He sensed Kelsa’s spirit near Jai Long’s, and headed over to a sect training hall at the western edge of the city. On the outside, it was a long building carved out of an ancient dragon’s bones, like most buildings in Serpent’s Grave. But on the inside, he felt radiant light aura filling it. An appropriate place for both Kelsa to train the Path of the White Fox and Jai Long to train the Path of the Stellar Spear.
He didn’t sense anyone else inside, which helped, since he didn’t want to explain to any other members of the sect why he was handing out defensive constructs to prepare for a Dreadgod attack.
When he opened the door, he found Jai Long with his arms around Kelsa.
He had advanced to Underlord, clearly. Not only was his spirit much stronger than before, but he was no longer masked. He had a face that made him look studious and serious, and blue light leaked from the inside of his mouth. Instead of the mask he used to wear, he now had a red strip of scripted cloth wrapped around his forehead.
His chin rested on Kelsa’s shoulder, and his hands had slid down over hers as he guided her madra as though helping her train. But from the way they both turned red and separated the instant the door opened, this had little to do with training.
The light aura Kelsa had been controlling scattered, but the aura training room remained just as bright.
Lindon was surprised at the anger that filled him at the sight. He flexed his right hand, and the scripted band of cloth around his upper arm tightened.
Then he bowed.
“Apologies,” he said politely. “I did not mean to disturb you. That was rude of me.”
“No,” they both assured him at the same time, then Jai Long cleared his throat and Kelsa took over. “He was showing me how to control light aura more efficiently.”
Lindon wondered if she knew the things Jai Long had done before she’d met him. Almost certainly not. He wouldn’t have told her.
“That will be a great help,” Lindon said. He held out a box. “This is a protective construct. It’s just a precaution. Wear it as close to your skin as you can, especially when you sleep.”
Kelsa took it hesitantly. “Yes, I…gratitude. I’ll add it to the others.”
If she hadn’t been flustered, she would have protested. He’d given her too many protective measures, in her opinion, many of which she carried around her belt or in a pocket. He sensed a few of them tucked away in her outer robe, which had been tossed carelessly into a corner of the room.
She didn’t understand the danger. But of course she didn’t.
Lindon bowed to the two of them. “Once again, I do apologize for my intrusion.”
Kelsa mumbled something, which wasn’t usual for her—she tended to speak boldly and directly. Jai Long remained quiet as Lindon walked out the door and back onto the streets of Serpent’s Grave.
The Underlord caught up with him only moments later.
“Forgive me,” Jai Long said, as Lindon stepped off into the shadow of a building to get away from the crowd. Jai Long bowed almost all the way down to his waist. “We did not intend to keep our relationship a secret.”
Lindon sighed. “And what is your relationship?”
“I…we’re…not sure yet.” Jai Long coughed. “But I know that I have treated you badly, and I would understand if you held a grudge—”
“I don’t,” Lindon said.
Jai Long nodded with a serious expression. “I know. When you returned as powerful as you are, I was prepared to die.”
“I would have killed you,” Lindon said, “if I was like you.”
Jai Long paled.
Lindon held anger in his chest, but he didn’t let it speak for him. He kept it in a tight grip, and he used its heat as fuel. “I am grateful for what you have done for my family. But I do not look favorably on those who keep Coppers imprisoned as slave labor, or who kill Jades in their beds over a blood feud.”
Jai Long’s back straightened. “I will take responsibility for my actions.”
“I don’t want that person in my sect, and I don’t want that person in my family.” He looked deeper into Jai Long. “Is that who you are?”
Jai Long couldn’t hold Lindon’s gaze. “I don’t know.”
“Decide. And tell Kelsa what you’ve done.”
“I tried. She said she didn’t need to know.”
“That sounds like an easy problem for an Underlord to overcome.” Lindon removed the veil around his spirit. He didn’t particularly increase the pressure, but Jai Long found it harder to breathe. Lindon took a step forward until he loomed over Jai Long.