There were a great many number of ancient forces in the world. Most had names; others had names so ancient they were forgotten. Even the spiral on her arm told him that she knew of some truth. Despite the Khalif’s backwards knowledge and arcane truth, universal symbols spoke volumes. He saw that she was young, and believed she had only been taught recently—how else would the tattered shadows cling to her? They were new, fresh. They did not yet understand what he believed in. Haku had begun something with her, and Larkspur sought to see what this was.
A white tooth broke apart his peppered face, grinning. “Y’think yer the first, girl?” He barked out a laugh, a crackling thing that rubbed against his throat like electricity. “Naw, there’s been plenty before you. Be plenty after. But yer different then the last one,” he cocked his head, studying the lines in her face, the spiral around her neck. Oh yes, she was different. “Y’ain’t from here.” Not a question. He knew. He could smell it on her.
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