Flashback ( PDFDrive )

You okay? she asked Fitz when she noticed him rubbing his chest.
Your echo—
It’s fine! he transmitted, closing his eyes and taking a long breath.
Then another.
And another.
You’re worrying me, Sophie admitted.
I know. I’m sorry. I never realized my dad might be dealing with that.
Just try to remember—he’s still acting like himself. So whatever he lost
can’t be important.
Somehow I doubt that. My dad’s been an Emissary for decades. Do you
have any idea how many secrets he’s protecting?
I’m sure he kept records.
Fitz shook his head. Maybe for the stuff he did officially. But he had
tons of unofficial projects too—like when he was trying to find you. I know
he wouldn’t have left any evidence of that stuff, in case the Council ever
investigated him. So if those memories are gone, they’re GONE.
Well . . . if that’s true, the good news is the memories have been gone for
months and it hasn’t been a problem, Sophie reminded him.
Yet, Fitz added, sucking in another long breath as the word just sort
of hung there taunting them.
Keefe cleared his throat, jolting them back to the present. “If you
guys are talking about me—”
“We’re not,” Sophie promised. “We were talking about Alden.”
“Is that why Fitz looks so pale?” Tiergan wondered.
“I’m fine,” Fitz assured him.
But Elwin had already rushed in from his office and flashed an orb
of layered light around his chest. “Your ribs still look okay . . . but the
murkiness looks thicker, so I’m guessing that means the echo stirred.”