Page 44 of Duskbound (Esprithean Trilogy #2)

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

"We'll need to break it down," Dannika said, examining the crystalline formation. She reached out to touch one of the smaller pieces and it separated easily from the larger mass, like a magnet releasing its hold. "That's... interesting."

"What is it?" Vexa moved closer.

Dannika pressed the piece back against the formation and we watched in fascination as it seemed to meld seamlessly back into place, the crystal structure realigning itself. "The arcanite—it wants to stay together. Like it's drawn to itself."

"Of course," Tamir breathed. "That's how they were able to construct such massive towers. The crystals naturally reform once they're in contact. It's not just a mineral, it's almost..."

"Alive," I finished, watching as Dannika separated another piece, larger this time.

"This makes things much simpler," she said. "We can break it into smaller pieces for transport, then reconstruct it once we're back in Ravenfell."

"The Vordr can handle that weight if we distribute it properly," Aether said. "But we'll need something to secure them with. "

"We can use some of these old support beams," Theron suggested, gesturing to several fallen timbers. "Fashion makeshift harnesses, spread the load between them."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We don't even know if I can actually imbue it yet," I cut in, suddenly feeling another pressure weigh me down.

Piece by piece, we carried the arcanite out of the mines, laying each crystal in the clearing where we'd left the Vordr. As the fragments touched, they pulled together seamlessly, rebuilding themselves into their natural formation. Soon, a structure nearly as tall as me and twice as wide rose from the ground, its violet-blue light even more breathtaking in the dying sunlight.

"That's... a lot more than I expected," Vexa breathed, circling the formation.

"Quite the haul," Rethlyn said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Though I suppose that's what happens when no one's mined here in decades."

"It's beautiful," Effie whispered, reaching out as if to touch the crystals before pulling her hand back.

"But will it be enough?" Theron asked, his voice tight with something between hope and doubt.

I studied the formation, watching how the light seemed to move within each crystal, like something alive trapped beneath the surface. The sun had nearly set now, painting the sky in deep purples that made the arcanite's glow even more pronounced.

"Even if I can do this," I said carefully, "we don't know how much essence it will take. How much I can give."

"You don't have to do it now," Aether said, moving to stand beside me. His entire frame was silhouetted by the last fragments of the setting sun, so stark and bright that it was nearly impossible to take in the sight, as if the two were one in the same.

"No." I shook my head. "We should know if this will work before we transport it back to Umbrathia. "

I stepped closer to the formation, my fingers hovering over its surface. The crystals hummed with their own strange energy, but I had no idea how to actually transfer essence into them. I pressed my palm against the arcanite, its surface cool. Nothing happened. No surge of power, no transfer of energy—just smooth crystal against my skin, as lifeless as any common stone. A knot formed in my throat as I pulled my hand back.

What had I been thinking? That I could just touch it and somehow fill it with essence? Everyone was watching, waiting, their hope almost palpable in the fading light. Hope that probably died a little more with each passing second of failure.

"Maybe try..." Vexa started, but fell silent as I exhaled sharply.

I placed both hands on the formation this time, pressing harder, as if force alone could make this work. The violet-blue light pulsed steadily, mockingly unchanged. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I tried to push essence through my palms, the way I'd learned to channel shadows. But essence wasn't darkness—it wasn't something I could see or grasp or control. It just existed within me, as natural and unreachable as my own heartbeat.

"I don't know how to do this," I whispered, more to myself than the others. The admission felt like failure, like letting down not just my companions but an entire realm. My realm, according to some accident of birth I still couldn't quite wrap my head around.

"Take your time," Rethlyn said from somewhere behind me. But we didn't have time.

I stepped back, running trembling fingers through my hair. How many people in Ravenfell were starving right now? How many children like Lael lay wounded because their realm's essence had been stolen? And here I stood, supposedly carrying the same power that could restore it within me, but unable to do anything with it.

I closed my eyes, trying to focus on that well of energy Talon had described— this endless essence that supposedly flowed through me. But it was like trying to catch rain with a sieve. Every time I thought I felt it, it slipped away.

Relax.

It didn't feel like my own thought, but I decided to go with it. I turned back to the formation, desperation clawing at my throat. There had to be a way. I'd felt power before—when my web braided itself up my spine, when it filled my skull with its iridescence.

Almost instinctively, I reached for that deeper part of myself. The web responded instantly, but instead of letting it climb to my head as it always had, I focused on drawing it down my arms.

The web resisted at first, like a river trying to flow uphill. My fingers trembled against the crystal as I fought to redirect that familiar power. Every instinct screamed at me to let it rise, to let it fill my skull as it always had. But something about this felt right.

My breath came in short gasps as I concentrated. The web pulsed through my veins, searching for its usual path, but I held firm, channeling it down, down, through my shoulders, my elbows, into my palms. The sensation was foreign, almost uncomfortable, like wearing a glove on the wrong hand.

"Fia?" Someone's voice seemed distant, concerned. I couldn't tell who had spoken. Everything had narrowed to this moment, to the feeling of power coursing through me.

Please , I thought, pressing my forehead against the cool crystal surface. Please work. We need this. They need this. I closed my eyes.

The web thrummed stronger now, no longer fighting its new direction but flowing freely. It felt different than when I wielded shadows or touched minds. More raw. Or Fundamental. Like I'd tapped into something that had always been there.

A gasp cut through my concentration and my eyes flew open.

White light blazed within the crystals, so bright I had to squint. It spread from where my hands touched, transforming the violet-blue into something impossibly pure. The glow pulsed outward through the ridges like veins of starlight, each crystal refracting and magnifying the radiance until the entire structure seemed alive with its own blinding moon.

"Esprithe," Effie breathed behind me.

I stumbled back from the formation, my legs weak. The white light continued to pulse through the crystals, a stark contrast to their earlier violet-blue glow.

"Incredible," Tamir whispered, his eyes wide and glassy in the light. He reached toward the formation but stopped just short of touching it, as if afraid it might shatter under his fingers.

I felt Aether's presence before I saw him, that familiar warmth as he moved to stand beside me again. When I finally looked up at him, the white light from the arcanite reflected in his golden eyes, making them almost silver.

"You did it," he said quietly.

"Let's try and get these strapped to the Vordr," Rethlyn said, running his hand along one of the makeshift harnesses they'd been fashioning from the support beams. "Though crossing the rip might be tricky."

"We should get moving," Mira cut in, "It's already dark."

And so they began preparing the Vordr.

"Careful with that piece," Vexa called out as Theron and Rethlyn secured another section of arcanite to Draug's harness. The Vordr shifted, adjusting to the weight as Dannika moved to fasten the final straps.

“Talon should be able to tell—when you bring it back to Umbrathia,” I began, nerves setting in. “I can feel the essence flowing through it, but I don’t know how you will reform it.” Only Mira seemed to be paying attention. “Talon should be able to sense the direction in which it flows. He should be able to tell you how to place it in the ground so that it releases it into the land.”

Mira simply narrowed her eyes. “Why are you telling us this?”

I watched as Aether approached Tryggar with the last fragment. My heart thundered against my ribs as I made the word form: "Wait."

It came out sharp and direct, making everyone pause. Their eyes found me, confusion evident in their expressions.

"I'm not going back to Umbrathia." The words felt like stones in my throat, but I forced them out. "Not yet."

"What?" Vexa's brow furrowed.

"I have to return to Sídhe." I looked at each one of them individually. "If we want any chance of winning this war against the King, we need to start by unraveling the lies he's woven throughout the Isle."

"You want to go back?" Effie's voice carried disbelief. "After everything that's happened?"

"That's suicide," Theron cut in. "You can't just walk back into?—"

I pulled out the compacts Raven had given me, turning them over in my hands. "I have friends there—contacts. People who might listen." I held up the mirrors. "People who could help us expose the truth. People on the inside ."

Aether stepped towards me, his eyes burning. "This was not a part of the plan," he nearly growled.

Dannika rounded his side. "Your Grace, I'm afraid we cannot allow you to do that, as noble as it sounds."

I took a careful step back. "There are blood oaths. Sworn by anyone who enters the Guard. They keep everyone within it muzzled, unable to speak about anything that happens in the West. As long as they stay in-tact, we'll be facing an army of thousands every time we go across the rip." I scanned the group, determination set in my tone. "And now they have an advantage we didn't plan for. The breathing tonics."

Aether's gaze shifted from burning rage to slight consideration, but he still crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at me with narrowed eyes .

"Respectfully, Dannika. I'm not asking for your permission. I'm telling you what I'm doing. And if anyone tries to stop me?—"

"Fine," Aether growled, and something sliced through me. I opened my mouth, and closed it.

"You can't be serious…" Tamir managed, peeking out from behind Dannika.

Theron stepped forward. "She's the future of our realm, this is a ridiculous idea."

"She also no longer answers to us. To Dannika or Urkin." Aether's eyes locked onto mine, and although I could tell he was not overjoyed by my sudden announcement, understanding flickered across them. "If this is what she wants, then none of us can stop her." He paused, coming to stand beside me. "But I'm going with you."

Murmurs ran through the rest of the group as I turned to him. "Are you sure?" I asked.

"I already told you." His voice was low, dangerous. "I'm with you. Always."