Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
R ose had exhausted herself in the forge yesterday. Though their mind connection became more accessible with each conversation, she didn’t search for Luc at her lake of power again. She wouldn’t let him put himself in more danger than he was already in.
It was only day two of waiting, and Rose was restless. This would be even more challenging than she thought. She took a walk, this time heading east toward Osten house.
Once again, she was at the door, probably too early for a Compass Points meeting. To her annoyance, it was Lela who greeted her. The Osten Point’s protege hadn’t joined them since her last trip through Osten house. Rose assumed it was because she was left with the more mundane tasks of ensuring the court continued running as required.
“It’s too early to see the Osten Point,” was Lela’s gruff response.
“Lela.” Rose tried to put on a smile. “We’ve been through this already. She said I had an open invitation. We were both there. We both heard it.”
Lela’s features pinched like she was trying to determine if she had to follow this line of reasoning. And possibly how much trouble she’d be in if she didn’t.
“Can we discuss what you find so off-putting about me?” Rose asked. Not for the first time, she wondered what it would be like to have someone so ready to bully others on her behalf. Lela’s dedication to Juliette was unparalleled—that much was clear.
“It’s my job to protect the Osten Point,” Lela said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“Isn’t it actually the Osten Point’s job to protect you? You’re the future of the court,” Rose pointed out.
Lela tilted her head like she couldn’t determine if Rose was mocking her. “I don’t trust your intentions either way.” That much was unsurprising, but she wasn’t sure how to fix it. Lela had been in the room when she and Juliette had discussed their goals.
“I intend to return those impacted by the mist plague and bring balance to the continent. I also plan to get my bound partner back from his stupid decision to throw himself into another realm.” Rose was building up steam now. “I doubt you’d fault me for that.” She smiled sweetly. “I want to ensure the Compass Points will never be fractured like they were before me. And that”—Rose paused for emphasis—“is exactly why you and I need to work out whatever this is. Juliette won’t be Osten Point forever. And I won’t have all my work to unify the Compass Points dissolve because you don’t trust my intentions. Ask me whatever you need to, challenge whatever decisions of mine don’t make sense. But don’t stew on an opinion you haven’t tried to test.”
Lela’s spine straightened as she held the door between herself and Rose. It looked like Rose’s words had landed. Her features didn’t entirely give away which direction she was leaning. Rose was ready for an onslaught of questions or challenges. Maybe Lela had them stored up. Or would she snap back in anger at Rose’s confrontation?
“She’s right, Lela,” Juliette’s smooth voice carried down the hall. Rose tilted her head around the door to see the Osten Point gliding toward them. “You’re certainly entitled to be wary of the other Compass Points—I’d be hypocritical to say you shouldn’t be—but you should challenge Rose directly with your questions. Test how honest she’ll be with you. It will surprise you.” Juliette’s lip curled into a smirk.
Lela opened the door wider, allowing Rose to enter as Juliette approached. Rose nodded to Juliette and Lela as she stepped inside.
“What brings you here so early again?” Juliette asked as she led Rose to the plush sitting room she was growing familiar with.
“I don’t know what to do to be useful while we wait for Aaron and Arie to return, so I wondered if we could talk about Zrak.” Rose shrugged as she took a seat on the green velvet chair.
Juliette requested food from someone in the hallway before she took a seat herself.
“Lela, do you want to join us?” Juliette called toward the doorway where her protege stood guard. “Maybe you can ask some of your questions while Rose asks hers.”
Lela’s eyes widened, surprised to be asked to join the leaders, but she didn’t hesitate. “Yes, of course,” she said as she sat beside Juliette on the couch.
“What did you want to know about Zrak?” Lela asked cautiously, testing her ability to question the Norden Point.
“I guess I want to know if Juliette trusts him,” Rose said. “It’s clear the gods want to. Luc even seemed inclined to believe Zrak’s intentions support the greater good of the continent.” Rose sighed. “I wanted the opinion of the one who has dealt with him most consistently over the past few hundred years.”
Juliette set her cup on the low table between them. She sat back in her chair and crossed her legs as she worked through Rose’s question. “Whether I trust Zrak is a complicated question.” She sighed as she glanced at Lela. “Zrak has put our people in a terrible position. No matter his intention or the necessity, that was the result. It’s not something I take lightly, and it’s not something I’ve ever been able to get him to acknowledge fully.”
“How often do you talk to him?” Rose asked.
“Not very. We’ve had a few conversations over the hundred years I’ve been doing this ritual.” She paused. “That’s the other thing. He’s not open about…anything. He still believes he’s a god and I’m the Osten Point, and this distance between us can’t be crossed. But if anyone understands the bind he’s in, shouldn’t it be me?”
“He could be embarrassed that you must help him at all,” Lela said quietly.
“It is a valid idea. And definitely a reason that an ageless god would act so childish, even if it is literally all his doing.” Juliette ran her fingers through her hair. “I’m angry at him all the time for this. I have been since I found out what the Osten Point had to do to preserve the court’s magic.” She looked at Lela again. “But I don’t want to pass that anger on to you. If I have anger, my predecessor was filled with rage. She’d had to see more directly what the Lost God’s choices had done and how the first Osten Point had been weakened.”
“It’s understandable to be angry about what his choices cost you,” Rose said.
“Yes, but I don’t want it to be the focus of the Osten court. It has been for so long—but we are more than the weakness he created.” Juliette nodded at Lela. “We can do better than the legacy he left us with.” Juliette coughed. “But that wasn’t your question, was it? Do I trust him?” She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t think he meant the harm that he caused. I’m not even sure he realized the harm he caused at first.”
“Isn’t that worse?” Rose asked.
Juliette smiled. “Some might think so, but this is one piece of information I did pick up from Zrak over the years. Cassandra’s control over her borders is more absolute than he realized when he first went to her for help. He didn’t know how much his power and his ability to provide balance to the Osten people would be impacted by existing beyond the veil. He knew his ability to affect the continent would be hindered—which was his overall plan. The full result of where he existed was a much more complete removal than he anticipated.”
“He was able to find a way to send the mist plague,” Rose pointed out.
“Yes, but as we learned, that has to do with the bargain he struck with Cassandra. She needed someone to shepherd spirits—his Nebulus were her best option.” She sighed. “I’m sure Zrak took advantage of that task to send the mist plague and to refuel the Osten fae connection, but from what you’ve said, Cassandra was aware of both.”
“I don’t think you’re reassuring me.” Rose laughed without any real mirth.
“I’m not sure I mean to,” Juliette said. “I told you it was complicated. He has specific plans in mind, and he doesn’t see fit to share them. The only reason I don’t hate him is that I’m not sure what other choice he had.” She paused again, her expression thoughtful. “Even now, I don’t think he has another choice. There is much more going on beyond the veil than we understand. I know you hate waiting, but our plan is sound. Without further understanding of what sins Cassandra holds against the gods, it would be unwise to confront her.”
“I’m going crazy, yes,” Rose said. “But I also agreed to give Aaron a chance to find Celeste’s journal. I can talk to Luc, so I at least know he’s okay.” Rose took a deep breath and put her hands on her knees. “I’m committed to our third attempt beyond the veil to be more fruitful.”
“Look at you, coming to terms with waiting.” Juliette’s smile didn’t meet her eyes. It was clear she didn’t wish this on anyone. She took another sip of her tea. “I believe that Zrak is on our side. My hesitation is that he is willing to pay any cost to meet his ends, even one he doesn’t have to bear directly. That ,” she emphasized, “makes him dangerous.”
Next on the list of things to occupy Rose was exercising her water magic. She had a little time before Walter was supposed to bring the Norden he’d spoken of last night to the house. Until then, she hadn’t much cause to let her magic play with the waters of Compass Lake since her return. It unfurled in waves now as she hit the Norden property line.
While chasing Aterra, Rose had spent so much time with her wind. She prioritized it in her attempt to connect with Juliette. It was also the first time she’d been able to use her wind without guilt—having been taught to hide it as a child. Her thoughts strayed to Walter’s daughter. She had likely grown up just like Rose. It was Rose’s mission that she wouldn’t need to continue that way.
The magical waters of Compass Lake called to her. All those times she couldn’t swim in the Lake of the Gods, she made up for now, diving into the water as she had when she was a child. Her power spread throughout the lake, touching every shore. It put on a display to rival the one she’d done at the Solstice Ball, but she didn’t watch. Rose floated in the comfort Compass Lake provided. She was too relaxed, stretching her magic, to notice a crowd had gathered on the beach.
As recognition hit, Rose got out of the water. It was the group of Norden she and Walter had discussed. She recognized many of the faces from when she’d claimed the Norden seat. Meg and Catherine stood with the group, but Rose couldn’t tell if they considered themselves part of it.
“Welcome,” Rose said. Walter appeared next to her, handing her a towel. She thanked him but dried herself with a flick of her magic and then addressed the group. “I’m glad to see so many Norden faces. Walter thought it would be beneficial for us to meet as a court.” She spared a glance at Meg and Catherine. “And for you to have the opportunity to ask me questions directly.”
“Your magic—it was a thing to behold in Compass Lake. We haven’t seen a Norden’s power exercised as such in a long time,” Walter said.
Rose nodded. “I admit, it felt great to do,” she said, addressing the crowd again.
“Is it true you have wind magic, too?” someone asked.
Meg’s face lit up like she was expecting trouble and delighting in it. Rose wanted to roll her eyes at the elder. It was no accident that she’d told Meg and Catherine about her mixed lineage. She had wanted everyone to know. The fact that they didn’t understand that was another representation of how little the ex-elders understood Rose. “It is,” Rose said without hesitation. “I have both wind and water magic, but as Samuel attested, I have claimed the Norden Point seat.”
“How is that possible?” a woman in the front row asked.
“The courts were never meant to be as separated as we’ve allowed them to become,” Rose said. “The gods created the courts in hope of us working together. It’s not a surprise that our magics might also eventually blend. I don’t want another generation of fae to believe there is anything wrong with having the magic of multiple courts or of having human ancestry.”
“Why are you able to be so frivolous with your magic?” Meg asked, referring to her display on Compass Lake. Her voice was low, almost a hiss in its exasperation. The crowd was hanging on Rose’s every word as she spoke of the future she strived for. Of course, Meg would want to choose a different topic of discussion. “Shouldn’t you be saving the continent with the Compass Points?” she asked snidely.
Rose searched the faces of the others gathered. They didn’t appear to hold as much anger as Meg’s tone indicated, but they did look interested in the response.
“I see the same question in the eyes of many gathered. So, I will share my response though I caution against your tone. You are a member of the court like all others gathered here. We should show each other the respect we wish to receive.”
Meg lifted her chin, her pride continuing to get the better of her.
Rose focused on the rest of the group, those who looked genuinely interested in what Rose was doing as Norden Point. “When the Compass Points left the lake together, we went to stop the mist plague. No new villages have been attacked since we returned.”
“Not all the Compass Points returned,” Meg said snidely, cutting Rose off.
“Now you care about the Suden Point?” Rose asked, unable to rein in the shock in her tone. Meg and Catherine had been appalled by Rose’s relationship with him. The fact that they now questioned where he was—as if they cared whether he came back alive—was rich.
The pair glanced at each other. A few in the crowd laughed awkwardly. Many had witnessed Rose and Luc’s relationship. It seemed not everyone was as opposed as the ex-elders would have Rose believe. “I want to assure everyone that our goal is to stop the mist plague and restore those impacted to their former state. The Compass Points still work together to secure that future. We need a resource that Aaron went to help us find—that will help us make our next move?—”
Rose cut herself off as a large black bird appeared, flying over Norden house. Rose’s heart felt lighter as she noted a large wrapped package in his claws.
“ Need any help down there?” Arie asked as he flew straight toward Norden house and the window Rose had left open.
Rose shook her head and hoped he could see it.
“ Well, get in here and read your book. It’s heavy, but I stopped to talk to Aaron on the way back, and he said this is the one you want—and it’s even better than he expected.”
“In fact, it seems our resource has just arrived,” Rose said. I must return to my work, but please spread the word. We’ll start open court sessions in Norden house next week. I’d love to hear from more of you, and I’m eager to share my own ideas.”
Walter spoke up again. “I’m happy to organize such an event.”
“Thank you, Walter. That would be perfect.”
Meg and Catherine glared, but it was clear Rose had won over the majority of the crowd. The rest, Rose knew, would take time. But she would continue to show up and prove herself to them.