Chapter 33 #2
Resurrecting my own water spout, I pulled it until its center doubled in size—mirroring their methods.
It was quite wobbly at first and almost collided with their watery inferno, but I managed to level it out.
Then, I pulled at the threads I hoped was fire and willed it into the middle.
My brow sweat from the concerted effort it took, and I was impressed at how easy they made it look; if not a little envious.
The flames craved the oxygen, which I tried to provide, but they continually wanted to yield to the wind.
The fire lasted mere seconds before the waterspout collapsed in on itself, taking theirs with it, and splashing us while creating a large plume of smoke.
Sidrick gave a soft chuckle and sent a breeze to keep the smoke at bay.
“Did you know my brother knew you were the spark before anyone else?” Kaelun declared.
“Is that true?” I asked, looking to Sidrick.
“It is. I knew the second I laid eyes on you in the king’s receiving room before Artton and I valenned the three of you to the solstice.”
“How?” I said, astonished.
“My magic. When it’s around you, I feel…”
“Whole,” Kaelun finished for his brother.
Sidrick leaned forward slightly to look at his brother. “Yeah. You’re right. I’ve struggled to find the right word. But whole describes it perfectly. Even more so, now that you’re fae.”
“That’s how I feel when I’m connected to the Mother,” I mused.
“I wonder if you feel that way with the Mother and we feel that way with you because our powers were never supposed to be separate,” Sidrick said.
“Like knowing a recipe is missing an ingredient. It’s still fine, but not like it should be,” Kaelun added.
“So, I’m the missing spice.”
They both chuckled.
“I guess so. Though, the way I’ve seen you strip Uncle Artton down, and now Tarrin, maybe that’s all you and not the spark at all.”
I laughed. “Maybe.”
“Just remind me to stay on your good side,” Sidrick said.
“Well, I suppose if you’re not trying to kill me or my family, or steal my powers or my agency, then you’ll be fine.”
The joke didn’t land like I’d intended, and we all fell silent.
“Why was it so easy to forgive him at the lake?” I found myself asking, knowing they’d witnessed the memory in its entirety.
“Distance. Perspective. Shock,” the third-in-command said. “You were in shock, and Tarrin was your only ally. The brain will do remarkable things to protect us in the moment, but that doesn’t mean it serves us in the long run.”
Shaking my head, I said, “How could Tarrin possibly think everything would be fine?”
“Clearly, he was dropped on his head as a baby,” Kaelun offered. “Humans are very fragile after all.” That got a chuckle out of us.
“I know you’re upset with Tarrin,” Sidrick began, “but do you trust him, Nyleeria?”
I took a moment to mull it over before speaking.
“Deep down, yes.” I needed a moment for that truth to settle before I continued.
“I believe him when he says he can’t remember what happened.
You all saw him—no one would willingly knock on Father Death’s door as some sort of elaborate plan.
Besides, I’ve had a recurring nightmare about Thaddeus having Tarrin killed. ”
“You have?” Kaelun asked.
I nodded.
“That’s why you asked Endymion to make sure he was okay,” Sidrick said, putting it together.
I nodded again.
“The moment my powers broke Tarrin’s bond to Thaddeus, he couldn’t control his commander anymore.
Tarrin might not be able to remember, but I’d bet anything that Thaddeus did this—or at least ordered it like he did with my parents.
” I sighed. “Honestly, a part of me wonders if his memory loss is from head trauma, or emotional.”
“As in, Tarrin doesn’t want to believe that Thaddeus would turn on him like that?” Sidrick asked.
“Yeah. I’m pissed at Tarrin, don’t get me wrong.
And he has a lot to make up for. But could you imagine being linked to someone’s soul for half a millennium, only to have that person try to kill you?
Especially because Tarrin was connected to the parts of Thaddeus that harbor love and hope.
And I can’t ignore that when push came to shove, he protected me.
I have to believe that my powers saved both of us for a reason. ”
Sidrick nodded. “I agree, but you know Artton and Endymion will hate him until his dying breath.”
“Yeah, I gathered. I just don’t have the energy for measuring egos right now.”
“Is that why you butt heads with Artton so much?” Sidrick asked, and I didn’t miss the warning glance his younger brother threw him.
“Artton is… intense,” I hedged.
Kaelun let out a muffled laugh.
I raised a brow. “What?” I asked.
“I mean, it’s just… you know that you’re intense too, right?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, Kaelun, I’m actually a very calm person by nature. My life, on the other hand…”
“Fair enough,” he conceded.
“What happens now?” I asked.
“When I left,” Sidrick began, “Artton and Caius were asking Tarrin questions.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, I’m sure Artton was on his best behavior while asking.”
Sidrick gave me a stiff, unapologetic smile, but stayed quiet.
“He didn’t hurt him, did he?”
“No,” Sidrick said, his voice solemn, “you’d already done all the breaking. There was no need.”
My shoulders sagged.
“Nothing you said was unkind or untrue,” Kaelun said, his unara picking up my guilt.
“Kaelun’s right. Tarrin is going to have to sit with what he’s done. That’s not for you to own.”
I nodded, knowing they were right. Though, it was hard to stop myself from wanting to shield those I cared about from being hurt, especially from me.
I knew it was twisted. I also knew that I could never be accused of lacking compassion—unless it was for myself, I guess. And maybe that was the issue.
Just realizing that Sidrick hadn’t joined us until quite a bit later, I said, “Did you just come for a visit, or…?”
“Caius wanted me to grab you; there’s something Tarrin told us that we need to discuss.”