Chapter Ninety-One Daje
It is early morning when we finally reach our desired crossing point into the Fae Kingdom. Cass keeps his weapons within easy access as he goes through the Spell first, followed quickly by Elora and myself.
We had replaced our clothing and replenished our supplies with new packs in Bragos the day before, dropping the horses off at a stable until we returned to get them.
Then we traveled on foot late into the night, only stopping for a few hours of rest in a secluded part of the forest where the branches hung low enough to shield us from passersby.
Still, I doubt I am the only one who hadn’t managed to fall asleep for longer than a few minutes before my eyes would snap open and I’d survey our surroundings looking for a threat.
We continue northward without trouble, but as the new day bleeds into night again and we set up camp to catch a few hours of rest, the sense that we are anything but safe has embedded itself deep in my mind.
We keep our fire small, just enough to give off a small amount of heat as we lie around it.
Wrapped in a brand-new, thick wool cloak, I lie with an arm beneath my head and stare up at the small break in the trees to the starlit sky above.
Elora has fallen asleep first, and her normally chatty nature still hasn’t quite made its return since our battle.
Stirring from where he’s lying by my feet, Cass turns onto his side, propping himself up on an elbow. “Can’t sleep either?”
“No.” Even with how exhausted I am, I can’t quite seem to let my guard down.
“Me neither.” Sighing, he pushes up to sit cross-legged before pulling out the map Sadryn gave him.
His finger taps against it, and I quietly sit up so as not to disturb Elora where she lies a few feet away.
“According to this, the first part of the beach for us to explore should only be another half day’s journey. ”
My gaze tracks the lines of the rivers, roads, and markers of what lies in the Fae Kingdom.
Our information is over two hundred years old, the last mage to have been welcomed here would have been before the war.
But though some things could have been added in that time, it isn’t like the landscape is capable of changing too drastically.
That thought brings me only a modicum of comfort.
“What are the odds we’ll stumble onto the beach and find what we are looking for right away?” he asks, and I can’t help but snort.
“Basically zero.”
“Ah, come on, Daje. Have a little optimism. We’ve managed to get this far on our dragon quest! That can’t be for nothing.” Though a smile graces his face, I see the doubt etched into his expression.
“Optimism should be reserved for things that have no bearing on whether we live or die,” I counter, leaning back on my hands. “Things like choosing a new meal to eat at a tavern or investing in a new piece of furniture.”
“I don’t know. I’ve definitely seen my life flash before my eyes while enjoying a certain kind of meal on furniture.”
I roll my eyes and send him a glare. “Is fucking all you know how to talk about?”
Cass mocks offense, a hand going to his chest. “I can also sword fight—”
“Enough.” I recline again, the top of my head near Elora’s softly breathing body, her dark purple cloak wrapped around her like a cocoon.
“You did good back there.” The sincerity in Cass’s voice draws me back up onto one elbow, my brow lifted in question.
“I should have told you before, and I didn’t.
I’m making sure you know now. For all the shit I like to give you, I trust you with my life.
And so does she. You haven’t let either of us down, and I guess I wanted to make sure you knew that. ”
I smile as my chin drops to my chest. “Thank you, Cass.”
He salutes me before folding the map back up and tucking it into his pocket.
“Tomorrow, we’ll get this dragon glass, and then we’ll head home.
” I lie down again, my eyes fluttering closed.
“And then I’ll return to my sword fighting activities, and you can go stare into a dark corner or do whatever it is you enjoy doing. ”
I don’t bother letting out the retort that surges up my throat, instead keeping my grin plastered on my face as sleep finally creeps in on the edges of my mind.
“Damn it!” Elora’s shout into the wind makes my shoulders hike up towards my ears, my feet sinking more deeply into the sand as I spin to check our surroundings.
Though I doubt I’d miss a fucking dragon if one were to show up, my heart races as fear creeps up my spine that one is hiding nearby. Watching us. “It has to be here!”
“Maybe we should keep our voices down—” The look she shoots in my direction snaps my mouth shut, and I raise my hands in surrender before turning to look at Cass. “Any luck?”
“Oh, I’ve found a bunch of dragon glass. I just figured I wouldn’t say anything.” He lifts his head to narrow his eyes at me, the wind blowing strands of his hair loose from the bun that holds half of it up.
Blowing out a breath, I turn my attention to a part of the beach we haven’t combed through yet, the sound of waves crashing behind me drowning out more of Elora’s curses.
I understand her frustration. In theory, the creation of dragon glass makes sense.
After all the millennia of dragons living in this kingdom, surely somewhere in that time, a dragon had used its fire here on the beach.
Had melted the sand only for the cool ocean water to then immortalize it as glass.
It made sense, and yet to not have it recorded in any of the books Elora had read?
To not have it mentioned as frequently as dragon stone is?
That only leads me into further believing that it only exists in our imaginations.
“I’m going to check farther in, by the caves,” Elora says as she passes, her brow furrowed in a scowl.
I watch as she makes her way through the sand to where the base of the onyx mountains meets the beach.
Another gust of wind carries with it the hint of something hot and foul, not quite decay but close.
Just as quickly as I pick up the scent, it’s gone, leaving me to wonder if my exhaustion is playing tricks on me.
My magic stirs in my chest, the urge to call on it making my fingers flex.
Instead, I turn and follow her, the looming mountains ahead casting a long shadow over the beach.
She spins to face me as she begins to walk backwards.
“Every second we spend here is putting us in danger, and if it’s all for nothing, I’m going to scream. ”
“Cass and I chose to come with you,” I counter, slowing my steps as my eyes catch on the opening of one of the caves carved into the mountains behind Elora.
Only a small sliver of sunlight illuminates the first foot or so, leaving the rest in total darkness.
“And Bahira and Nox agreed with the plan. You didn’t make this choice alone. ”
“I know,” she says, her hands coming up to play with her braided hair. “I just thought we might get lucky. That we’d arrive at the beach and see it gleaming in the sand like little beacons of hope.”
I huff out a laugh. “If only it were that simple. At least we have this view today,” I say, eyes lingering on her before I gesture to the dark peaks behind her.
“Ah, yes. The notorious fae mountains. Known for their majestic one note color and their— Ah!” Elora trips, sprawling in the sand as her glasses go flying from her face.
The back of my hand moves to cover my mouth, attempting to hide the chuckle that breaks out anyway.
“Asshole!” she shouts through her own laughter, sitting up as she reaches for her glasses.
“You know, I thought you were this sweet and attentive man, and you’re just—”
When she doesn’t continue, I cock my head, my hands bracing my hips. “I’m just what?”
“Dragon glass.”
My eyebrows fly towards my hairline. “Can’t say I’ve been compared to that before—”
“No, you idiot. Look.” Moving onto her hands and knees, Elora leans over something glistening in the sand. I close the distance between us, squatting down on the balls of my feet.
“Cass! You might want to get over here!” I shout, excitement bubbling up inside of me.
Our fingers grip the smooth edges of the glass, lifting it up to reveal its full expanse.
I’m surprised to find it’s an oval shape, twice as long as it is wide.
Its weight is considerable, and at about a half inch thick, it is sturdy enough to not easily break.
Sand flies as Cass comes to an abrupt stop in front of us, his eyes wide. “How did you find it?”
“I fell on it!” Elora’s excitement makes him smile, and he kneels and brings part of the glass over his knees. “How are we supposed to transport a piece this big?” she asks, looking to me.
At least a few feet long, the glass would be impossible to carry easily, especially while on horseback.
“We’ll have to break it.” It’s something that would have to happen regardless, as the Mirror’s frame is at least six feet tall.
In order to cast glass for something that height, we’ll need to see if we can find a few more pieces.
I move to voice as much when Cass lifts his hand over the glass, calling his blue magic to his palm. “What are you doing?”
“The whole point of getting the glass was so that we would have something that will work as dragon stone does. Something that can hold magic when broken and still allow a reflection. Before we go about collecting the glass we find, we need to make sure it has those properties.”
“It makes sense,” Elora chimes in, her fingers dragging over the glass’s smooth surface. “Try it.”
Cass looks to me, and I nod, watching as he turns his hand over so it is hovering above the glass. “Here goes nothing.” His magic floods the glass, the center of it glowing blue as it begins to work its way out towards the edges.