Page 51

Chapter 51

Saelyn

Nothing Thevin had explained to me in my room, safe and warm, could have prepared me for the fighting. The moment I arrived from the portal, spit out again into the tall grass like something discarded, I paled at the sound of war. My mother had bloomed forth a sun, raging and hot into the clear summer sky. At just its presence alone, the Blight faded away from the line of black that rooted to the earth, turning to little more than ashes.

I rose from the ground, searching for Thevin , but unable to see anyone I recognized in the chaos. Screams and orders emitted from the frontlines and a mass of the Wieldwryns , dressed in varying colors of what their magic could produce, followed into the city. Casts of colorful magic glowed every which way, though it was hardly needed with the damage my mother had done.

Her domed shield covered us all, descending on the city ruins which stretched as far as my eyes could see. My mother ordered me to stay behind her, and I did, following the trail of her black skirts as she raced across the tall grasses and into the black earth, a clear line of delineation of where this battle had been fought before.

I was thankful I didn’t have my usual skirts to hold, instead keeping up with the mass of Wieldwryns in their sprint to the city gates. I hesitated, my heart hurting as I looked upon the destruction of the city my mother had come from. Wide streets and tall buildings were now little more than rubble inked in black stains across every inlaid stone, every storefront, and upturned carriage.

The city of Hyrithia had been completely consumed, and I shuddered to think of what had happened to the people when the Blightress’s forces had taken hold.

Lanna’s voice rang through the streets calling for help, and I watched my mother speak to Clairannia before she suspended the sun and opened a portal.

As soon as Clairannia was gone, my mother faltered, only slightly and possibly not enough for anyone else to notice, but I did.

I fisted my hands at my side, useless in this battle for which I had no training and would be more collateral than warrior.

Instead , I followed closely behind my mother, watching for any sign that she might fall as she lifted her simulated sun even higher on the horizon, a mirror to the rising sun to the east.

We neared the castle doors, catching the shouts for Ilyenna to come hold the castle stone, her lapis magic able to repair the structure from further destruction.

A tall man approached my mother, glinting in silver armor at his shoulders with a woman at his side who also glowed in flaming red curls, shaved on one side.

His handsome face broke into a grin, and he swept his arm across the dark skin of his brow. But it was not his golden eyes that beamed with joy upon seeing my mother which made me gasp—it was his hands, no more than brilliant orange flame shaped into long elegant fingers. His arms encircled my mother, bringing her into a shaking embrace. He murmured something in her ear, guiding her slowly to the ground. Her enormous raging sun above the castle dissipated in a flash along with the emerald shield over the city. I reached her side just as the man who must be the Handless King , lowered her unconscious body to the ashes.

“ Mother !” I cried, taking her hand.

“ She’s alright,” the King murmured, a sorrowful smile on his lips. “ She’ll come to in just a minute.”

I nodded, relying on the people who knew her power to help me understand.

The woman with red curls and freckles stared down at me in disbelief. “ She’s the spitting image of him.”

He murmured his agreement and huffed a laugh. “ It’s good to meet you again, Saelyn .” He held out his swirling flame of a hand for me to take. “ I am your uncle, King Philius of Hyrithia .”

I took his hand, awed with how his flame did not burn my skin but held a warmth that felt something like comfort.

“ The shield,” I said. “ We need to replace the shield. The Blightress came last night to the Spire and my mother’s power was the only thing that stopped her.”

I swallowed the lie, remembering the deep rumble of the Blightress’s laugh as I had reforged time to change the ending to what would have been a massacre.

“ Renn .” The King didn’t even turn to the woman before she was up, calling out to the Wieldwryns .

A dozen lights rose from the hands of the powerful channelers and conduits around us, forming into a dome of colorful magic rolling over the city.

“ How long until she—” I started.

“ Saelyn ?” my mother’s voice called to me. I heaved a breath of relief, helping her sit up.

The King patted her shoulder and said, “ It’s clear. We’ve taken back Hyrithia thanks to you, Baron .”

She nodded, accepting his glowing hand to help her stand.

“ Are you sure you’re alright?” I asked.

“ Yes . That spell affects me like this every time I’ve used it. Let’s get to the castle and rest a moment.”

I smiled quickly, taking in a deep breath and telling myself I could be useful here in some capacity and get the Baron into the throne room.

She didn’t let go of my hand as we entered through the doors, the King ahead, letting out a long whistle at the destruction of his home.

“ Fucking Blight ,” he cursed under his breath, tracing the black remnants across the stone walls with his glowing fingers.

He led us toward the throne room, and I wanted so badly to ask how he had lost his hands but kept quiet, instead observing the reactions around me. Cheers and laughter rumbled lightheartedly through the room.

Ilyenna summoned her power in the corner, reshaping the stone walls and glass dome above into one that could hold its structure. The floor was covered in soot over an intricate pattern of tiles.

I scanned the room for Thevin , eyeing first the few soldiers on the floor healing from their wounds by the medicus Wieldwryns . Clairannia was among them giving orders, and I sighed in relief, confirming Thevin was not one of the wounded.

The redhead rushed to the King . “ No casualties, no Wieldwryns taken. The halls are clear and Hyrithia is ours.”

He pulled her to his side for a lingering embrace. “ Hold the eastern wall. I want a camp of soldiers guarding the Blight Line with the heaviest surveillance tonight. Find the rest of the Four and all of the commanders. They are to convene for a council meeting in the map room in one hour.”

I continued to scan the room and my mother leaned in, whispering, “ Go find him. I’ll bring you to the meeting in an hour.” She patted my hand and let go.

I didn’t need more encouragement. My heart beat wildly as I wove through the people speaking in relief of their easy victory this morning.

I soon found him sitting on the dais, wrapping his hand in white linen. “ Thevin !” I exhaled, rushing to kneel in front of him. “ You’re hurt?” I took the hand bound in cloth, peeking under the bandage.

“ I haven’t made it to the healers yet,” he said, dismissing my concern.

I frowned. “ This looks bad.”

“ It’s just a cut.”

“ Like these?” I reached out to his right side, patting where I knew three long slashes scared his chest.

“ Like those,” he murmured in barely a whisper.

I huffed in reply, carefully removing the bandages to expose the raging red gash across his calloused palm.

“ What are you doing?”

“ Healing your hand.”

I thought he’d refuse, insisting how small of a wound it was, but he didn’t. He held his palm up to me, and I closed my eyes, sifting through the healing spells I knew from reading about them in Viridis .

The truth was, I didn’t much like the Medicus Conduit Hall . I found it stunningly boring. I had spent most of my time in Viridis studying the words of the magical language instead.

He chuckled in my long pause. “ I really don’t think it’s as bad as you’re?—”

“ Hush , you,” I retorted. Instead of trying to remember the specific word that would close his skin, or even going to ask Clairannia for help, I focused on what I knew. I’d pieced together the language of magic many times before, weaving it into something useful. I could do it again.

The words came to me, and I placed my right hand over his left, gripping it tightly. He gasped through his teeth at our touch, but remained silent as I murmured, “ Cutis Mea , Cutis Tumn . ”

My skin fused over his wound. I could feel the stretch of my palm thinning, giving what I had to offer to close the gash with my flesh. A soft white light glowed under our clasped hands, and I grinned wildly up at him, pulling my hand from his to show that he was healed.

The cut remained in a white scar down his palm, still covered in red and black blood. He grabbed my hand, flipping it over to see a twin scar to his own.

“ You’ve got one, too.”

I shrugged. “ I don’t mind.”

He traced his finger down the puckered line, and I shivered, the slightest breath leaving my lungs. He brought my palm to his lips, leaving a kiss and mumbling, “ Thank you.”

He kept my hand near his face, holding it with both hands, and I wondered if he was remembering the kiss we shared just hours before, like I was.

I cleared my throat. “ I’ve been meaning to tell you, Thevin? —”

“ There he is!” A booming voice overtook my words and Thevin looked up, smiling and pulling me up with him as he rose to greet the man.

They embraced, clapping each other hard on the back, the man laughing and saying, “ Thought you’d be gone longer than only three weeks! What brings you back so early?” Noticing me for the first time, I gave him a polite smile.

He was almost as tall as Thevin with dark hair cut to the scalp and a wicked looking scar that began on his left cheek down to the olive skin of his neck. He glanced from Thevin to me and then back again, a brow raised.

“ Mavryn , meet Saelyn , daughter of the Baron of Felgren .”

He jerked his head back, scanning me from head to toe. I raised my chin, offering my hand. “ It’s nice to meet you, Mavryn .”

He took my hand in a sly grin and shook it with a firm grip. I imagined he was somewhere around Lanna’s age—only a few years older than Thevin and I .

“ The daughter of the Baron leaving Felgren after all these years to join us in Hyrithia ,” he remarked. “ I’m wondering why.”

Thevin stepped closer to my side. “ That’s for the Four and the commanders to discuss, not for you to wonder.”

“ My time spent fighting this war would say otherwise,” he countered, flicking his gaze back to Thevin .

I felt the tension strike quickly between them, curious if the subtle animosity was from my leaving Felgren or something from their past.

I broke the silence, folding my arms across my chest. “ Are you also a Runner , then?”

Mavryn nodded, tilting his head and giving me a wolfish smirk. “ That I am. And I must say, it is good to learn that you are real, and we do have a reason this war has been raging for so long. All over a pretty girl who smells of—” He casually leaned in, taking a big whiff through his nose. “ Pine and sea, is it?”

Shocked at his words I huffed a nervous laugh, but Thevin’s anger rose swiftly.

He pushed Mavryn back, stepping in front of me. “ That’s enough. You reek of Blight , Mav . Get something to eat and wash up because your manners are fucking terrible.”

Mavryn held up his hands in defeat, falling back and laughing, “ I meant no offense to the girl. Just as happy to see her as you are.” He winked at Thevin and gave me a sweeping bow before walking away, greeting others in the crowd.

“ Fucking asshole,” Thevin mumbled, watching him go.

“ Hey ,” I called, pulling at his shoulder to face me. “ I hate to say it after you just defended me, but,”— I ruffled his dirty golden curls at the top of his head—“you don’t smell so great yourself.”