In this theurgic core must energy then be focused and channelled correctly in order to produce the wanted outcome. Failure to do so may result in many consequences, including uncontrolled outward or even inward bursts of theurgy.

—Corthair's Compendium of Theurgy

9

↝ THE VOYAGE HOME ↜

Even a night spent quelling her distress with jin had not improved it. Now Isla had an ache to answer to, and not of the theurgic kind. That did not stop Eshe from welcoming herself into Isla's cabin.

'You were lost in your own trance.' Eshe was still trying to reassure her. 'Not pulled in or ensnared by Kithrel's defences. You would have come out of it, sooner or later.'

'Not soon enough to stop a dagger to the neck, if one were so inclined.'

'It is normal. The mind is a beautiful place. We are all riveted, when first we explore one.'

'You gave no warning of such a thing.'

'Nor of a million other perils. Must I list them all for you? I gave you all the bases you needed.'

'So you let me in there blindly? I made a fool of myself!'

Eshe wrung her hands. 'Pe pettr! Will you not talk sense to this mistress of yours?'

The element had crawled out of the ceiling frames, roused by their escalating exchange and chirping in to voice its annoyance.

'Oh, stop that.' The noise only amplified Isla's headache. 'And I am not its mistress. Pepper can come and go as it pleases.'

Eshe snatched a bottle from Isla's desk. 'I am sure Pepper also does not appreciate you drowning yourself in this stuff.'

'You don't speak for the salamander.'

'I will keep this until you learn to hold your liquor.'

Isla shrugged. It was half empty, anyway. 'If you're quite finished confiscating my goods, I'd like to return to bed.'

'At this time of day?'

'The morning horns have not even been sounded. Besides, I am in no mood for exercises.'

'Exercises? Do you not know what day this is?'

'They all look the same.'

Eshe sighed. 'If you paid visit to the game room once in a while like any other normal passenger, mayhap you would know. Today marks the third week of our voyage. The crew holds a gathering for its passengers, for we have now entered Eastern Isle waters.'

'Have we.' Some arbitrary line drawn by men. Water is water.

'I have prepared you something.' Eshe looked at her expectantly. Isla groaned, threw on her coat, and trailed Eshe to her own cabin.

The room was dark until Eshe flung her windows open. Morning light streaked in from the ocean, the sea swaying just beyond the circular panes. The call of gulls rang clear even behind the glass. 'Lovely view.' Isla's own cabin had no window, facing the belly of the ship as it did.

'My patron arranged it for me.' Eshe waved dismissively at a parchment laid across her table, its four corners weighted by stones and a book. Isla approached to find a map of Surikhand, one of its many towns marked by a pin. 'Some minor lord. He heard of my talents and requested I come; all expenses covered.'

'Generous.'

'Desperate. His wife suffers an ailment of the mind, he believes. I have always longed to visit the other continents; this was the perfect opportunity to see the Eastern Isles. The book is yours, by the way.'

Compendium of Theurgy, said its title. The same as the one Isla had read in the store behind Scholar's Way. An eternity ago. Its binding was simpler, but Isla opened its pages with as much reverence. 'Mine?'

'I have read it far more often than I need.' Eshe made her way towards her cabinets.

'This ... I can't accept this ...' She knew its price, after all.

'Nonsense. That is only the first of my surprises.' There was a creak of hinges and the rustle of fabric, and Eshe turned, bearing the most exquisite gown Isla had ever seen. 'I styled this after the Ligueri fashion.'

Wide neckline, asymmetrical cut, and soft to the touch. The fabric was so delicate, Isla feared it may rip under her fingers.

'Deep in the Ligueri sands, the spiderworms weave their snares. Spidersilk is fine and soft, but sturdy. Only one thing – keep Pepper away from it.'

'You're wearing a flammable gown to the feast?'

Eshe laughed. 'Of course not. You are.'

'Me?'

'I had to speculate most of your measurements. But you are here now to be fitted.'

'But ... I am not –'

Eshe spun her and pressed the gown against her back. 'A little short, but I hear that is the fashion in Surikhand?'

'It's too hot to wear long and heavy skirts.'

'Then it is perfect.'

'Eshe.' Isla turned and stilled Eshe's hands. 'I will not be attending the feast.' The less people to see her on board, the better; no matter how unlikely she would leave enough of an impression to be remembered.

Eshe's face fell. 'That is a shame. I made it specifically for the festivities, but ... I suppose you could wear it another time ...'

'You made this?'

'Well ... one must keep busy for three weeks at sea ...'

She made it for me. No stranger had spent so much time and effort on her. But this was not the first thing Eshe had done for Isla. She had taught Isla everything she now knew of theurgy. Though it was a long way yet before she would become proficient, it was still much more than she had ever dreamed of.

In return, Isla had acted like a brat. Drinking herself close to a stupor, lashing out over her own mistakes. Isla's cheeks heated with shame. 'I ... I don't know what to say.'

'It was no trouble. I enjoy sewing. As a girl, I had clay dolls to dress. Long have I dreamed of creating skirts and gowns for my daughter, but as I can never have a child myself ...' Eshe's voice trailed away.

'It really is beautiful.' Isla made a point of studying the dress. 'Thank you.' She did not know how else to respond to what she had just learnt. If the Ligueri were anything like the Surikh, child-rearing was a crucial part of womanhood. Most of the women Isla looked up to were childless and showed no interest in having children, but she could see how some – like Eshe – would desperately crave for one.

'Of course. I was not certain the style would please you.'

'Not just the dress. I meant ... for everything. Teaching me, bearing with me. I haven't been pleasant to work with.'

Eshe shrugged. 'I know you must miss your home. Sorrow and fear have many ways of presenting itself. Some people cry, some turn to humour, some turn ... unpleasant.'

'It isn't fair of me to turn it on you.' Isla took a seat by the table. 'All of this is new to me; being on my own, returning to Surikhand, my theurgy ...'

Eshe was soon beside her with a drink. 'It all starts confusing and intimidating. My first manifestation was no better. I infected children with my own anxiety. For weeks they would not stop crying around me.'

'The gift of making children cry.' Isla sniffed. 'With my talent of headaches, we'd make the perfect villains.'

'Interesting you should say that. Neru spoke of theurgy as, by default, a villain's gift.'

'The same Neru that would have us "Burn every farm and field behind" and to strike our foes "fast and hard, that quickly upon them comes death"?'

'She certainly speaks as expected of our patron deity of war, but ... there is wisdom in her words. It is easy to abuse theurgy ... especially one as potent as yours.'

'You worry I'd use it to conquer kingdoms? Enslave my opponents? I've no interest in such things.'

'Those are not my concerns,' said Eshe. 'I sense nothing within you that even hints at a wilful malice. It is what you do not know that troubles me. An unfortunate error can be just as terrible as an intentional evil.'

And as fatal. Isla brushed the Compendium of Theurgy on her lap. 'How am I to prevent things I do not know?'

'That is not something that can be taught. You will need to trust your better judgement.'

'Like not coercing handsome sailors into falling in love with me?'

Isla had meant to lighten the mood, and it worked. Eshe's smile was full and knowing. 'Dangerous; but not a mistake you ever need worry of making.'

'You think highly of me.'

Eshe laughed. 'I do, but that is not how I meant it. Your theurgy ... it does not work that way.'

'I can't make someone love me?'

'You cannot coerce feelings at all, that are not already there. Do not look so disappointed – that is my field, lest you forget.'

'I'm relieved, if anything. The temptation would be far too great.'

'As if you need theurgy to attract a certain sailor.'

'That man spends all his days with daemons, he'd find even the figurehead attractive.'

'Tonight would be a perfect opportunity to test that.'

'Eshe ...'

'Would you leave me in the company of these pretentious nobleborn?'

Isla's eyes caught the spidersilk gown, laid smoothly across Eshe's bed. 'I suppose one night with the other passengers wouldn't hurt.' 

     
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