Page 17

Chapter 17

The Healing Pool

N ot here , the bird had whispered to her.

Its blue eyes stayed with her as everything turned black. She’d felt her goddess’ power, the ecstasy in her body overwhelming as she reveled in the way she connected with the great willow: the depths of its roots, the roughness of its bark, the life in its veins.

Distant and faint, her goddess’ heartbeat had made itself known to her, if only for a moment.

She’d sought the compass’ location, only to be told it wasn’t in the great willow. And then, she’d been given pain beyond anything she’d experienced before.

The price for life will always be pain.

It’d been a gift to have been shown the tree, a true miracle to have heard her goddess’ heartbeat after days of silence. But now that she couldn’t hear it anymore, couldn’t feel the life around her—the silence was deafening.

Sylzenya.

A voice called out to her. It sounded warm: familiar.

Sylzenya.

She liked the voice—wanted to drink it in.

“Sylzenya.”

She flickered her eyes open, the blue irises of the bird disappearing as she looked into a pair of pale green eyes lined with dark lashes. Thick black hair tucked behind an ear revealed an array of gold hoops. A strong, sharp jaw and chin, some dark stubble dotting his tan skin, and a look of concern that caused her heart to falter.

“Elnok?” she whispered.

He cursed. “I’m taking you to that healing pool.”

The world’s weight lifted from her body as he carried her in his arms. Suddenly her back erupted with pain.

“Wait,” she whispered, her voice hoarse, “No one can see me like this.”

“Your reputation is safe with me.”

“ Elnok ,” she begged, “It isn’t safe?—”

“Says the woman bleeding out on me.”

She had nothing to counter with as he rushed her out of the altar room.

“Tuck your head into my chest. It’ll make for a less bumpy ride,” he instructed.

Sylzenya obeyed, curling her fingers and bunching his tunic into her hand. Worn leather and earthy musk filled her senses, his scent calming despite the pain piercing her back.

Voices echoed in the hallway.

“Hold on,” he whispered.

She clung to him as he maneuvered into and through the grove of willows. Swift movements swept a fresh breeze into her face. His muscles flexed, strong and precise, as if he’d done this thousands of times.

“We’re here.”

A door creaked open and the familiar smell of rosewater assaulted her, the steam falling on her face as they entered the room.

“The Kreenas and acolytes will be resting today, so they won’t be using the pool,” she said.

Clothes still on, he carried her into the pool. She gritted her teeth as the water met her back. Sharp pain followed by a numbing sensation had her moan with relief. Elnok gently moved a few loose strands of hair from her face, tucking them behind her ear. His chest heaved against her head, and she realized she was still nestled into him, her hand clutching his tunic for dear life.

She could move.

But she didn’t.

“You broke your promise,” he said, voice low.

“What promise?” she asked.

“Staying in one piece.”

Her heart fluttered. “Was Prince Elnok of Vutror worried for me?”

His eyes studied her face. “You think I wouldn’t be?”

Sylzenya’s breath caught in her lungs. Suddenly, everything felt close… alive . She could feel his his heart beating against his chest—how it mirrored her own. Calloused fingers swept another strand of hair behind her ear, his skin against hers a sweet warmth that somehow gave her chills.

“What happened to your magic, Sylzenya?” he whispered.

Sylzenya licked her chapped lips, his eyes staring at her mouth as she did. He’d told her about his friend’s sickness, and he’d saved her from dying on the altar room floor. If anything, she was glad he asked; she wanted to share it with him.

“It’s custom that during one’s final ceremonial rite before becoming a Kreena, a member of the household mimics our goddess’ power and uses a branch to carve into our cut.”

She stopped, words turning into molasses in her mouth.

But he didn’t push. He waited patiently, his fingers tightening around her legs.

“I hadn’t seen my father or mother in ten years, as is custom.” Her lower lip quivered. “I was a foolish child; I despised my power, only wanting a life with them in it.”

“It’s never foolish for a child to yearn for their parents.”

Her heart fluttered. “My people would highly disagree.”

“Do you?”

She let herself lean further into him. “It doesn’t matter anymore, because my father secretly coated his branch with orodyte serum and poisoned me with it.”

Elnok tensed. “The same substance in your orodytes? Used to strengthen Dynami weapons? It… poisons you?”

“Yes,” she replied, “Not killing me, obviously, but it takes away my power. It can take away a Dynami’s power as well. It’s considered an act of violence against our goddess to use it on one of us.”

He furrowed his brows, “I’m sorry, Sylzenya.”

She meant to reply, help him not feel sorry for her, but he didn’t stare at her in pity; he stared at her in understanding. A tight knot in her chest loosened, a swell of relief rising in her body.

“Not having my connection with Aretta… There’s an emptiness inside me. I used to feel how the earth moved; the way the roots connected to one another underneath my feet; the soft lull of leaves in the breeze; the thrum of my goddess’ heart. But now… I feel nothing. Hear nothing. Like a part of myself is missing.”

She looked up. Surprise lit her chest as Elnok’s eyes turned glassy.

“We’ll find the compass,” he said softly, “and we’ll find the tree. I promise.”

Gulping, she let a tear fall down her face. Warm skin brushed against her cheek, his thumb catching the tear, slowly wiping it away. The pool’s glow lit up his face, brightening his features and casting shadows with beautiful, sharp edges.

“Elnok…” she whispered, moving her hand up his chest, grazing her fingers along his collarbone.

His body shuddered.

Heat rushing into her face, she quickly pulled her hand away, turning towards the water.

He’d been indignant when they’d first met, someone she wished to be rid of. Gods, he’d even blackmailed her only two nights ago. But somewhere in between then and now, something had changed. Maybe it was his interest in their people’s history, or the way he had become a steady support while everything around her crumbled; saving her life .

To feel seen—to see him in return. She couldn’t help but admire the way he cared for his friend, so much so that he was risking a life in Estea’s dungeons to find a cure. He was devious, but he was courageous, and yet she knew there was more to discover.

And she wanted to know more.

Cursing herself, she tried to pull herself together. But then he whispered her name. Heat rose in her body. She shouldn’t— couldn’t ?—

But then his forehead gently met hers. Air escaping her lungs, she found herself melting into him, needing his warmth just as much as she needed the healing waters.

“It’s beautiful in here,” he whispered, “Peaceful.”

Sylzenya hummed in agreement, a bright warmth consuming her chest. “These waters have been a sanctuar–”.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Aretta’s hearbeat. It was faint, barely audible just like at the great willow tree, and yet somehow there.

“Sylzenya?” Elnok asked, leaning back, putting her down. “Are you alright?”

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Realization consumed her, eyes widening at the pool’s glow.

“I know where the compass is.”

Elnok blinked, “What?”

She turned, pointing to the pool’s tiles. The tiles shaped like a willow. She grabbed him, swimming to the center of the pool, the glow brightening.

“Sylzenya—”

“Elnok, why are you seeking Aretta’s tree?”

“What?”

“Answer the question.”

“You already know why.”

“ Elnok. ”

He scoffed. “Gods, alright, to heal Orym…”

He paused.

She nodded, because she could see it in his eyes—he understood too.

“You think the compass is crafted into the pool somehow, and that’s why it has healing properties. But, you said the vision talked of it being within a willow?”

Sylzenya smiled. “It is, just not the kind we thought.”

Warmth wrapped around the cold of her face as she dunked her head underneath the water. Ears popping multiple times, they dove to the deepest part of the pool, Sylzenya's back no longer in pain. The tiles were a blurry glow in the water, but she could still see the general shape.

A willow tree.

The glow originated at the tree’s trunk.

Elnok followed her as she scraped her nail along the glowing object stuck in the floor. It was too bright to tell, but she could feel it reverberate through her skin as she touched it. It had to be the compass. She dug her fingers into its sides, loosening it from the floor.

Suddenly, something slimy brushed her leg. She twisted, but saw nothing. Elnok was on the opposite side of her, so it couldn’t have been him. She shook her head. No fish lived in this pool. More than likely, she was still recovering from the great willow: hallucinating. As she turned back, Elnok successfully popped the object out of the tile.

Confusion pulled at her chest as a black liquid dispersed from the tiles. Elnok batted it away as he shot up to the surface. She followed his lead, the black substance must’ve been algae built up from centuries.

“Well?” Sylzenya said as she reached the surface, “Is it the compa?—?”

Fingers wrapped around her throat, slamming her into the side of the pool. All the air rushed out of her lungs, her back erupting in pain as she yelled. Panic rushed through her body like dark adrenaline as she clawed at the hand tightening around her neck.

“Why, human, are you immune to my toxins?” a gravelly voice echoed in her ears.

Choking, Sylzenya peeled her eyes open, terror lighting her stomach as Elnok’s green eyes pierced hers; his arm muscles pulsed as his grip on her throat tightened.

“El— El—” she tried.

He tilted his head. Confusion pulled at every corner of her mind.

“Centuries have passed, and yet no one has been immune. Why you?” he asked, the gravelly voice nothing like Elnok’s.

Was this the plan all along? Find the compass and then… dispose of her?

“Answer me, human!”

Human?

Something was wrong.

The Dynameis who approached her and Nyla the day of the banquet—Marlo and Westley. They’d talked about a monster in a pond… what had they droned on about? An icurus? An icythanthium?

Ichthys.

Elnok’s green eyes disappeared, clouding with white and black mist.

The ichthys secretes a toxin into the water, and you don’t even have to drink it to be infected. If it gets in your mouth, eyes, what have you, then the ichthys has control over your whole self. Mind, body—even soul.

No, it wasn’t possible.

Monsters lived in the forest, not in Estea.

“Answer or you die!”

“I— I don’t know—” she choked.

“Worthless pieces of fecal matter,” he hissed.

She sucked in as much air as she could, still clawing at his hands, digging into his flesh, his blood dripping into the water.

“Are you—” she said, “Are you an ichthys?”

“You know my species,” it grated. “Is that how you’re able to withstand my poison?”

She shook at its response. So it was true: a monster lived in the temple.

And it had Elnok under its control.

“Please, let us go,” she begged. “We just need the compass and we’ll be gone.”

“I’ve been this object’s guardian for centuries. I’ve done as I’ve been told—stayed hidden, misdirected as needed—but then you come along and refuse to obey my demands. And now you think I’m going to let a small insignificant human take my treasure from me ?” His grip tightened further as he unsheathed a dagger and held it to her throat. The sharp tip dug into her skin, a warm drop of blood dripping down her neck. “Now tell me your secrets so I may prevent this from happening again.”

“ Elnok. ” She yelled as loud as she could.

The dagger dug deeper.

“Cease your incessant yelling?—”

Suddenly its grip loosened, the dagger slipping from its fingers. Sylzenya grabbed the dagger, swimming away, breaths rapidly coursing through her lungs.

Elnok started coughing, dragging himself out of the pool before he dry heaved.

“ This godsforsaken male !” it yelled, “ What’s the meaning of you two?”

Then, Elnok puked.

She called his name, but then she felt slimy scales brush her leg. Heart pounding, and knuckles white around the dagger, Sylzenya swam towards the edge of the pool. But, before she reached the side, a body of scales crashed into her. Water filled her mouth as she was pushed under.

A large iridescent fish without eyes or fins floated above her. Mouth open, it exposed rows and rows of sharp teeth.

The ichthys darted for her.

A giant splash from above, then Elnok was wrangling the ichthys with his bare hands. Sylzenya shot up to the surface, gulping fresh air.

She frantically splashed, uncertain how she could help. She didn’t have brute strength or special skills to defeat a monster. Dynameis knew particular tactics for each creature in the forest, but she only knew the basics, and besides, she was powerless . If she was to kill it, then she needed a Vutrorian weapon and orodyte serum.

Realization washed over her. She checked Elnok’s dagger. It carried the Vutrorian flag’s symbol.

Please let this work.

She sliced Elnok’s dagger across her palm, coating the blade in her blood. Counting the seconds and holding her breath, she waited, hoping Elnok wasn’t dead.

The dagger glowed a bright yellow.

Taking a deep breath, she dove under. Elnok was pinned against the wall, wrestling the monster’s jaws open, his muscles pulsing and air bubbles leaving his mouth as he kept the ichthys from biting into his flesh.

Gills flashed under the monster’s belly. If what she remembered was correct, that’s the part she needed to slice with her weapon. Elnok’s yell rumbled in the water, bubbles leaving his mouth, the icthys’ teeth close to his neck. Muscles clenched, she attacked the creature, wrenching the dagger clean through its exposed gills.

A bubbling screech echoed in the water. Elnok yanked its jaws open until it cracked. He pushed the creature away as she pulled the dagger out of its scaly flesh. It drifted to the floor, lifeless, its iridescent scales mirroring the ground, turning it invisible.

As if it had never existed.

They pushed to the surface, gasping for air as they collapsed onto the marble floor.

“Are you alright?” Elnok breathed, grabbing her shoulders. “What was that? Did you kill it? Did it hurt you?”

Sylzenya grabbed onto his arms, eyes widening at his marred skin. She quickly let him go in fear of causing him more pain.

“Your dagger was of Vutrorian make,” she gasped, holding it up, the steel still glowing a bright yellow, “And I carry orodyte serum in my blood.”

His brows raised, eyes wide. “You’re brilliant.”

Her face flushed. “If you hadn’t held it down, I wouldn’t have found its gills.”

“And what exactly was it?”

“An ichthys. It… it shouldn’t be here, but,” she choked on her words, heart battering against her chest, “Where’s the compass?”

They made their way to the spot where Elnok had emptied his stomach. Relief washed through her as she picked up the object, its gold casing just like it had been in the vision. A thin glowing piece of bark sat in its center, pointing south.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Her goddess’ heartbeat—it was in the compass to Aretta’s Willow.

Triumph lit Sylzenya’s chest as she turned to Elnok. “We need to tell the High One.”