Chapter 28 #3
“‘That other warrior’ is my father. You can call him Kal,” Fenn said, reaching the water’s bank. “And he’s the only one—Lykor distributed some of his abilities to him not too long ago.” He unsheathed a knife from his bandolier, kneeling by the stream.
That seems a little out of character for Lykor. But the fact that power could be returned momentarily sprouted a seed of hope before it rapidly withered. Serenna nearly laughed at the absurd thought. Lykor returning her power seemed less probable than him setting her free.
Serenna studied Fenn as he busied himself with untying the scorpion from his belt. Cyan blood spilled into the swirling water as he gutted its corpse. I knew he was going to eat that horrid creature.
“Wait.” Serenna stared at Fenn’s back, registering that he hadn’t used the elven term ‘sire.’ “Your father? You have a father?” The wraith must’ve strayed from elven customs. She couldn't blame them, considering what they’d suffered—and who’d caused it.
Soft plops of water tumbling from the ceiling broke on the stream’s surface. Fenn paused, holding the chitin still. Serenna nearly heard him blink before he gaped over his shoulder, clearly taken aback.
He suddenly smirked, revealing the point of a fang. “I was unaware you’d require enlightening as to where wraithlings come from, but if you need a demonstration—”
“No,” Serenna quickly interrupted, her cheeks heating.
“I meant… Nevermind.” The chamber somehow became even hotter.
Serenna cleared her throat as Fenn’s gaze followed the flush racing up her ears.
Mind churning, she strained to think of something to say in order to distract him from finding amusement in her embarrassment.
“How is this stream warm when the mountains are frozen?”
Fenn frowned, shaking the scorpion out as the current carried away its entrails. “Your magics don’t tell you?”
Tightening her lips, Serenna shot Fenn a flat look, knowing he was gauging her capabilities so he could report them back to his leader.
She’d willed the current to move earlier when she’d dumped it over Lykor, but she hadn’t considered what else she could do with that power.
Fine. She’d entertain him this time—but only because she was curious too.
Like she did with calling the wind outside of the war room, Serenna allowed herself to drift. Eyes unfocusing, she reached out to the world differently than when she heaved Essence from her Well. Instead of wrenching magic toward her, she faded into the surroundings, allowing the world to dissolve.
Ignoring the heavy air and plants creeping into her perception, Serenna aimed her awareness into the stream, the water nearly humming with power. Following the current, mind swimming between the rocks, she delved further into the caverns, detecting the source.
Blinking, Serenna returned her attention back to the chamber.
Interested to experiment with her abilities, she cast her magic out like a net.
Hauling on the water, Serenna called a tiny orb of liquid to her palm.
“The stream flows from a cluster of hot springs,” she said, assuming he knew the answer.
Fenn nodded, tying the gutted and washed scorpion back onto his belt. “The Lagoon—our community baths that you were inquiring about—isn’t too far from the molten heart of the volcano.”
Serenna fumbled with the water. The sphere shattered, splashing to the ground.
With an irritated huff, she yanked on the droplets, reassembling them.
“For one, I wasn’t asking about your Lagoon.
” Watching the liquid dance above her fingertips, she debated the next question before deciding that she had to know. “And you bathe…together?”
“Oh, we do more than bathe,” Fenn said, chuckling darkly.
“But since you’re uninformed as to where wraithlings come from, I’d wager you’re not prepared to appreciate the activities that occur.
” He stretched, scraping his talons along the point of a stalactite.
“Though you’re welcome to join. I expect the evening will lead me there. ”
Of course the wraith are promiscuous like the elves.
I guess some elements of culture are simply everlasting.
Unable to resist the urge, Serenna lobbed the globe at Fenn.
He extended a claw to catch it. Releasing her power, the shape burst. The water crashed into his waiting palm, splattering to the ground.
Fenn growled and shook his fingers. “I won’t walk into that ruse next time, you water pixie.” Choosing another set of stairs at this apparent crossroads, he angled toward a pathway illuminated by lichens.
As she followed, Serenna’s legs started to burn from the exertion of climbing upward. Losing count of the steps, she began to desperately hope they neared the end.
When she almost thought about asking to be carried again, a trickle of sunlight poured onto her face. Serenna squinted against the improbable light and then gasped when the tunnel opened up, revealing a massive expanse.
Serenna’s mind wrestled with the enormity of the space. The wraith didn’t live in a cave. They lived in an underground city.
Tilting her head back to marvel from their vantage near the middle level of the stronghold, Serenna’s jaw dropped.
Thousands of feet above, the crater unfolded to the sky, eclipsed by the setting sun flashing in angled glass.
Suspended from the interior mountain slopes, hundreds of mirrors hung, bouncing around shafts of the fading light.
Serenna rushed to a balcony. Leaning over, her eyes greedily absorbed all the city’s sights, stretching out in every direction. She couldn’t decide where to look first.
Rectangular buildings were carved straight into the rock, lining the walls as far as she could see.
Far above, glowing plants in various shades of blues and greens clung to the volcano’s sides.
The clash between the luminescent hues of the vegetation and the earthen tones of the dwellings was strikingly vivid—a universe of jewels draped like stars in the sky.
Infected with a charge of wonder and fascination, Serenna didn’t shy away from watching the multitudes of wraith carrying on with their daily lives. There’s so much life here. Scores of natural stone bridges arched across the cavern’s empty spaces, connecting each winding level of the fortress.
“Where do you live?” Serenna breathlessly asked Fenn as he joined her at the overlook. He kept shooting glances at her like he expected her to sprout wings and fly over the edge.
Waving around the crater, Fenn pointed out the residential districts.
Apparently delighted to be her tour guide, he provided her with an extensive recounting of how the wraith had become self-sufficient in this remote section of the world.
While reliant on Lykor’s portals to collect resources, their citizens were smiths, gardeners, warriors, and nearly all other professions—everyone had a purpose and a place.
“But there were windows in the war room,” Serenna said after Fenn told her the entire population lived within the shelter of the volcano. “You said Lykor has a tower? Is it somewhere else?”
Fenn nodded and wandered over to a wall containing a cluster of shimmering blue mushrooms. “There are other dwellings carved into the surrounding mountains. Lykor lives in one of those, above a library.” Plucking off a luminous cap, Fenn extended it to her.
Puzzled by the offering, Serenna asked, “What’s that for?”
“So you can see in the Aerie after I extinguish the torches.” Fenn twirled the stem. “It’ll glow for a few hours.”
Unsure how to interpret the gesture, Serenna left the overlook to accept the fungus. “And you care about that because…?”
“It is my full intention to prioritize your happiness so we don’t have another flying glass debacle.” Something like humor tugged at his lips. “Lykor’s tower has more windows than the war room.”
He expects me to be content as a captive? Instead of mustering irritation, surprise flashed through Serenna, realizing that Fenn inexplicably went out of his way to ensure her comfort.
“Why did you protect me?” Serenna ventured to ask, seeking the motive for his kindness. “From all that flying glass?”
“I owed you a debt,” Fenn said, thumbing a lip ring.
Serenna blinked, her fingers tightening around the glowing mushroom. “What debt?”
“You saved me first.” Fenn tilted his head. “From Lykor’s shadow magics.”
Serenna opened her mouth, ready to confess that she had no choice but to include him in her ward, but clicked her teeth shut instead. Fenn didn’t seem to notice while he traced the slice a sliver of glass had cut into his cheek. He’s going to poke his eye out with those talons if he isn’t careful.
Fenn jerked his chin toward a corridor, sending his braids swinging. “There aren’t too many stairs remaining.” Flashing her a fanged grin, he added, “And if you ask nicely, I won’t even object to carrying you the rest of the way.”