Taris nodded absently at Envy’s words, his hand going to a stone on the headboard. A twist and it came off and he held it out to the Kartaian. But before Envy could take it there came a flash from the stone and a wave of heat, before the stone cracked and turned to dust. The assassin looked the thief in the eye, “You know I’m not from anywhere near these lands, that my people live on the other side of the Barrier. Magic works differently there, these stones… they can hold magic and store it to be used later either to create spells or just recharge the user, like I just did.”

Envy nodded, “I assume this means you have a plan?” He pinched a bit of the dust between his fingers and looked closer. It seemed the stone had been a ruby before. “What happened to the gem?”

“Gems and other Spellstones all have an innate bit of magic within them to begin with, which allows them to be shaped and used. When I absorbed the magic back from the stone I took even that little bit, and the ruby was destroyed,” Taris explained. He tossed the dust into a bin and wiped his hands, “But you’re right, I do have a plan. It’s a long shot, but I think it’s the only way.” Taris paused and grabbed another gem from a bag on the nightstand, absorbing the power from it as well. “Tell your boys to put on some servants’ uniforms and go hire a carriage in the market, money’s everywhere around here. We’re going back to Pareigh, I’ve got the Spellstones I need back there.”

It was definitely a risk, one the Shadow Elf was more than willing to make for Aera. Still, it unnerved him, the past week had been beyond taxing, and if he’d had any other choice Taris would sleep for a week to recover.

[i]But there wasn’t another choice.[/i]

He gathered several more gems from around the room, draining each as he went.

[i]So be it.[/i]

Taris smiled grimly, “I’m too stubborn to fail. Just hold on, Aera.”