Emergence (Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

brow furrowed as she watched him dismount. Eyes the deep green of lush summer leaves swept over him, and Nialyne shuddered. Without a word she turned and made for her private study. Bolin followed her in, closing the door behind them.
    "The wards have never announced you in such a manner," Nialyne said. "Not even when you brought Danyala Ciara here. What is it you carry?"
    "I'm hoping you can tell me."
    "Do I dare ask where you came by it?"
    Bolin wet his lips. The witch's magic made him sick. He'd barely eaten in the three days since leaving the swamp, and the wound on his arm burned like hell's own fire. "It seems the crone has herself a new ally. I don't know that I've come across her kind before."
    "And so you took some of her magic? Without knowing what it is?"
    "We need to find the nature of it to know our enemy."
    Nialyne frowned. "Are you always so careless in what magic you hold?"
    "Not normally," Bolin replied.
    "Can you alter it?"
    He grimaced. "I'd rather not. It's...I need a crystal."
    Nialyne's brows hit her hairline. "Are you serious?"
    "When have you known me not to be?"
    "Bolin--"
    His knees gave way suddenly and he sat down, hard, relieved to land in a chair and not on the floor. He closed his eyes. Bile rose in his throat, and he forced it down, looking up at Nialyne from under his brows. "I can't keep this much longer."
    The door opened without preamble and two men and a woman rushed in, elders all, expressions showing concern and confusion. The oldest of the men, Maurar, confronted Nialyne, taking no notice of Bolin. "The wards are screaming." The other man touched his arm before he could continue, and tipped his head to indicate Bolin seated in the chair before the fire. Maurar's irritated frown turned to surprise, and he bowed from the waist. "Danya Sciath, I did not realize."
    The other two bowed as well , and Bolin scowled at the pretense. "I set off the wards." The words came out close to a growl. The witch's magic clawed at him to be released, its touch inside his soul burning like liquid fire. "It was unintentional."
    The woman elder--her name escaped Bolin, though he should have known it as well as his own--studied him with a clear, level gaze. She shuddered just as Nialyne had. "You carry darkness, Danya."
    "Elders," Bolin slipped into Galysian, out of respect, though speech came through clenched teeth. "A crystal would be most beneficial."
    Maurar exchanged a look with Nialyne, but it was the other woman who responded. "You wish to entrap it."
    "We need to discover its nature." Bolin's muscles convulsed and he gripped the arms of the chair until his knuckles went white. "I would rather not debate the issue."
    He didn't miss the immediate stiffening in Maurar's posture. Few had the audacity to order an elder, and there were fewer still this particular elder would acquiesce to. "This is a most unexpected request."
    Bolin shoved out of the chair. "It is not a request."
    Maurar flinched, and the elder behind him blanched. Nialyne stepped smoothly in front of Bolin and pushed him back into the chair with a hand on his shoulder .
    " Blyth," she said, without looking away from Bolin, "there is a crystal in the box on the mantle. If you would, please."
    A tremor started in Bolin's arms and worked its way through his entire body. Ciara's pendant flared against his skin, a different type of heat to what currently threatened to rip him apart from the inside out. He gri tted his teeth to keep them from chattering. Someone handed Nialyne a milky white, multi-faceted stone about half the size of her fist. She cradled it in her palm and covered it with her other hand.
    "You are sure of the wisdom of this?" she asked, for Bolin's ears alone.
    He shook his head. "Not in the least."
    Her expression hardened. "We will discuss this later, if we are still able."
    "As you will." He held out his hand, palm up, unable to keep it from shaking. "The crystal."
    Nialyne placed the stone carefully in Bolin's hand and he