in her hands and a set of glasses sitting on the bridge of her nose.

“Sorry,” he mouthed with a wince. He slapped Inara’s arm with the back of his hand. “What the fuck, Inara? How the Fates did you do that?! What the Fates did you even do?! You just—you were there, and now you’re there. How—I don’t even—what?!”

A book slammed shut, making both of them startle. The older woman glared at them and pointed to a sign on the wall that read, Quiet level. Please keep sound to a minimum.

They both winced, mouthing, “Sorry,” once more.

Inara pointed up for them to move to the next floor, and once there, she told him all about what she had discovered and learnt the night before.

“You’re joking.” Felix breathed, coming to a stop at the staircase leading up to the fifth and final floor. “This is the perfect power for us! Imagine all the shit we can get up to!” His eyes lit up, and he lowered his voice. “Imagine all the shit we can steal.”

Imagine indeed. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it.

“I know,” she murmured back, equally quiet. “I have to be careful, though, until I can get a handle on it. It takes a lot out of me, and⁠—”

“Can I help you?”

Inara blinked and looked up, only just noticing the young man sitting behind a desk next to the stairs. He wore robes much like she’d seen Venerable Cias wear, except he had his hood up. The desk was minimal, at best, with a single book open on it and nothing else. He had light brown skin and inquisitive dark eyes.

“Uh, hello.” She smiled, unsure what to say. Her best friend was the opposite, however. He never ran out of things to say.

Felix flounced forwards and rested his elbows on the desk, leaning forward. “Hello, my good man. My name is Felix. This is my bestie, Inara. We’re new to the kingdom and were hoping to get an audience with the Head Venerable.” He put on his thousand-watt smile—something that could disarm even the toughest warrior in the realm…

It did not work on the man. His composure did not change, still looking at them with a slightly suspicious tilt. “Head Venerable Casius is not taking visitors at the moment.”

Felix’s smile did not falter. “Oh, come on. Not even for a Chosen?” He reached back and grabbed her hand, thrusting her forward. “Did I forget to mention that? This is Inara Tempest, personal Shielder to the Crowned Prince and Chosen to the Guardian Fraener. Surely that would have Head Venerable Casius eager to see her? Yes?”

Indecision flashed across the man’s face. “Uh, well…”

“And she often gets nervous when meeting new people, so of course, as her best friend, I will need to accompany her for emotional support. We would not wish to distress her, would we?”

The man licked his lips, nervousness vibrating from him. He began to fidget. “I don’t⁠—”

“Wonderful!” Felix straightened his spine and clapped his hands together once. “What was your name again? Robert? Clive?”

He frowned. “My name is Malix.”

Felix clicked his fingers. “Malix! That’s right. I was close. Well, thank you, Malix. I promise we will not be long. You wait here. No need to accompany us. It will be just a quick in and out. We’re simply introducing ourselves and delivering a message from Venerable Cias in the Borderlands. Be right back.”