Chapter 49
Iyana
“Don’t…”
Iyana heard Emmeric’s warning, but there was no time to process it before she touched the amulet. She was unsure anyway if she’d be able to pull back solely because he asked her to; the call of the glowing jewel was too strong.
Silver surrounded her, and when her vision cleared, the tomb had disappeared.
Instead, Iyana stood in a meadow. Tall grasses rose to her waist, swaying in a gentle breeze. Sunshine warmed Iyana while the wind brought a slight chill, like spring was trying to begin while the world clung to winter. A cottage stood off in the distance, smoke curling out of the chimney. There was something about it that whispered home to Iyana. It differed completely from her hut in Imothia, but the feeling was there all the same. She ran her hands over the soft grass around her. This place was a quiet paradise, and she envisioned herself staying for a while, taking a break from the chaos her life had become.
A woman in a long dress left the cottage and headed towards Iyana, her hair and dress blowing in the wind. As she cut a path through the grass, also running her hands along the blades, Iyana reached for her magic as protection. However, as she sought the woman made of fire, who she now recognized as the first Aztia, she was nowhere to be found. Iyana’s heart raced as she searched every nook and cranny in which her magic might possibly hide. Before, when she couldn’t reach her magic, the feeling of it was still there, just slightly out of reach or running through her fingers like water. This time, it was gone. Completely.
“You won’t be able to do magic here,” the woman said. Iyana started. While she was panicking about her magic, the woman had crossed the distance and was now standing in front of her. She was middle-aged, with slight wrinkles at the corners of eyes and lips, telling the tale of a woman who smiled and laughed often. From her features, Iyana thought she hailed from Istora; she had slightly tanned skin, dark brown eyes with flecks of gold, and long, wavy chestnut hair. She was only slightly taller than Iyana, and still slim, but with the curves that came with age and a life well lived.
“Alessia,” Iyana whispered. The woman grinned, wrinkles accentuated by the movement; but instead of making her look older, it brightened her face so significantly she appeared more youthful.
“Please, call me Les.”
Iyana returned her smile. Les made her feel safe. Loved, somehow. Like a mother would. She glanced around the meadow again. “Where are we?”
“This is my home.”
“Am I…is this the Everlands?”
Les chuckled. “No, Iyana, you’re not dead. And this is actually my home.” Now the older woman frowned. “I don’t actually know how you’re here, only that I felt your presence as soon as you arrived.”
“How is this possible? You’re alive where you are right now?”
“Magic,” Les said, shrugging, a smirk pulling up the corner of her lips. “But, honestly? No idea how this is happening. I’m alive, as far as I know. All of my excitement is twenty years in the past. Now, I live here with my husband and children.”
“Your Kanaliza.”
“Yes, Theo.” Les grinned fully. It was obvious she was very much in love with her husband all these years later. Iyana had renewed hope for her own romantic future. The thought of Altair gave her butterflies.
Iyana frowned, a question on the tip of her tongue. “How did you know Theo was the one?” Probably not the best time to ask—there were more important queries at hand—but suddenly this one was the most important.
Les forced air from her pursed lips before she beamed again. This woman definitely smiled often; it made Iyana trust her all that much more. “That is a long story. How long do you have?”
Looking behind her, expecting to see a door—or something—leading back to the tomb, Iyana shrugged when there was nothing there but more grass. “No idea.”
“Then let’s sit.” Les waved a hand over the area they were standing, and Iyana watched in awe as the grass receded into the earth. A springy, soft moss replaced it, which is where Les settled down, legs crossed. She noticed Iyana’s gawking. “What?”
“That was amazing!”
“You can’t do that?”
“No.” Iyana sat down next to Les, stretching out her legs and inhaling the sweet scent of honeysuckle. “In my time, there’s hardly any magic left. My grandmother somehow locked mine away, and so I’ve only been practicing for a couple of moons. I’m decent with air and fire, and I can occasionally summon a sort of pure force? But that’s about it.”
“Your time…when is it?”
Iyana was shocked. “You don’t know?”
Les shook her head. “I only know what I was told—one Aztia and Kanaliza would be born each generation. I sensed your arrival and your name whispered through my head—I’ve learned to stop questioning those types of things.” She fiddled with a necklace. Not a necklace. The amulet. Iyana immediately wanted to ask about it, but thought it only polite to answer Les’s question first.
“I’m a millennium in the future. Most humans possess no magic whatsoever, except for healers, and even then we only have a touch. Until recently, I had never heard of the Aztia or Kanaliza; they’d been mostly erased or forgotten from our history.”
“A thousand years…” Les glanced over towards her home. If their positions were reversed, Iyana would be thinking about being dead and buried, her children dead, her home most likely gone. Tears lined Les’s eyes, but she blinked them back and cleared her throat. “Anyway, you asked about me and Theo before I rudely changed the subject. The answer is, I didn’t know at first. He swears up and down he knew right away, but I think he’s lying. We argued and got on each other’s nerves so much.” She smiled softly, reminiscing. “And then we were thrust together by fate and haven’t separated since.”
Iyana sighed. “That sounds amazing. I’m really falling for someone, and I can see a future with him, but Altair wants me to make this impossible decision—”
“Wait,” Les interrupted, grabbing onto Iyana’s elbow. Her grip was tight, almost to the point of bruising. “Altair? As in, the star, Altair?”
“Yes,” Iyana said, drawing out the word. Almost as if it were a question. “You know him?”
“Know him?” Les scoffed. “How did he come back?”
“He fell. The way it was explained to me, during a moment of great distress, I sent out a massive pulse of energy and it was enough for him to fall.”
Les’s grip tightened. “Any others or just him?”
“Just him.” Frowning, Iyana shook her head. “I don’t understand your concern.”
With eyebrows raised high, Les finally released Iyana’s elbow, only to run her hand through her hair. “You don’t…Iyana, sweetheart, he’s bad news. You can’t trust him.”
“He’s changed, Les. I learned all about the conflict and who was on which side. But he’s been helping me every step of the way. He—he loves me.” Iyana was desperate to make Les see things from her perspective.
“There must be something he’s planning. He’s tricky, Iyana. Believe me.”
“A thousand years stuck in the night sky can change someone. You don’t see the way he looks at me. Or how protective he can be.”
Les heaved a heavy sigh. “You’re right, I don’t. For your sake, I sincerely hope you’re right. Just…keep your guard up, yeah?” Iyana nodded, understanding Les’s concern. During her life, the stars were vicious creatures determined to make humans suffer. She didn’t see the love in Altair’s eyes when he called Iyana astalle. Or hear the fear in his voice when she was in danger. Les didn’t see the way he fought tirelessly for her, how jealous he was, how good they were together.
“Altair has shown me more kindness and loyalty than anyone I’ve met since leaving Imothia.”
“Even your Kanaliza?” Les asked.
Heat flushed Iyana’s face. “Things with Emmeric are…complicated.” Les raised a brow, inviting her to continue. “He’s in love with me, and would lay down his life for me, but we fight constantly. I trust him implicitly. And while I can admit—here, never to him—there is something between us, I think most of it is the bond. We’re so attuned to each other’s emotions, it’s bound to create a closeness unlike any other. But I know in my heart I love Altair. Emmeric—I could have easily loved him in a different life, but Altair is in this one, and I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone else.”
Les hummed, fidgeting again with the amulet around her neck. As Iyana studied it, the gem began to glow silver, faintly at first, but brightened quickly. Les looked down upon her necklace, movements stilling. “It’s never done that before.”
A tugging sensation behind Iyana’s navel momentarily took her breath away. “I think I’m being called back.” Les cocked her head to the side like she was listening to something.
“Take the amulet, Iyana. It’s your birthright. Use it carefully. And—” Les leaned forward, whispering instructions into Iyana’s ear. She absorbed the advice, tucking it away for later, and nodded her understanding. The tugging became more insistent. A glow surrounded her, growing brighter rapidly. From the cottage she saw a man emerge and heard his faint panicked shout. Alessia!
Quickly, she grabbed Les’s hands between her own, giving them a squeeze. “Thank you. For your advice. For your deeds to secure a safe future for humankind. And for helping me hone by magic. I don’t think I could have made it the past several weeks without you.”
A deep line formed between Les’s brows. “I haven’t—”
But Iyana was gone before the original Aztia finished her sentence. Iyana feared she’d never have a chance to speak with the woman again.
Iyana!
Someone was shaking her. Waking up was not something she wanted to do, the warm embrace of sleep still wrapped around her. The peace she’d realized in her dream stayed with her, keeping away any of her worries.
Iyana! Mouse!
Emmeric… With a gasp, Iyana awoke, back in the cavernous tomb yet again. Last she remembered, she was standing beside Les’s sarcophagus, and now she was lying on the floor, cradled in Emmeric’s lap. His panic-stricken face hovered over hers, hiding the black depths of the ceiling, his dark hair hanging over her face. When she peered at him, he studied her thoroughly, the worry not fading until she gave him a small, weary smile. Then he exhaled sharply and rested his brow against hers, his beautiful eyes closed.
“Thank the gods,” he said, his voice shaky. “You just collapsed and weren’t responding. I tried to heal you, but nothing happened.” It was then she noticed the dagger on the floor next to them, its blade covered in blood, Emmeric’s hand still oozing from where he had slashed his palm. Checking herself for injuries, there was only a small prick on her finger which had already begun to heal, Emmeric’s blood drying around it. The fact he’d only nicked her finger instead of cutting her hand to spare her pain was not lost on Iyana.
She reached her hand towards his face, gently brushing back his hair and pulsing her magic into him. The wound on his palm knitted together, and he opened and closed it a few times to check it had fully healed. Satisfied, he drew apart from Iyana, her hand still resting on his face. He covered her hand with his bloodied one, leaning into her touch. The bond thrummed within her chest. It took a second, but she finally placed the emotion—contentment. And it wasn’t only being sent over from Emmeric; some of it was her own.
“How long was I out?”
“Only a few minutes. But, listen Mouse, we’re going to need to have a serious talk about touching strange glowing objects,” he said. “Especially before we can think it through and make sure said object won’t kill you.”
Iyana huffed a laugh as she sat up off Emmeric’s lap. While it was comfortable, and she felt safe, it was too comfortable, and there was still a star waiting for her outside of this tomb. A star who had offered her immortality so he could spend forever with her. She did not want to make things complicated with Altair, since he was already insanely jealous of her Kanaliza.
As she pushed herself off the ground to stand, she realized there was something in her right fist. Uncurling her fingers revealed Alessia’s amulet, no longer glowing and again appearing to be a small token from a loved one. A thin, delicate metal chain was connected to it. Iyana held it out to Emmeric, who handled it with delicate precision. His large, calloused hands were capable of gentleness—she’d watched him whittle tiny pieces of wood for their entire journey—but the contrast struck her as odd and endearing every time.
“Help me put it on?” she asked, moving her hair over her shoulder. Emmeric visibly swallowed, but nodded. Bringing his arms around her, his fingers deftly worked the clasp, and if they lingered on the back of her neck for longer than was necessary, or trailed down her skin for a moment, neither of them mentioned it. Emmeric freed her hair from the chain, allowing Iyana to marvel at the amulet laying side by side with the ouroboros necklace Altair had made her from her grandmother’s ashes. Both lightly grasped in her fist, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come next.
“What happened? After you touched the amulet?” Emmeric asked, jarring her out of her thoughts.
“I spoke with Alessia. Although I guess she prefers Les.” Iyana grinned. “She was fantastic. I would love to get to know her better, but I get the sense this was a onetime thing.” If Emmeric thought this was strange, he didn’t comment on it. Recent events had officially skewed their view of the world, and what they considered ‘normal.’
“What did she say?”
Iyana debated how much to tell Emmeric. The fact Les clearly didn’t trust Altair was only going to add more fuel to her soldier’s mistrust. They would need Altair when it came time to face Uther. No, she couldn’t tell him that. There wasn’t any proof Les even knew Altair a thousand years ago. Maybe she only knew of him and didn’t realize he was fighting on their side. Emmeric lifted an eyebrow at her prolonged silence. She sighed.
“She said the amulet was my birthright,” Iyana finally decided on. But then she remembered what the original Aztia had whispered in her ear, and it was definitely information her Kanaliza should know.
They ate a snack sitting on the floor, leaning against Theo’s sarcophagus as Iyana explained what Les had told her, and then they devised a plan. First, they needed to leave the tomb and gather the others. Once there, though, Iyana would practice with the amulet, honing her skills. Then they would take the fight to Uther. Hopefully, the emperor believed they’d continue to run and he would eventually catch up to them. Instead, they’d assume Zane was forced to confess to his father they were heading to the Dead Lands. Once back on the continent, they would instead retrace their steps to surprise Uther from behind.
Emmeric stood, hauling Iyana to her feet. “Come on, Mouse. I’m sure they’re wondering if we’ve died by now.”
The journey out was much smoother than the one in. Now there was no threat of dangerous creatures or booby traps, so they were free to chat as they traveled. Iyana mocked Emmeric for having to crawl through the narrow portion of the cave, and he teased her about falling down a hole. Her trusty little fireball followed them, and she prided herself on the fact that she barely had to concentrate now to keep it lit.
This was the most the duo had been able to converse, just the two of them. With no one else breathing down their necks. No Kaz trying to paw at Emmeric. No Altair being super possessive. Although there were times the star’s jealousy would light a fire within her, there were also other times it was aggravating. Sometimes they would be training, and if she ventured too close to Emmeric, he’d haul her away to kiss her senseless—staking his claim on her. Typically, when this occurred, she always meant to bring it up and tell him to get it together, but then his lips on hers would erase any complaints she may have had. Until the next time it happened, of course.
All too soon, the filtered light of the Dead Lands was visible at the end of the cavern. Iyana sensed the sadness radiating through the bond from Emmeric, and she mirrored the sentiment. This had been a mostly pleasant experience, other than pitching herself down a hole, and Iyana felt it draw her and Em closer together. Glancing over at him, she saw him staring at her unabashedly, heat and longing in his eyes—the emotions filtering through the bond, thin intertwining threads of red lust and blue yearning. In another life, she easily could have been caught up in this man.
Emmeric’s head whipped up and towards the entrance, and then he was running. Iyana raced after him, but he threw his arm out to stop her before they passed through the magical barrier.
Pure chaos was raging outside the tomb.