Chapter Thirty-Eight
ELARA
When the ship arrived in the kingdom of Altalune, Elara couldn’t help but watch with wide eyes from the upper deck.
The entrance to the Kingdom of Waterfalls, as it was sometimes known, comprised a wide, clear torrent pouring into the sea from giant cliffs that sparkled and glinted in hues of aquamarine and clear quartz.
Ships waited in a line to enter, each having to pass through the waterfall as it was granted access to the kingdom.
Elara admired the water, which looked lit from within by iridescent pastel-green and purple algae.
As they approached the waterfall, a humming began, the melody all-encompassing.
‘What is that?’ she asked in wonder.
The ship passed through, and the water slid over her.
She gasped as it wet her, though it was warm, delightful.
Every nerve in her body stood to attention and, to her shock, she felt a swirl of something in her stomach.
Not her shadows—they were quiet, thankfully.
But when silver flashed behind her eyes, she knew it was that same magick that had appeared in the forest, and the lake, with Enzo.
‘It’s the crystal cliffs,’ Adrian said beside her, pointing as they came out on the other side of the veil.
His hair clung to his forehead and jaw. ‘As the wind moves through them, they let out a healing frequency. It attunes your magick as you enter the kingdom. Can help with minor maladies before you even enter to find a healer.’
‘Is that what I can feel?’ she whispered. ‘My magick attuning?’
He nodded. ‘I feel it too. The water in my bones swirling and settling.’
‘What exactly are your powers?’ Elara asked, realizing she never had before. She twisted her hair, wringing out some of the water.
‘A bit of this and that,’ Adrian replied vaguely. ‘Ebbflowing is by far my most impressive power.’
‘Ebbflowing?’
‘Melding with the water. It allows me to travel great distances, so long as I have the water of my destination with me.’
‘Then why have a ship?’
‘Because the magick is draining. And I have a crew. I can never take more than one person with me. I tend to use it only for emergencies.’
‘Are you the only one in your kingdom who can ebbflow?’
He shrugged. ‘To my knowledge, there are only a few of us. King Nereus wanted to keep me at court because of it. He either feared my power or wanted to use it to his advantage. Ebbflowers are few and far between. They make great messengers, and even greater assassins, as I’m sure you can imagine.’
Elara snorted, thinking of Idris. ‘I believe I’ve shared a similar experience. Others looking at you as though you’re nothing more than a weapon.’
‘Why do you think I became a pirate?’ He smiled wryly. ‘I won’t be tethered by anyone or anything. My spirit isn’t made for it. I need to be by the water, bowing to no one, able to sail where I please.’
‘That sounds like the life,’ she sighed.
‘But recently, around you…’ He paused, as though he wasn’t sure whether to continue.
‘Go on,’ she said softly.
‘I’ve felt…tied to you.’
Elara looked up sharply.
‘I know,’ he said hurriedly. ‘I know it doesn’t make sense.
You and Enzo are soulmates—believe me, I’m very aware.
But ever since the moon rose, my magick…
it’s changing. As though it’s pulled to you.
It’s stronger in your presence.’ He sighed.
‘I keep trying to hate you. To see you as everyone else on the damned continents does. But for the life of me, I can’t.
’ He turned his deep-blue eyes upon her beseechingly.
‘Tell me why, Elara. Tell me what it is I feel.’
She looked at him for a long time as her mind began to whir. Before she could speak, Adrian looked up, and she followed his gaze to Enzo, who had approached.
‘Time to go, princess,’ he said, nodding ahead.
Elara turned to where the boats were docking at an elegant pier stamped with the dragonfly sigil of the Lileas—a kind and honourable royal family, from what Elara knew.
The dock was built in a small cove, the shimmering water lapping gently against the ships, with small paths paved in varying crystals winding up it—eight, by Elara’s count.
‘You’d better go on ahead. Follow the golden quartz path. That takes you to the quarter for magickal maladies, right in the capital, in Lake Lilac’s centre.’
‘Thank you,’ Elara replied. ‘And which path will you take?’
He sighed. ‘I’ll start with the amethyst path, the one towards illnesses of the mind, curses and such.’ He tilted his head. ‘I hope you find what you’re looking for,’ he said.
She turned to Adrian as they made their exit, Enzo, Merissa and Leo filing off ahead. She hesitated, then wrapped her arms around him.
‘I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me,’ she said. ‘Thank you for helping me when no one else would. I…I hope you find a cure for your sister too.’
When she broke away, Adrian’s eyes were bright. ‘Until we meet again, Your Majesty.’ He bowed.
She curtsied. ‘Until then.’ And with that, she left the pirate with hope in her heart.