Page 35 of Mountains of Mist and Magic (A World of Sun and Shadow #4)

R enya watched as Beauty took to the sky, soaring high above the ship, sometimes disappearing into the clouds before reappearing a hundred feet away . She seems to be having the time of her life , Renya thought, watching her dive straight into the ocean and then emerge with a mouthful of fish.

The sight of the fish and the smell of the sea nearly made Renya vomit again. But she was determined to stay up with Grayden and keep watch, even though he protested the entire time.

“Our baby needs you to sleep,” he begged from behind the wheel of the ship.

“She’s fine,” Renya said, rubbing her small belly.

“What makes you so sure she’s a girl?”

“I just know.”

Grayden sighed. “I really wish you’d listen to me sometimes. I worry about you constantly. I worry for your health, your safety…and now there’s two of you to fret about.”

Renya walked up behind him and put her hands around his waist. “You can’t worry about us all the time, Grayden. Life is going to pass you by, and instead of good memories all you will have is worries.”

He let go of the wheel with one hand and reached down to stroke her fingers resting against his middle. He toyed with the ring on her finger, breathing deeply. “When I gave you this ring, it was a promise to you. I won’t ever stop keeping you safe. Keeping you loved. Warm. Nourished.”

“You make me sound like a pet,” she scoffed, and he laughed. She missed the sound of his chuckle. She hadn’t heard it much since their honeymoon.

“I hate to interrupt,” a voice came from the shadows, but Renya recognized it immediately.

“What is it, Father?”

Cyrus walked closer to the couple, and for the first time, Renya noticed how slowly he was walking. He’d never looked frail before, but at that moment, she realized that he was aging, far more rapidly than he should be. She wondered if it was the constant use of his magic, or from his time in the human world.

“We need to discuss your mother.”

Renya gnashed her teeth. “What about her?”

“I don’t think we can do this without her.”

Renya groaned. “I know. That’s why we’ve brought her along.”

“It’s more than that. I think at some point, we’re going to have to trust her. Give her some freedom. I’m sure you witnessed it, but tonight she saved Sion and Selenia. I have no doubt that without her interference, they would have been lost to us. And I don’t think my powers would have been enough to do anything else.”

Renya chewed the inside of her cheek. She hated the thought of allowing Cressida any amount of freedom, but she had saved them all. No one wanted to discuss her involvement, but it was a fact.

“I’m nervous about the required payment she mentioned, too.” Her eyes returned to Beauty, watching her glide gracefully above the water.

“It’ll be okay,” Cyrus said, and Renya was comforted by his words.

At that moment, Brutus descended from the clouds, landing on the deck with a loud lurch. Cressida was upon his back, looking at them expectantly.

“What do you want?” Renya asked, finally addressing her and allowing the magic binding her tongue to lift.

“Food and water, for one,” she grumbled, able to communicate but still bound to the dragon.

Renya sighed, but before she could move, Grayden touched her shoulder gently and then left the upper deck to go get food and water.

“Your friends are safe,” Cressida said, looking at Renya.

“What do you expect from me? A hardy thank you and a handshake? Saving them was what any decent person would do.” Renya crossed her arms in front of her chest and tapped her foot, urging Grayden through their bond to return quickly so her mother could stuff her mouth with food instead of words.

“I could have let them die. But I did not. See how I prove my worth?” Her violet eyes rose with unbridled amusement, almost as if she was baiting Renya for an argument.

“Cressy, just because you can speak doesn’t mean you should,” Cyrus said, sitting down on a barrel next to Renya.

Cressida’s eyes narrowed, watching the old man intently for a few seconds. “Cyrus…you’re…aging.”

“Not the best compliment you’ve given me,” he said, chuckling and wiping his glasses clean using the corner of his vermillion cape.

“It’s…unsettling.”

It was the first time she seemed to acknowledge any kind of feeling towards Cyrus, and Renya instantly picked up on it. Cyrus did, too.

“Awww, so sweet of you to worry over me,” he said, his eyes sparkling despite the darkness of the sky and the lack of light on the ship’s deck. “And here I thought our love affair was over.”

Cressida just sneered and looked at the horizon for a few seconds. Then, she spoke again. “I hope you have enough magic in store for the trials.”

Renya’s ears pricked up immediately. “What of the trials? What do you know?”

“More than I’ve told,” she said simply.

Before she knew what she was doing, Renya had her knife in her hand and as if from nowhere, hot sparks of golden magic rose up before her like a small staircase, lifting her to eye level with her mother. She held the dagger against her mother's throat.

Cressida chortled. “Do you really think you’ll ever be able to do it, daughter? Murder your own mother?”

Renya’s dagger pierced the skin above the hollow of Cressida’s throat. Blood welled from the very tip of the blade. “Let’s find out, shall we?”

No, Little Fawn.

Grayden’s voice sounded in her head. She turned slightly to see him reappearing from the small stairwell.

Just let me do it.

You can’t let her goad you.

“Cressida, stop this madness. If you know more than you’re saying, tell us now.” Her father’s voice was firm, and Renya’s resolve weakened as she lowered her weapon. The magical web of strands creating the staircase seemed to disappear slowly back into the air, lowering Renya to the ground.

That was quite a show of magic

I don’t know what happened. We’ll talk about it later.

They both turned their attention back to Cressida.

“Out with it, Cressy. Or I will let our daughter finish you off.”

Her saccharine smile returned. “A few years ago I found a text referencing a children’s fable. An enchanting tale. Would you like to hear it?”

“Stop with these games!” Grayden exclaimed.

“Cressy, get to your point before the point of Renya’s blade rests within your cold, black heart.”

“I’m getting there, I promise.” Her eyes shone with excitement, and Renya could practically feel her giddiness.

“What do they say? Oh yes…once upon a time, in a land far away, three young creatures—a brave deer, a clever fox, and a selfless bear—set out to find a legendary flower that could bring peace to their troubled land. Their journey led them to a dark cave where the deer faced his fear of the dark and emerged victorious, proving his courage. Next, the friends encountered an ancient owl who presented the fox with a series of riddles, which she solved with her quick wit, showcasing her wisdom. Finally, they found the flower guarded by a Tygre who said it could only be taken if one of them gave up something precious. The bear, with a heavy heart, offered his favorite honey jar, showing his willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. With the flower in hand, the friends returned home, their land blooming with peace and harmony, a testament to their courage, wisdom, and sacrifice.”

“What does this have to do with anything?” Renya said, her temper once again rising to the surface.

“What if I told you that I found this tale within an ancient diary, the first of its kind, buried next to the Sun Realm Scrolls?”

“You mean it’s from the first fae?” Cyrus looked at Cressida, and Renya could tell that her father’s interest had suddenly peaked.

“Exactly that!” Cressida’s body practically shook with the excitement of it. “I think it’s a clue left behind from the Gods. I think it tells of how to break whatever spell is binding our magic, and I think it alludes to the trials we’ll face on the mountain.”

Renya recounted the story again in her head…a rabbit, a fox and a bear? No, wait. Not a rabbit, a deer. Could this really be a hidden clue? It seemed impossible, but so many things she never dreamed could happen had come to pass…

“What was it Kalora said? About the God of the Sun being in love with the first fae of the Sun Realm?” Grayden stroked his chin, looking at Renya for confirmation.

“You’re right, Grayden! Kalora said that the Sun God left secrets with her on how to bring back the magic in hopes they could be reunited!” This time, Renya’s excitement matched Cressida’s.

“You see? I think we’re on the right track,” Cressida replied, and her face lit up with more force than the sum of Renya’s powerful magic.