Page 7 of Of Stars and Lightning (Sun and Shadows #1)

Four

SHE WAS THEIR QUEEN

THE STRANGERS DECIDED to only answer two of the myriad of questions Sol asked on their walk back to the Hound.

The first response was confirmation the four of them were Light Magic Wielders.

To Sol’s annoyance, they didn’t provide further information on the topic.

The second one was that the Mind Slayer they encountered had been a startling anomaly.

Sol asked if the Jinn lived amongst them and if the human race, as a collective, was just ignorant, which prompted a laugh from Nina before she responded.

The Earth Caller explained that Jinn were typically confined to their island, a lonely, deserted piece of land off the coast of Rimemere, where the sinister gate to their world lingered. Alix added they also typically dwelled around Rimemere, drawn to its magic.

Sawyer commented that the Jinn were now being found all over Erriadin, from the Lower kinds all the way to the Mind Slayers, which was apparently the branch of Jinn no one enjoyed encountering.

With each kernel of information, Sol’s nausea increased. They were almost to the Hound when she dared ask a final question, her chest in knots.

“Why are the Mind Slayers the worst ones? Aren't they all bad?”

They stopped at the beginning of the dusty, cobblestone walkway, the candlelight from within the guest rooms illuminating their path.

Alix’s face tensed, his sharp features outlined amber from the reflections. “They are experts in deception and illusions and can mess with the mind. The other Lower ones aren’t as cunning.”

“Not only that,” Sawyer added, tossing her braid over her shoulder. “They enjoy making their victims suffer. The more confused and terrified they are, the better. Sick bastards.” Sol’s stomach dropped.

The Fire Wielder frowned in response. “Please don’t throw up again.”

Sol bypassed the group to place her forehead on the double doors, inhaling the woody scent until her dizziness subsided. These creatures were all over Erriadin. We’re here, in Yavenharrow, where Leo and Lora and all her people lived.

The thought jolted her back to the present.

She shoved the doors open, remembering her aunt was meant to meet her inside. If Lora had been outside during the attack, if she had somehow gotten caught in the crossfire—

Her aunt rose from a worn leather loveseat, a mug in one hand and book in the other. She blinked her lovely brown eyes causing wrinkles of age to crease her forehead as she examined what Sol could only assume was her appearance.

Lora said, “Gods, what is that all over you, Sol?”

Sol ran and crushed her in a hug. Lora was almost a foot shorter and comfortably plump, a combination that made her endlessly popular and approachable. More than that, though, it made her very soothing.

Sol dropped her head on her aunt’s shoulder and sunk into her warmth. “Lora, are you okay? Did you hear what happened? Did you see it?” Her voice was frantic and laced with panic.

Lora patted her back. “Hear what, dear?”

Before Sol could spill the night's horrors, her aunt chuckled beneath her. “You four were supposed to wait for me.”

Footsteps sounded behind her as the Wielders walked into the Hound, chairs scraping across the floor’s wooden panels as they presumably sat.

“We thought we had it handled,” Alix mused. “But then she decided to run.”

Sol whirled around, lips pursed and mind racing. “I don’t think my reaction was inappropriate.”

Her aunt patted her back. “We taught her well to be wary of strangers.”

Sol looked from person to person, from Nina’s assessing gaze to Cas rolling his arm as if in pain. Sawyer had her feet on a table, and she tugged at her braid with a bored look.

Sol took a deep inhale and pushed aside her fear and anxiety, facing the strangers as she stepped in front of Lora. “Someone better explain what’s going on.”

She wondered if, instead of a nightmare, the day’s events were an elaborate joke.

It could be a trick of sorts; festival magicians could do as much. Sol had seen it herself during the solstice and equinox celebrations, when foreign psychics and people who claimed to have magic would charge almost a whole day’s pay to showcase their mirages. This could be that.

With that idea in mind, the panic subsided slightly, and Sol slid her attention to Lora. “Is this a joke?”

As if considering her answer, Lora angled her head and looked toward the peeling wallpaper along the ceiling.

“Children, it’s late,” her aunt said finally, leaving Sol standing alone while she neared the Wielders. The four of them gave her gentle smiles, even Sawyer, whom Sol had only seen scowl. “Head on up to the rooms, I’m sure Sol’s boss won't mind you all taking two for the night.”

Sol frowned, bracing her hands on her hips. “Lora—”

“Sol and I," her aunt cast her a glare, “will be going home where I will explain things. We will regroup here tomorrow.”

Besides the fact Keelin would bite her head off for letting people into guest rooms without consulting him, Sol also didn’t want to leave. She wanted answers.

Quickly.

“I’m not going anywhere until someone tells me what’s happening,” she said, frustration rising. “I deserve an explanation, after almost dying and all.”

“You almost died because you decided to jump into the Helian Ocean,” Sawyer remarked.

Nina, who had been admiring a small firelight atop the mahogany table, gasped. “Sawyer!”

“That was his fault,” Sol scoffed, pointing at Cas, who narrowed his eyes at her. “For his size, he toppled over quite easily.”

“Children,” Lora warned, turning back to face Sol. Her aunt’s eyes gleamed in the firelight. “Enough. Sol, show them to their rooms, then meet me outside.” After sensing her hesitation, Lora added, “They won't bite.”

Sol crossed her arms. “Not until I’m told who they are.”

It was Nina who stepped forward, an apologetic smile on her face. “You are correct. We didn’t introduce ourselves.”

She nudged Sawyer forward. “My name is Nina. This here is Sawyer. The man you apparently almost drowned—impressive, by the way—is Cas. And lastly,” she wrapped an arm around the bronze-skinned man who smiled down at her—"is Alix. We can’t give you our full names due to…

well, Wielder laws, but these are what we go by. ”

Lora sighed and sat on a chair to the right, plopping her head on her palm. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you to wait, Sol.”

But Sol ignored her, foot tapping on the wooden floor. “And you all broke into my place of work because?”

“Because, like I said in the alley, we are here for you.”

Sol cut her gaze to Cas. “What could you possibly want with me?”

“Your mother, Sol,” Lora said, tapping her nails on the table. “The stories she told you weren’t myths. They were memories, things she lived through.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, Sol, your mother was from Rimemere. And so are they.”

All five pairs of eyes watched her, surveying her reaction.

The silence was only filled by the soft patter of rain that had once again started, while the occasional flash of lightning illuminated the shadows dancing along the walls.

Through the open doors, the soft scent of a patchy rose-and-lily garden blew in with a cool breeze.

Sol didn’t know if the sudden chill was from said breeze, or from the words her aunt had spoken.

Sol narrowed her eyes. “You expect me to believe that?”

“After seeing us literally fight creatures from the Void itself with our magic, you still don’t?” Sawyer asked, standing. “I can toss a ball of fire your way if that helps.”

Her face tensing, Nina glared at the woman. “Sawyer.”

Sawyer wasn’t wrong, to Sol’s annoyance. She had been so mesmerized by their magic out there, but then on their walk became progressively suspicious. There was no way. There was just no conceivable way.

So, Sol said, “Sure. Do it.”

Nina looked horrified, but Lora laughed, then said to no one in particular, “She has some trust issues.”

“Do not toss a fireball her way, Sawyer,” Cas warned with a glare. He stood at the edge of their group but slowly inched closer, as if ready to subdue her.

“Relax, Cassie.” Sawyer rolled her eyes and stepped forward, walking to Sol.

As she neared, the space seemed to heat, the fireplace and candles themselves flaring. Sol was a few inches taller than Sawyer, but it still felt like she had to look up at her as they stood face-to-face.

One of the stories her mother told was about how each Wielder was gifted their magic.

Often, both of their parents had magic. At fifteen, children would undergo a ritual to see which side of their bloodline would pass on to them, to see which god would bless them, if at all.

Sol had always marveled at the fact that typically the child’s personality mirrored their element.

Fire Wielders were hot-headed, Water Dancers calm.

Earth Callers were level-headed, Air Singers a bit of it all.

Looking at Sawyer now, that story didn’t seem as unbelievable. The woman smiled at Sol, but not kindly. Sol held her stare and prayed to the gods she looked more confident than she felt.

“Although you look nothing like me, I can see how we are related, I suppose,” Sawyer whispered. Then, with a flick of her fingertips, she sent a string of fire Sol’s way.

Sol braced for the singe, almost craving the physical confirmation it was real, but a shimmering wall of violet static erupted in front of her face, causing the flames to disperse with a puff of smoke.

Sawyer huffed. “You’re no fun, Cassie.”

The violet static vanished. Sol watched the rays disintegrate before her eyes, then cut her gaze to Cas. His hands were wrapped by purple lightning. “Do not burn our Princess on our first meeting.”

Sol looked from him to Sawyer.

Although you look nothing like me, I can see how we are related, I suppose.

Then back to Cas.

Do not burn our Princess on our first meeting.

Okay.

“You all can take rooms 54B and 53A. Keys are in the drawer behind the bar. If anyone asks, you’re Lora’s guests. Not mine.”

Without waiting for responses, Sol strode past them, shouldered the half-open doors into a swing, and took an inhale of the cold night air before bending over to steady herself. She vaguely heard the Wielders attempt to follow, saying something about the Jinn and the dangers of being alone.

But not even the fear of being out alone in an apparently Jinn-infested world fazed her at that moment, not as the revelations swirled in her mind, weaving through every story and too-vivid folklore her mother had told her.

She dragged herself forward, forcefully taking in bits of air so she wouldn't faint.

Sol felt all synonyms for stupid.

She should've connected it. Her mother had described the Rimemere waters, how the castles gleamed in the sunlight that seemed to always be a shade of lilac…she should've known the stories were real.

A soft clicking beside her gave away Lora's presence. “We didn't tell you for many reasons, Sol.”

Sol tried replying, but her tongue was useless as she simply continued with one foot in front of the other, starting her two-mile journey home.

The taverns continued their songs, louder and more erratic than usual as midnight approached.

Had they not heard the commotion? Had it only been her world that seemed to unfurl at the seams?

“If it’s any consolation, I knew nothing of their world either until I married your uncle Axel,” Lora continued.

Sol kept walking but tentatively slid her in a silent beckon to proceed.

“I lived in Hilarcliff at the time. It was closer to the Driodell forest where most of the healing herbs grew. Axel came to see me there and begged me to travel to Rimemere to heal his sick sister.”

“My mom?”

Lora shook her head. “Your aunt, Melanese.” Slowly, she looked back toward the Hound, then returned her attention to Sol.

“Sawyer’s mother.” At that, Sol halted.

Lora sighed. “She’s Mel’s only daughter, your cousin, and the only other Yarrow still alive, besides you.”

“Sawyer is my cousin?” Sol said slowly, more to herself.

Family.

More family.

Despite the inner battle, Sol glanced back to the Hound as well.

“I traveled with Axel to Rimemere, despite me not believing it even existed to begin with,” Lora continued, chuckling softly. “And the rest…well, you know the rest.”

Sol turned back to face her. “And did you?”

“Did I what?”

“Heal her.”

Lora peered over her shoulder as she guided Sol forward, the moonlight outlining her aged features in silver. Her eyes saddened slightly. “Only for a little while.”

They neared their cottage now, its familiar outline a spot of comfort in the sudden sea of unknown. The sound of their steps resounded in the night, and a wind rustled Sol’s unbound hair. As they reached the pathway into their home, still achingly cold with her mother gone, Sol paused.

She blinked a few times and asked, “Why did that man call me Princess? I may not know him, but he doesn’t seem like the type to be sweet.”

“Who? Cas?”

Sol shrugged. “I think.”

Lora laughed, the sound easing the knots in Sol’s stomach ever so slightly. “No, that boy is quite the opposite of his father.”

Her aunt’s smile faded as she grasped Sol’s hands. Sol studied the amber specs within her eyes as Lora said, “He said what he did because your mother wasn’t just from Rimemere. She was their queen.”