Page 93 of To Free a Soul (Duskwalker Beginnings #2)

A time unknown, but of uncertain change

“I’d say things went considerably well,” Weldir mused, as he watched his mate land outside her little hut.

Her snowy owl form was like a bright beacon in the dark and haunted Veil. Folding away her wings, she pushed back her hood to reveal her tangled and unkempt curls – the evidence of being locked in battle and surviving it.

“That was anxiety inducing and horrible,” she answered with her bottom lip pouting forward. “You weren’t there when we fought Jabez, and having to watch each of my sons’ brides be murdered while protecting Emerie was sickening. Poor Reia was targeted first.”

“I did assist.”

“Yeah, with a portal and letting me use your magic.”

“There are challenges in being able to do nothing – I couldn’t even watch.

” Weldir leaned back to gaze at Tenebris’ blue sky while situated in the clearing on top of his favourite mountain – that led to his cave of memories.

“But Emerie was able to be returned, and now Ingram has his own bride. Aleron liked her, from what I can tell.”

Currently his bat-skulled offspring was getting to know Emerie’s brother, Gideon. He’d decided to leave them be, hoping they’d find companionship within his realm.

He didn’t inform Lindiwe about this new situation. Even if they want to bond, they cannot do so here. And he couldn’t give them life; he had no such ability.

Why let her know of that sad news?

“I’m so overjoyed that things turned out the way they did,” she said, right as little tears welled in her eyes. The smile present on her face had to be of relief. “It made everything worth it.”

“Hmm. Maybe. I have yet to find Jabez’s soul,” Weldir stated absentmindedly as he felt a shift in energy.

It’d been happening for a while. Something was changing outside his prism, and he wasn’t quite sure what. Only that there was movement, and Leyfr’s vines weren’t throbbing as much as they did before.

“Ugh. Really? You couldn’t let me have just a moment of happiness over what we achieved?”

“My apologies. I was merely stating the truth. He could have teleported away at the last second.”

“I know,” she grumbled, as she pushed open the door to her home. Lindiwe immediately fell onto her bed on her front and sprawled out. “I feel like I could sleep for an eternity. I slept in your realm, but I’m still so emotionally worn out.”

“Rest. For now, things are calm. Even if Jabez is still out there, he’ll be injured at the very least. There is little he’ll be able to do until he finishes licking his wounds.”

He wasn’t even finished speaking before he heard a soft snore, and humour shimmered through his mist. She’s fallen asleep. Their young offspring climbed out from within her cloak, and one nestled up into the crook of her neck, while the other tucked themselves between her arm and side.

Weldir had held onto them when she went into battle, keeping them safe and entirely out of harm’s way. He’d enjoyed their company, even if they’d been asleep the entire time.

Watching his mate rest peacefully for the first time in over a year, Weldir tried to gauge what was happening outside his prism.

The only thing that made sense was... I think.

.. my mother has finally woken. Not just a peek open of her weary eyelids and then back to sleep, but fully awake.

Power surrounded him, even if Leyfr’s vines had softened in their pulses.

The power was weak, but he wondered if it was hers he was sensing.

What else could it be? She must wake sooner or later. She must return to her station, especially after such a long time.

His mother had nearly died. Coming back from such a brink, where she teetered on the edge of everlasting death, was difficult for a deity. And the more power they had to start with, the longer it took. The more damage it did.

He’d spent half a century slumbering like her due to Nathair, but his mana resources were nothing like the Gilded Maiden’s, who had such intense otherworldly strength it had literally leaked from her eyes as golden tears.

I’ve been feeling her stir for years. He lowered his gaze to look over the rolling meadows and beauty that was Tenebris. I have done as I promised.

He’d not taken life by his own mist, had not stolen souls from the living even though it would have benefited him and saved them much trouble. He guarded the many portals they’d placed, and he collected souls to take care of them within the realm of his stomach.

They must know all this.

They likely know of Lindiwe and my offspring by now as well, but technically I haven’t broken any rules. He was still unsure how they’d taken it, as none had come to reprimand him for it. Perhaps they are waiting for my patience to run out, or for Mother to be better restored.

Yet, as he brought his gaze back to his snoozing mate, he realised his patience was running out.

There was also something he wanted to do, and it was entirely selfless.

She has done enough for me, Weldir thought, as he watched her grab the offspring at her side, rotate and bring them up, and then cuddle them properly. She is discontent. I would like to provide her with a different option.

Even if that meant... losing her.

With a sadness shimmering through him, he sighed and crossed his legs to ponder with his chin on his fist. So, Mother, I’ll give you a little more time, and then I want my reward for all I have done.

A single tear shouldn’t be much to ask for.

Weldir was deeply concerned, and perhaps a touch mortified, when he discovered his winged offspring in the connective tunnel between his statues of all the Mavka in Austrális and his cave of intimacy revolving around his mate.

Even more so when he saw Aleron’s purple tongue down the brown-haired male’s throat.

“I considered not interrupting,” Weldir stated behind them, “but I’d rather you didn’t do this here.”

Aleron’s wings shot up as he pulled his tongue from Gideon and darted his skull in Weldir’s direction with a rumble.

Vexation collected his mist tighter against him, and he folded his arms to show his displeasure. “Little one, did you just snarl at me?”

“Leave us,” Aleron barked at him.

He considered teleporting him into the sky to punish him for his insolence. Or maybe he’d do it to the human, just to give him a fright.

“No, I don’t think I will.” He gestured towards the exit. “You both will quit trying to hump each other and leave this special place.”

At least the human saw sense and obeyed.

Thankful he’d interrupted them, and hoping they had gone no further or seen his memories of Lindiwe, he led them outside his cave.

I would have hidden the entrance had I known Aleron would find it and grow curious.

He had all of Tenebris to discover, so why be here in the one place Weldir didn’t want him?

Much time had passed – a month or so, Lindiwe had informed him. The twenty-ninth of May, in the year two thousand twenty-four. She always told him the date, as if he would have any idea how long it’d been when he asked so infrequently.

But this should be enough time for Almethrandra to have gained a little more strength. Enough that he didn’t feel so bad about sending this Mavka on a quest for him.

He, too, had slept during this time to give himself that little bit more mana. Especially as he’d destroyed three souls to make portals recently: one to take Lindiwe to Jabez’s castle, and the others to transport Ingram to and from his realm.

His mana had been low, and near the point of deep sleep. Luckily, he’d had just enough to do it all.

Now, he had to waste more, but at least it would solve this issue in the future. It’d be arduous, but so long as nothing happened in the interim, he should be able to handle it.

“What I need is for you to ask the Gilded Maiden for a single tear,” Weldir stated. “I have not been back to Nyl’theria since the Demons were brought to Earth, but I will try my best to transport you to Lezekos, the Elven city.”

He’d seen Nyl’theria once with the help Leyfr.

It had also been the last time he’d spoken to the Evergreen Servant after he’d crossed through Jabez’s portal and laid his mist there.

What the male deity didn’t know was that Weldir had left behind just a tiny cloud of mist in Nyl’theria in case he ever wanted access to it – he’d just never nurtured it.

Wisely so, as it was a sneaky forethought that was useful for this.

Aleron agreed – after some annoying questioning. However, apparently Gideon, his new companion, had to accompany him, since Aleron wouldn’t leave without him.

Seeing it was best just to give in, Weldir agreed.

What does it matter, so long as they achieve the goal?