“Why are you here, Lucas?” Cord asked as he closed the door.
“Terrible things are afoot,” the Dark Prime began and then glared at Cord when he snorted.
“What? How archaic to say, ‘Terrible things are afoot.’ No wonder other Akrhyn hate us,” Cord said as he slumped unceremoniously on his bed. “Why are you here, and more importantly, why aren’t you trying to detain me?”
“I had a vision.”
“What?” Cord looked at the Dark Prime incredulously. “You’re coming here with Pure Cast fancifulness?”
Pure Cast held foretelling and psychic abilities in great stead. The other Casts did not rely on herbs and powders to encourage visions. Of the sterile beliefs that Pures were known for, it was an anomaly that they put so much weight on that of foretelling.
“I had a vision of Velvore,” Lucas carried on, unperturbed by the younger Akrhyn’s derision.
“Velvore?” Cord sat straighter on his bed. “And you tell me…why?”
“The Ancient Velvore showed me the Mark of Velvore.” Lucas grimaced as he looked out the sole window. “I thought I was being blessed.”
“You thought he was going to bestow the Mark on you?” Cord nodded in understanding. An easy, if not conceited, thing to think.
“Yes.” Lucas turned his gaze back to Cord. “Imagine my horror when he showed mewhowas the bearer of the Mark.”
“Sorry to disappoint.” Cord stood to his full height.
“It is not a disappointment.” Lucas waved off his comment. “It was a disappointment the day you held that farce of a ceremony and picked your Cast. You and I both know you should be in black robes, Cord Ivanov.” Lucas snorted. “This vision only confirms it.”
“I am neutral.”
“You are a mischievous male who plays games, but this is no longer a game.” Lucas frowned as he considered Cord. “Show it to me.”
“You need to at least buy me dinner, Prime,” Cord mocked.
“Enough with your wit, foolish Akrhyn. Show me the Mark of Velvore.”
“Fine, but don’t touch. Touching costs extra.” Cord winked at the Prime, enjoying his discomfort before he turned, taking off his robes and lifting his shirt.
“By the Ancients,” the Dark Prime whispered. “It’s huge.”
“That’s what they all say,” Cord quipped.
“Can you be serious for one moment!” Lucas snapped. “I cannot believe Velvore chose you.”
“Why?” Cord dropped his shirt as he turned back to the Dark Cast Prime. “I’m the best.”
“You’re the best at being arrogant,” Lucas retorted. “Why did you take the girl?”
“I needed to protect her.”
“Were you involved?”
“How can you ask me that?” Cord growled.
“The Mark is not always a sign ofgood.”
Cord studied the male in front of him. “There is only one recording of the Mark.”
“No, there are two more. We do not share them.” Lucas shifted on his feet uncomfortably.
“There arethreerecordings of the Mark?” Cord asked incredulously. “Why are these not known?”