Page 49

Chapter 49

Saelyn

The Baron of Felgren watched me in the mirror, pulling my dark locks into an intricate braid, securing my hair for the trip across the isle to the Blight Line .

She did not study me as my mother. She looked me over as a leader of the isle, silent and staring, thoughts flickering across her brow in confusion and deep thought.

I was nervous. Not to see Thevin again after our kiss in the hallway, but to get to the Blight Line and witness the real toll of this war that raged because of me.

I took my mother’s hand in mine as she finished her work, securing my hair with leather ties at the back. “ Thank you, Mother . I’ll go get dressed.”

She stopped me, squeezing my hand and speaking to me as we both looked into the mirror. “ You felt the Blightress coming, but I’ve been wondering how she knew you had arrived here in the first place.”

I gulped, truly unsure of how the Blightress knew. “ I - I don’t know.”

Her black eyes shifted across my face in assessment. “ I have not trained you in magic, though I know you possess it. A great amount of it, in fact.”

I bit down on my lips, keeping her stare.

“ Did you…use any magic yesterday?” she asked carefully, tilting her head to the side. “ When you saved Thevin from drowning, how did you do it?”

My brows furrowed. “ I saw him sinking in the water and dove after him.”

“ And ? Did you try your hand at magic to get him to breathe again?”

“ No , but I —” I thought back to my split decision in the water. When I had realized that massive fish was coming for him, my instincts told me to follow in the footsteps of my mother and create a portal—the last magic I’d seen her use. “ I did try to create a portal…like the one I saw you form before we left.”

She closed her eyes in a grimace.

“ I’m sorry!” I turned around in my chair to face her. “ I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to, and I just saw another fish coming for him, so I just pulled my hands apart like you did and?—”

“ It’s alright,” she murmured, stroking my hair, “just tell me what happened when you tried.”

“ Well , there was a bright white light—just like how my magic presents itself. But the fish avoided the light at the last second, and I grabbed Thevin and got to the surface.”

She nodded.

“ Is that how she knew? She felt me use my power for something big?”

“ I am sure of it. You and I along with your father have power that is connected to the Blightress more than any other magic wielders on the isle. I don’t doubt she’s been waiting to feel you summon yours in full force.”

“ I am truly sorry then,” I murmured.

“ Don’t be, Little Love .” She lifted my chin, kissing my forehead like she used to do. “ You were saving your friend, and that is the best reason to use your power.”

“ But I shouldn’t try anything else, right?”

“ I have not taught you magic because I did not want her to know the extent of what you hold. Your own father wondered at the power you possessed even growing in my womb. I have feared all your life that she would take you and use you to return the power that was once hers. All magic on this isle comes from her, but that does not mean she gets to take it from you. When we reach the ruins, we will convene as the Four and you will have options with how you would like to proceed in this fight for your father and the isle.”

I squared my shoulders and rose, taking a last look in the mirror and heading to the closet to get dressed. “ These ruins are at the Blight Line , correct? Where we’ll meet the last leader of the Four ?”

She pulled her black vest over her chest, fastening the gold buttons down the front. “ Yes . We arrive today at the ruins. You will stay back while the Wieldwryns and the Runners push the line to the castle.”

“ The ruins of what?” I asked, pulling on my tall black boots.

She twisted the emerald conduit ring at her finger and said, “ The ruins of Hyrithia . It is there that we will meet your uncle, the last of the Four .”

My head sapped to hers. “ My uncle?”

“ Yes . They call him the Handless King .”

* * *

Following my mother up the winding stairs of the Spire , I studied the hazy green shield that now covered the city. I’d known that shield all my life, never getting much glimpse of a clear sky because of it. But now, seeing the subtle glow, I missed the sky as it had been when we’d arrived. I felt the guilt slip in of leading the Blightress right to us with my attempt at a portal to save Thevin at the Hatchery .

We entered the arched doorway to the very top room of the Spire —the same we had entered from the portal in Felgren . With my bag slung over my shoulder, I searched the room for Thevin . He was easy to spot, biting a sausage at the end of his fork and speaking with Lanna and his parents at the breakfast table.

“ Are you hungry?” my mother asked.

“ Not really,” I replied in truth. My stomach was in knots for what was next.

“ Doesn’t matter,” she countered, “ The first rule for where we’re going is that you eat when there’s food. I cannot guarantee when our next meal will be.”

Clairannia drifted toward us in a swish of white. “ Baron Karus ! Word has arrived from Felgren . Pompeii and the other channelers’ combined shields are currently intact. There have been no attacks on the forest.”

My mother let out a sigh of relief. “ That is good news then, thank you.”

Clairannia reached out a hand to squeeze her arm. “ Figuerah will be there. When we arrive, I mean.”

“ I know.”

“ You should speak to her. There’s nothing wrong with you both apologizing for what was said a long time ago.”

My mother gave me a small smile. “ Please go eat. We’ll be leaving within the half hour.”

Seeing it as the dismissal it was, I nodded, and headed toward Thevin , glancing back to see the old friends continuing their conversation away from everyone.

I approached Thevin from behind, tapping his shoulder, greeting him with a happy, “ Good morning!”

He swiftly turned, and at my presence, Lanna winked and walked away, quickly followed by Thevin’s parents.

He opened his mouth to speak and then shut it tight, doing his best not to let his eyes roam over my ensemble.

“ It fits nicely, doesn’t it?” I stepped back and gestured to my loose white shirt tucked into my tight black pants, complete with boots that rose to my knees. I had picked it out the day before to match what I’d seen Lanna and other women of the Spire wearing.

“ It does,” he admitted casually, setting his plate down on the table.

I nodded slowly, clasping my hands in front of me. The strange stiffness of his body had my stomach plummeting. I was sure he was thinking of last night, but based on this awkward first conversation after, I worried he had regretted it.

“ Well ,” I started, gulping, “about last night?—”

“ You mean last night when you saved everyone in this room from a sure death, or last night when you kissed me after?”

“ You kissed me back.”

“ You kissed me first.”

I huffed a nervous laugh. “ I did, didn’t I ?” I could see him struggling not to smile and I continued. “ Listen , I know our emotions were high and that I didn’t actually ask if that’s what you wanted, but?—”

“ I shouldn’t have let it get as far as it did, and for that I’m sorry.”

I frowned. “ You already said you were sorry last night.”

“ I meant it then, too.”

“ Just because you’re sorry doesn’t mean I am, and?—”

“ You really don’t have to explain, S? —”

“ Thevin !” My voice echoed louder than I had meant and several pairs of eyes darted to us. I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. “ Would you please let me finish a sentence without cutting me off?”

He blushed as well, opening his mouth.

I poked him in the chest. “ Don’t you dare say you’re sorry one more time. I just need you to listen without talking.”

“ Saelyn , you can talk and eat. Please get something in your stomach.” My mother’s tone caught me off guard as she grazed over the food on the other side of the long table. I fumbled for a plate, the rising frustration within me begging to boil over in what would be a highly embarrassing confession of love for the man next to me.

I wanted to tell him.

I was determined to tell him.

I did not know when to tell him.

My mother grabbed some pastries and left, heading to the middle of the room. I tossed some fruit on my plate, barely noticing what it was. Thevin plopped three strips of bacon on as well—my favorite and he knew it.

“ Please accept my peace offering.”

The corner of my mouth tilted higher than I would have liked. “ For now,” I agreed, though my entire being begged me not to. “ But I would like to speak to you.” I glanced around. “ In private.”

He shrugged. “ I don’t know when we’ll next get a private moment. We’re about to go into battle.”

I hesitated with bacon perched on my lips. “ Battle -battle? We’re going right into fighting?”

“ Pretty much. You’ll be protected though. And Baron Karus is with us now, so we should have the power to push the Blight Line back and retake the ruins.”

I dropped the bacon onto my plate, my stomach refusing food entirely. “ You’ll be in the front? Facing those creatures?”

“ Hey ,” he mumbled, reaching under my hand to raise my plate back up to my face. “ The first rule of war is to eat when you can. I’ll be fine. I’ve done this a few dozen times. Lanna is a great commander and knows how to maneuver her Runners to allow space for the Wieldwryns to take action.”

I frowned at my plate and instead picked up a strawberry, biting the red flesh off the green stem. “ Will I be able to see you fighting?”

“ Why ? Looking for pointers?

“ No , I’ll be looking for blood.”

“ Sae ,” he laughed. “ I’ll be perfectly fine. We all will.”

I twisted my lips back into a frown.

“ Look .” He pointed to where his parents spoke to the Viceroy . “ My own parents are not even slightly worried. Don’t you think they would be if they thought their only child to be in serious danger?”

I huffed a sigh. “ I suppose so.”

“ And look at the Baron .” He pointed again. My mother was in the cleared space of the room, maneuvering her hands in that way I had tried, spawning one portal after another. “ Do you think she’d be so calm if she thought her own daughter in danger?”

I shook my head, nibbling on a piece of bacon. “ What will I do then?”

“ You get to sit back and watch me cut through beasts and Blight . I’ll be sure to add some flourish to the end of my slashing.”

He smirked, and I chuckled, reaching out to the knives strapped across his chest. “ You’ll use these?” I traced my fingers over each hilt, three small ones in total, no longer than my hand. I followed the leather down to the sword strapped to his side.

“ Will you really use this many?” I studied the cold metal, but glanced up at him when he didn’t answer.

His gaze was haunting. His clear blue eyes flicked down to my mouth once. Twice . I straightened, the air between us shifted, though I was unsure why. I was absolutely sure, however, that I didn’t mind it.

“ I think it’s time to go,” he whispered, still staring me down, still emitting that same spark of what I’d felt the night before when I’d pressed my lips to his.

I brought my hand back to my side, not daring to touch him further. “ Alright ,” I said, keeping his gaze.

I wondered briefly if this was it for us.

If we’d never recover from what we shared in a dim hallway midway up the Spire , on the cusp of the looming end to this war that, for me, had only just begun.

I wondered if I’d be able to correctly explain my feelings for him when the time came. Maybe he wouldn’t believe me, and we’d live like this all our lives, never touching, only staring, our bodies humming in a synchronized tune that we’d have to deny forever.

“ No ,” I whispered to myself, shaking my head slightly. I wouldn’t let that happen. I had been the one refusing to risk losing him, but now I’d be the one refusing to keep our friendship the same.

“ No what?” he murmured back.

I swallowed. “ I? —”

“ If I could call to order, please!” My mother’s voice rose through the room, demanding attention.

We faced the line of nine portals glowing green as a Felgren spring.

“ With the attack on this great city last night, we leave you now to approach the end of this war with the Dimming .” She glanced to me and continued. “ The Blightress has haunted our lives for long enough and we are ready to descend upon her lands and put a stop to her tyranny.” Pausing , she took a deep breath, closing her eyes and exhaling long and slow. “ I tell you now, there is much hope. Baron Revich is alive.”

The room hummed with murmurs and gasps. I was suddenly filled with a cold I couldn’t name and stepped closer to Thevin .

“ This comes at a great shock, I know, but please believe your Baron when I tell you, it was not a secret I held lightly for seventeen years. The Dimming is no longer just to end this war, it is to make Felgren whole again.” She held my gaze. “ And bring home the father of my daughter.”

She stepped up to the line of portals. “ Please spread word of this wonderful news. Let it reach from the ocean to the mountains that all will be restored.” She put a fist to her chest. “ Hold onto hope. Defy the Dark .”

An echo of agreement shifted through the small crowd. Thevin mimicked the movement beside me and softly smiled down at me.

Madame Zoreyah was the first to enter the portals. Alongside her billowy golden pants padded a black muri, its face fading to white in old age. Surprised , I watched with raised brows as she entered one of the portals while her enormous cat followed through another.

Lanna was next, followed by Clairannia . Ilyenna and Talon nodded to my mother before stepping through their portals at the same time. My mother reached out her hand, beckoning Thevin and me to join her.

He did not let go of my hand as we walked through the crowd to face the last three portals.

“ Thevin will go next, followed by me,” she instructed. “ You will be last, Sae , and you will stay back. I will protect you. There is nothing to fear.”

I nodded, untangling my fingers from Thevin’s . He smiled at me and left, his portal of brilliant light closing with him now hundreds of miles away.

“ Be well, Baron Karus ,” the Viceroy spoke and my mother nodded once before stepping into her own portal. The green haze over the Spire disappeared instantly, leaving the room to brighten in the morning midsummer sun.

I looked around, all faces on mine, all thoughts likely on the fact that I had a father who still lived and that this war had begun and would end with me.

I didn’t know if I should say anything, but felt the urge to leave them with hope. “ I will return with my father back to Felgren . I promise, I will bring him home. And I will do what I can,” I continued, stumbling slightly on my words. “ I will do what I can to end this war and return peace to this isle. I am sorry to be the cause of so much suffering, but it will not continue. Everything I have to give will be spent to end it.”

The silence sat, quickening my heartbeat. In my nerves, I took a step toward the last remaining portal. A clap sounded and I glanced to my left to see the Viceroy , tears in his eyes and hope on his face. Cheers continued throughout the room as onlookers, people I had never met, but had known of me all my life, hugged each other in hope and the joy that comes from such a thing.

I nodded, forcing back tears of my own and stepped through my mother’s portal.