Chapter 17
Serentha returned at dawn. It was way too early, but at least with the magic Crispin had given me, I was feeling steady. Serentha could be rude all she wanted.
Crispin made tea, offering me the only available chair at the small table.
Serentha already occupied the other. She wore the same dress as the day before, not a single hair out of place from her tight bun, her pointed ears bare.
I briefly wondered where she had slept, then decided it was none of my business.
“It’s gone?” she was saying. “You’re sure?”
“Quite sure,” Crispin said, leaning one hip against the narrow kitchen counter as he cradled his tea. His hair was still a little mussed and his clothing was dirt-stained, but the twinkle was back in his eyes, and that was what mattered.
Shaking her head, Serentha peered down into her tea. “I discussed with Allistair the possibility of a new pathway. We ask that you do it near to the village.”
All of the sparkle drained from Crispin’s eyes. “You don’t like celestials or magic. Why would you possibly want that?”
Her fingers flexed around her teacup, her eyes still downcast. “If the pathway is here, folk will travel from all over to visit. They’ll bring goods and coin. We won’t be so isolated.”
“I take it this is Allistair’s concern and not yours,” Crispin said blandly.
Once again, I was wondering if I should step outside, but there seemed to be no good way to excuse myself.
It took a moment for her to nod. “That is true, but I find I have come around to the idea. Should you like to visit again, it would be an easier trip.”
We both stared at her. I would say I was waiting for the punchline, but I was pretty sure Serentha wouldn’t know a joke if it bit her on the ass.
“I won’t stay permanently,” Crispin warned.
“And I will not ask it of you.”
Since she wasn’t looking at either of us, Crispin took the opportunity to look at me, but all I could do was shrug.
Still seeming unsure, Crispin said, “I will return when I can.”
It was almost imperceptible, but it seemed like Serentha relaxed. If having perfect posture and a perpetually tight jaw could be considered relaxed. “Very well. Shall we see to it then?”
We were left blinking at her once more.
“You want us to regrow the pathway now?” I asked.
She finally looked up from her tea. “Yes. Why not? Have the celestials not left us separated from those on the earth realm for long enough?”
I blinked at her, thinking it over. “Well we may end up needing a little extra help, but I guess we can at least try.” It seemed like a long-shot, but we did have the Realm Breaker, and Crispin had a lot of magic at his disposal here.
Plus, he seemed relieved at my words. He may not have forgiven his mother—and I didn’t blame him there—but it seemed part of him still wanted to please her, and I wouldn’t get in the way of that. We could at least try.
Serentha stood abruptly. “Allistair asked that we meet him at the tavern. The others will surely want to stand witness to a new pathway being formed.” She stepped around her chair, then pushed it in. “I’ll go there now. Come when you are ready.”
Neither of us said a word as she walked across the small room and exited her home.
After the sound of her footsteps receded outside, Crispin looked at me. “We can try? Are you mad?”
I waved him off. “Hey, you’re all filled with magic here. It won’t hurt to give it a go.”
He stared at me for a moment, then stepped close and kissed my cheek. “Thank you, Eva.”
I blushed, thinking of last night and of what he had come to mean to me if I was worried about impressing his estranged mother. “Don’t thank me until the pathway is back,” I joked.
“The thank you wasn’t for the pathway.” He offered me his hand, and I stood with him, feeling a fresh shiver of magic already.
This time he kissed my mouth, and the shiver intensified, zinging through my body. Here was hoping we could regrow a pathway and keep our clothes on in the process.
“I’m tellin’ you! We could charge admission!” Allistair’s shrill excitement sent a flock of birds flying in all directions from a nearby tree.
“We are not charging admission,” Serentha grumbled behind us as she helped the elderly elf hobble along.
I glanced over at Crispin, who only smiled.
We led a small procession of villagers curious about a half celestial and a new pathway.
I only hoped they wouldn’t be disappointed when we had to jump back for the other guys before we could finish the job.
I figured we would need to bring them here, since I wasn’t sure how it would work starting off in a different place from the one that had been severed.
It would be better to do it now though, without any extra input, because I was pretty sure King Francis would want to the pathway to lead directly to the capital.
Come to think of it, he was probably going to be mad about this.
But glancing at Crispin smiling, I cast aside my worry.
I could only keep so many men happy at once, and I was at my limit.
King Francis could just bring one of the bucks with him and ride to the capital—I was told it would take about two days.
Crispin stopped us near to where we had arrived on the theory that some of our trail might remain to make our task easier.
The small crowd of elves gathered around us, keeping a respectful distance but close enough to watch.
I unsheathed the Realm Breaker from my back and felt its weight shift in my hands.
The mother-of-pearl blade caught the morning light, throwing little rainbows across the forest floor.
A few oohs and ahhs sounded from the crowd.
“Ready?” I asked.
Crispin nodded and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Focus on the destination, not the path itself,” he murmured. “Let the sword guide you.”
I closed my eyes and tried to picture the portal in the tree at Emerald Heights. Crispin’s magic moved into me through his palms—cool and silvery. The sword warmed in my grip as I raised it, then plunged it into the earth.
Nothing shimmered open the way I’d expected. Instead the glow from the blade intensified, then faltered. A thin line of light appeared in the air around us.
The light flickered, threatening to fade. I gritted my teeth, pushing more of my intent through the sword. Crispin’s hands tightened on my shoulders, his magic flowing into me like a cool river. The golden cord between us pulsed bright in my mind.
“Don’t just try to make a pathway,” he whispered. “Think of the destination. The tree at Emerald Heights. The waypoint.”
I shifted my focus, imagining the ancient oak with its carved runes, the shimmering portal hidden within its trunk. The sword warmed again in my hands, and the thin line of light grew stronger, widening into a shimmering doorway.
“Yes,” Crispin breathed, his magic surging through me. “That’s it.”
The villagers gasped as the pathway solidified before us. Through the shimmering surface, I saw a brief flash of the familiar grove in Emerald Heights. The portal was working.
But something felt wrong. The path wavered, unstable. It needed anchoring on both sides.
“Crispin,” I whispered.
“I know,” he said, his voice tight. “It needs a tether on the other end. Without someone there to complete the connection—“
He was right. This wasn’t healing the existing pathway, this was creating a new one, and we’d had mine and Mistral’s connection to the Bogs to help us along before.
The pathway flickered again, the image of Emerald Heights blurring like a reflection in disturbed water.
I could feel the sword pulsing in my grip, the magic demanding more than I could give it alone.
My arms trembled, and sweat beaded along my hairline.
“Think of them,” Crispin urged. “Sebastian, Gabriel, Mistral. Pull through the cords.”
I closed my eyes and reached through those golden threads, the ones I’d learned to feel even across realms. Sebastian first—dark and sharp, like obsidian. I tugged, and felt an answering pull. Gabriel next, warm and steady as sunlight. Then Mistral, wild and green, rooted deep.
The sword flared so brightly I had to squint.
Through the shimmering doorway, shapes began to form.
Three figures materialized on the other side of the pathway.
Sebastian’s dark form appeared first, followed by Gabriel’s solid frame and Mistral’s lithe silhouette.
They looked shocked but quickly took in the situation, moving to position themselves around the portal on the Emerald Heights side.
I could see the other elves beyond them, and my confusion made my focus waver.
An entire day had passed. Why were they all still there?
“Finish it,” Sebastian called, his voice strangely clear in my mind.
The three of them extended their hands toward the portal, their magic flowing into it. The golden cords between us blazed with light as their power joined with mine. I could feel the pathway stabilizing, anchoring itself to both realms.
The sword in my hands hummed with energy, growing warmer but not uncomfortable. The portal widened, becoming a stable doorway between the two realms. My connection with the guys faded into the background, though I knew they would still be waiting for me on the other side.
Crispin’s hands remained on my shoulders, steadying me as I relearned how to breathe.
The gathered elves were so silent, I almost forgot they were there.
Then with a few soft gasps, they all started clapping.
Allistair tossed his cane aside and attempted a little jig before almost falling over and getting scolded by Serentha.
One of the others fetched his cane while Serentha steadied him, but her eyes were on her son.
After a moment, she gave him an approving nod.
Feeling more steady now myself. I took his hand. “We better get back.”
He squeezed my hand. “You’re right. King Francis will not thank us for dallying.”
“Or for making a pathway two days from the capital,” I muttered, but Crispin only chuckled, then said, “Let’s go home.”
He certainly did not have to ask me twice.