Page 18 of Wind and Water (Reign of the Witch Queen #2)

Chapter Nine

Wren

O nce again on Jadar’s back, this time with a soft blanket between me and the centaur, I’m far more comfortable, but I wish there were a saddle. I can understand the strangeness of saddling a centaur.

My random thoughts continue as I busy my mind rather than think about what I can or cannot do to help save Momma.

“You should not worry so much.” Jadar gallops through the shallow water.

“How can you tell I’m worried? You’re facing away from me.” More confident, I only hold him at the waist. He’s wearing armor, so the ride is less embarrassing compared to the first time.

He slows as the water level deepens. “Your muscles tighten with the trending of your thoughts.”

My heels drag in the still waters of the lost land.

It’s not like Atlantis, as that mythical place is not visible, nor has anyone ever found proof of its existence.

In contrast, the lost lands are just under the surface of the sea.

Sand has covered whatever was here before the sinking, but there are places where the water is deeper or shallower, and even a few spots where there are sand bars.

“I was thinking that I don’t have the strength to save my mother from whatever evil holds her. ”

“You are wrong. You have been chosen by the old gods for the task of saving our world. Perhaps this is your first test. I have no doubt you will succeed.” He breaks into a gallop across a long stretch of sand.

“I wish I had your confidence.”

“I shall believe in you enough for both of us.” He turns his head and grins at me. His dark, handsome face and bright white smile could light any room he entered.

Who would have thought a centaur would be so charming?

Belloc gallops over with Liam on his back.

Liam’s gaze is intense. “Are you alright?”

“Fine. Worried. Fine.” Both are true, but I’m leaning toward the worried side.

Belloc says, “The water will get deep. The party will have to swim a short distance.”

“Can you swim, Wren?” Stress is etched on Liam’s handsome face.

More than that, I feel the tightness of his chest and the strain within him. I take a deep breath to push away the sense of his emotions. I grip Jadar tighter as my head feels light.

Both centaurs stop, and those behind us as well.

A shout goes out, and the centaurs riding ahead circle back with Corell at the lead.

Liam’s feet hit the water with a splash. A moment later, his hand is on my leg. “Wren? What is it?”

I clear my head and the mix of his fears and mine eases. “I’m sorry.” The army of centaurs watching me makes my cheeks heat. “I can swim.”

“You can hold on to me and I will pull you through,” Jadar promises.

Jaw ticking, Liam spares a glance at Jadar. He offers his arms to help me down. “If you need a moment, we can wait until you feel safe to ride.”

It’s a good idea, and I let him help me into the water. It’s cool but strange. The sand is soft but doesn’t go deep. Instead, I feel land beneath. “I’m alright.”

“Did you have a premonition?” Liam keeps his hand on my back as we walk a few feet away from the centaurs.

“No. It was you. I sensed your worry.” Lowering my voice to a whisper, I add, “Your jealousy. I felt the strain of being responsible for me and for my mother. It was as if our hearts were pounding together. I felt disoriented, as if I was looking through your eyes.”

“I’m not jealous,” he grumbles.

I look at him, knowing he’s lying.

“Perhaps a little, but I’m a grown man. I can control my wayward thoughts.” He places his hands on my shoulders and looks into my eyes. “I felt it too. A moment where my thoughts were mingled with yours.”

A million questions, none of which will help save Momma, fly into and out of my head. “It’s distracting and bad timing.”

“That much is certain. I will put up a block at least until we are ready to think about more than saving Birdie and getting to safety.” He looks a little sick as he closes his eyes.

As if the radio static has been shut off, I hear only my own thoughts again. It was not that I knew what he was thinking. No. It was more that his mind was static. Perhaps because I don’t know how to listen yet. I find myself grasping for that noise now that it’s gone. My heart sinks.

Walking me back to Jadar, he says, “It’s not permanent, sweetheart.”

It still aches to be cut off from him, even though I hadn’t realized there was that connection until a moment ago. Shouldn’t it take time to have something before I miss it?

Liam lifts me onto Jadar’s back.

Once he’s back atop Belloc, he waves to Corell, who starts the march again toward the black obelisk where Venora holds my mother.

“Tell me if I must stop.” Jadar’s voice is stern and filled with worry.

“Of course.” I clutch his waist as we crash through the water.

Ahead, the ocean grows dark. One by one, the centaurs enter the deep water and swim.

I grab hold of the strap between Jadar’s armor plates as we enter the deeper area. I can swim well enough, but it’s good to have a handhold to keep me moving. I kick my legs, so he doesn’t have to drag me along with his weight.

I’m out of breath in a few minutes. I really should get more cardio into my routine. Luckily, the deep water doesn’t go very far, and soon I’m once again atop Jadar’s back. My lungs hurt, and catching my breath is not easy. It’s shameful since the centaur did most of the work.

Feeling more useless than ever, I force my breathing to slow.

“Are you alright, up there, little savior?” Jadar laughs as he runs easily through the shallows.

“I’ll live and don’t call me that.” I’m certainly nobody’s savior or the vision in a prophecy. Still, somehow, we’re going to save my mother, even if I have to give myself to do it.

Even with Liam’s mind blocked from mine, I know he’ll never allow that. The thing about Texas women is we don’t always do what the men around us want.

“How much farther is it, Jadar?” I lean against his armored back and hold on.

“There are many miles of this cursed place. Try to rest.”

Tired of my own thoughts and doubts, as well as the endless sight of still water, I give the tower my attention. “What can she do with an obelisk if that’s what’s inside there? And why would she hide it?”

Jadar’s arms pump on either side. “She would draw power from the demon realm to bolster her magic. It’s dark, dark spells that have been forbidden since the time before the old gods.

She breaks all of Domhan's laws by building such a thing. Perhaps that’s why she conceals it.

I don’t know. Its appearance at the edge of the horizon was a bad omen. ”

The farther west we ride, the taller the black tower grows. A chill runs up my spine.

Laughter, female and horrible, echoes in my ears. “What is that sound? Who’s laughing?”

Slowing his gate, Jadar looks over his shoulder at me. Concern is etched in the strong lines of his masculine face. “There is no laughter, Wren.”

I shake my head, and the sound slips away. “I think I heard the witch queen.”

“Can she hear you?” Tone sharp, he rides faster to converge with Corell, Belloc, and Liam.

How would I know that? “I’m not sure.”

When we reach the others, Jadar tells them what I said I heard.

Rather than delay further, Corell shakes his head. “Let’s get to the watchpoint. Then we can decipher this new information.”

“And if I’m accidentally giving the enemy information?” My stomach is in knots.

Liam shakes his head. “You have a gift of premonition. There’s no reason to believe your gift is shared by Venora or anyone else. It’s more likely that you relaxed for a moment and heard some piece of the future.”

I let my breath out and relax. He’s right. I’ve never heard someone in the present. It’s always been the future that I hear and see. I nod and force a smile so he knows I’m alright.

Even though the centaurs all seem outwardly calm and unconcerned about this journey and what I heard, they ride harder.

I have to hold on tight despite the smoothness of Jadar’s gait. Trying to relax, I hope my bottom holds out long enough to get to this tower and that I’ll still be able to stand when we arrive.

It’s long past dark when we reach the watchpoint. I don’t know what I expected, but I’m glad the debris field of fallen trees, branches, and leaves is stuck on a large sandbar. Even so, it’s not exactly the Ritz.

As expected, it takes me some time to get my legs back under me. I’m sore from the neck down.

The tower is big enough that it blocks out one of the moons. Well, I guess the other is a planet. At least, that’s what someone said. To me, it looks like a purple moon.

My fear for Momma is not relieved by being closer to her. The black monstrosity makes me nauseous. It seems to ooze evil. It’s the same way I feel when I see a sociopath on the news, and they tell of his or her crimes.

Liam finds me near a huge, waterlogged tree. “Come.” He holds out his hand. “Corell is questioning the soldiers on duty. You’ll want to hear.”

Threading my fingers through his, I walk to the group of centaurs seated in a circle.

I whisper, “Can’t she just look out of her tower and see us here?”

“There is magic in place to prevent our detection,” Liam says, kissing my head in a way that is very familiar and nice.

“Come sit,” Corell says.

Belloc brings over a semidry log and places it for Liam and me to join the circle.

Corell nods once we’re still. “I have news that the witch queen is indeed inside the tower. She flew via her shadow demons and landed at the very top of the tower. So, there is at least one way in.”

“Not a very convenient entrance.” I should stay silent, but my brain and my mouth are not always on the same page as my good sense.

All heads turn to stare at me.

Liam smiles. “No. Not helpful for us to enter. Maybe we don’t need to go inside at this moment.”

Frowning, Corell says, “How do we bring her to task if we don’t go inside? We should find a way in, get Birdie out, and destroy this abomination.”

I like the sound of that.