I hefted the orb. This one weighed about eight pounds and felt solid, but so had the ones that shattered during the last storm season. Carrying it back to the table, I tried to ignore the hum of potential vibrating through my fingers.
I stopped short. Why couldn’t I use an orb to siphon the magic from the sea glass? Because at the time the melt wasn’t ready, and Skippy would have had a fit—not that I cared. If we found more sea glass, I would have to try it.
The rubber stopper fit perfectly. Impressive. In fact, it fit all the orbs on the table with the same snugness. Incredible. My opinion of Ziven and Zetta increased by a factor of ten. All were a beautiful round shape and their sizes matched. Wow.
Only one test left. I found a hammer and pounded on the orb. It broke with a solid crack.
“What are you doing?” Ziven asked with a sharp and accusing tone.
I startled and spun around. “Good morning to you, too.”
He strode into the cave, scanning the equipment as if he’d caught me stealing. “Why did you destroy that orb? It was—”
“Perfect. So far.” I took one of the broken pieces out to the light and inspected it. Ziven followed me.
The thickness of the glass was consistent throughout the section. Good. “Do you have any orbs left over from the previous glassmakers?” I swallowed a sudden lump in my throat. Sir had murdered the three siblings for the orb’s recipe.
“Why?” Again the suspicious tone.
“To compare the density. I just want to be sure these match those before I give Kade my approval.”
“Oh. Okay.” He strode to the back of the cavern and returned with another orb.
I smiled when he handed it to me. It was egg-shaped. One of Nodin’s. He always had trouble shaping the orb. With reluctance, I broke it and evaluated the cross-section.
“Your orbs are wonderful. They should work well for the Stormdancers.”
Ziven beamed and it transformed his whole face. He looked years younger.
“Zetta will be happy to hear it,” he said.
I collected the broken pieces and dumped them into the cullet barrel. One of the joys of working with glass was being able to reuse it. The cullet would be melted in the cauldron and made into new orbs.
On my way down to the main cavern, I checked in on Kade. He was still sound asleep and I wondered how late he had stayed up the night before. Most of the people who slept around the cook fire remained motionless in their cots. For a second, I panicked, thinking they had all been hit with Curare. But then Leif rolled over and Wick snored.
I scanned the sleepers, searching for Skippy. Not the type to rub elbows with the masses, he must have taken a cot up to one of the empty caves for privacy. Since we arrived at The Cliffs, he had been keeping a low profile. I didn’t mind. It was a nice break not having him by my side all the time.
Not wanting to bother anyone in the common room, I headed to the stables to check on the horses. I found Raiden filling their buckets with fresh water.
“Good thing we have this spring back here,” Raiden said. “Otherwise, we’d have to cart in a tankful of drinkable water every season.”
I helped him feed the horses and muck out the stalls. Quartz nuzzled my ear before eating her breakfast. They all needed exercise. I would ask Kade about riding them to the location where Heli found the sea glass. It would save time and energy.
“Has Heli discovered anything more about the glass?” I asked Raiden.
“No. And she’s obsessed about it. It caused enough trouble, so I told her to toss it back into the sea.”
“It’s harmless now.”
Raiden shot me a dubious look.
I changed the subject. “Your new glassmakers have made some beautiful orbs.”
“Will they work?”
“They should.”
“Should isn’t an encouraging word.”
“There’s always a possibility something may go wrong.” A lesson I learned from experience, yet each time there was an element of surprise.
“Would you stake Kade’s life on it?” Raiden asked. “Because you know he’ll want to be the first one to test the new orbs out.”
I knew. “Yes, I would.”
Raiden stared out to sea for a moment. “That’s more encouraging. Especially since it’s obvious you two are a couple.”
“He hasn’t said anything to you?”
“I’ve hardly spoken to him since he returned. He’s been gone since the end of the cooling season, when he chased after the bastards who murdered Indra and her brothers.” Raiden kicked a rock into the sea. “He sent me a message explaining what happened, but it was basic facts.” He gave me a sly smile. “He’s happier now. And I don’t have to worry too much about him taking unnecessary chances and risking his life. We don’t have many Stormdancers.”
“How many are there?”
He gestured toward the cave. “What you see is what you get.”
“Five! That’s all?” And one was in training.
“We lost Kaya and Gian during the last storm season, and the year before a rookie lost control and drowned. Then with the glassmakers’ deaths, I’m surprised Tebbs even admitted she had the power.”
“She probably heard about the fabulous location and posh accommodations,” I teased.
“Hey! When I was younger, the dancers slept on the beach and cooked for themselves. Now they have cots and privacy screens and a cook. They’re spoiled.”