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CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

AMARI

“A RE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS ?”

Mae’e ignores my question as she dresses me in the pale ivy kaftan of one of her Green Maidens. She drapes a beaded veil over my face, hiding me in plain sight.

“You have to see it,” she insists. “And there is no better time than this. The Maidens have just tended to her roots. Trust me, this will work.”

I follow close behind as Mae’e leads us from her temples, passing under the endless archways. When we make it to the base, thunder booms above. I look up to the dark clouds.

Zélie and Yéva continue to train. They fight despite the way the mountain shakes. Though we both reside in Mae’e’s temples, I haven’t seen her for weeks.

I don’t even know if she sleeps.

It feels foolish to sneak around with the danger that awaits, but I don’t have the heart to take away Mae’e’s smile. As the weeks continue, I feel the weight of the coming fight. It hangs over her shoulders, heavy as the night.

Though Emperor Jorah ordered Zélie and me to remain in Mae’e’s temples, no one stops me as we board a floating lily pad. Mae’e presses her hand to its bottom, and the water steams underneath. Smoke rises into the air as we sail from the mountain’s base.

My pulse quickens as we make our way back to New Gaīa’s city center. The civilization glitters in the morning light. When we join the central network of canals, villagers bow as Mae’e floats past.

“I told you,” Mae’e whispers. “All you need to do is sit still.”

I press my hands together and straighten my spine the way I’ve seen the Green Maidens do before.

We move through the floating vines, making our way to the inner ring.

Lively music fills the air as we sail past the tail end of the marketplace.

I watch as a quartet plays agog? bells and double-headed bass drums. People clap in rhythm with the tune, joining along in song.

The scents of cinnamon and black pepper envelop me. We sail past food stalls filled with ripe mangoes and fresh papayas. Jars of acai berries sit alongside tropical caju fruits. My mouth waters at the plates of rice and black bean stew.

Past the market, women walk with baskets full of wildflowers. I watch as they dump them into a vibrant pile. Perfume makers sit in circles as they work, pressing individual petals into their brightly painted bottles.

The imperial palace looms behind us as we sail beyond the marketplace, reaching the temples and bustling bathhouses. I don’t want the trip to end.

Then we arrive at the Mother Root.

“Skies…,” I breathe. Our lily pad comes to a stop before a tree unlike any I’ve ever seen. Several meters wide, thick roots pass over one another by the hundreds. They form the body of a woman with her arms stretched wide and her head pointed to the sky.

Roots create a vast dome around her. As I follow their path, the connection becomes clear—every single vine in the city originates from here.

Candles spread throughout the sacred space. New Gaīans lay woven wreaths at the Mother Root’s feet. At Mae’e’s presence, her people clear the area, allowing the future hierophant to commune with the Mother Root in private.

I look up at the woven sculpture, thinking of all Mae’e’s shared. Mae’e stands before the woman of vines. Candles flicker against her brown skin as she stares into the Mother Root’s eyes.

“She was born of the mountain.” Mae’e speaks softly.

“The only time it ever erupted. A daughter of the earth, she broke free of the lava. Molten rock dripped from her blackened form. But she was born with the Sight.” Mae’e glances at me, and her diamond irises flash.

“She could see what our civilization would be. She knew it was up to her to bring it to fruition.”

“How did she do it?” I ask.

Mae’e turns away from the sculpture and scoops up a handful of dirt. She takes a deep breath and then exhales. Green light shines behind her fluttering lids as more light fills the space between the soil.

Slowly, a fresh bud rises, unfurling until it becomes a full vine. The vine sways back and forth. I smile as it taps me on the shoulder.

“It’s called the ‘breath of life,’” Mae’e explains. “Mama Gaīa grew every vine with love. She transformed lava fields into fertile soil. She carved out her own bones, imbuing them with the life needed to grow our first warriors.”

“The Laminas?” I ask, and Mae’e nods.

“Our entire civilization. It all started with her.”

Mae’e removes a necklace with a glittering emerald at its center. She uses her new vine to clasp it around the Mother Root’s neck. I give her space as she gets on her knees, lips quick in a quiet prayer.

“What of your magic?” Mae’e asks when she’s done. But at the mention of my magic, I freeze. The mistakes of my past play before my eyes, strangling me like one of the New Gaīan’s vines.

I see the moment I destroyed Ramaya to become the elder of the Connectors; the way I used my magic to paralyze Tzain when he tried to save his own sister from the attack I ordered on Ibadan. There’s still so much I have to make up for.

I don’t know how to atone for all of my mistakes.

“Did I say something wrong?” Mae’e asks.

“No.” I shake my head. “It’s just… my magic causes pain. It doesn’t come from such a beautiful place.”

“I will be the judge of that.” Mae’e guides her vine to nudge me forward.

“Mae’e—”

“You cannot scare me off,” she insists. “Please, I wish to see!”

I start to push back, but the thought of Inan comes to mind. I remember the dreamscape that we once shared. The words of the incantation start to tickle my ear.

“There’s one thing we can try.…” I tread with care. “But I’ve never attempted to do this with another person.”

I sit down on the warm soil and stretch out both my hands. Mae’e’s brown lips twist into a smile. She sets down her vine and comes close. The scents of honey and ash wrap around my nose.

My skin shivers as Mae’e puts her palms in mine. She moves to lift my veil.

“It’s still too dangerous!” I rush to stop her, but Mae’e swats at my hand.

“It’s only us here!”

My face flushes as her fingers brush against my cheeks. She hooks the veil over my ears, turning me to face the Mother Root so no one else can see. I look up at the sacred being, the very heart of New Gaīa.

Power radiates from the Mother Root like heat. I close my eyes, letting the connection wash over me. I hold on to the beauty of her magic as my own breaks free.

Power I haven’t called on in moons stirs within me, a tingle traveling through my skin. The familiar surge takes me back, reminding me of the great power I used to wield.

Mae’e gasps as the dark blue cloud engulfs our hands. It chills like ice as it travels up our arms. When it reaches our heads, everything disappears. Mae’e squeezes me tight as the entire civilization of New Gaīa fades.

I LOOK DOWN AT my own hands—there are no scars, no sign of the blood I’ve spilled. A gentle breeze blows through my white streak. I inhale the cinnamon-scented air, and it’s like I can truly breathe.

Fields of blue flowers surround us. I smile at the familiar sea. I run my fin- gers through the velvety petals, reminding myself of when my magic ran free.

“My goodness!” Mae’e exclaims. Her diamond gaze shines bright. Her colorful silks have been replaced with soft whites. She skips through the vast field.

Her melodic laughter echoes through the air. She runs back for me, hooking her arm in mine. We spin around and around until we fall into the soft bed.

“This is your gift?” Mae’e asks. Her cheeks flush as she extends her hands. Thick clouds envelop us like mountains. We lie in the flowers, suspended in a haze. Time stretches beyond the horizon. It’s like I stay with her for days.

“A part of it,” I explain. “There’s a chance we can do more.” I bite my lip, remembering the times Inan’s told me how Zélie affected his dreamscape. When Zélie entered, she was able to build forests and waterfalls. Could Mae’e and I have the same?

“Close your eyes,” I instruct the future hierophant. “Imagine what you most want to see.”

“Anything?” Mae’e questions, and I nod.

“Anything at all.”

Mae’e shuts her eyes and breathes deep. The breeze shifts, parting the clouds. The field of blue flowers disappears. Everything clears to reveal the full night sky.

I marvel at the arrangement of stars that surrounds us, each glittering with light. Dense clusters radiate a powerful glow. Shooting comets pass far below.

Mae’e’s diamond gaze sparkles as she takes in the impossible. Clouds of deep purple gas spread far and wide. A galaxy spirals through the deep expanse. It pulls everything into its orbit, disappearing in a swirling black hole.

The stars spin around us, faster and faster, gathering speed. Mae’e reaches for my hand as the night sky begins to bleed.

“ U GH ! ” MAE’E GASPS. She squeezes my hands. She whips around as we find ourselves sitting below the Mother Root, exactly where we were before we took off.

“That was incredible!” Mae’e struggles to keep her voice down. “That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen! I’ve always dreamed of sailing with the stars, but I never imagined it could be a real thing!”

All of a sudden, Mae’e releases my hands. My eyes widen as she grabs my cheeks. The way she stares at me, all thought scrambles in my head.

I don’t know what to think.

“Thank you,” she whispers. My heart thrums in my chest.

“You’re welcome.” I choke out the words.

Mae’e starts to lean in—

“Mae’e!”

We turn to see the real Green Maidens gathered at the sanctuary’s dock. Mae’e rises as they speak quickly, the New Gaīan passing too fast for me to follow.

When they’re done, Mae’e returns to me. My heart still flutters like a hummingbird trying to escape its cage.

“What is it?” I ask.

“It’s your brother.” Mae’e’s brows rise. “He’s here!”