Chapter 52
Fifty-Two
South
I woke up in Mila’s bed, next to Schula. Puko sat perched on the bedpost at our feet.
The cabin was too small for everyone to fit, but Eberon had organized things beautifully. A triquetram had been sent back to Thanantholl to give a preliminary report to King Baeleon. The rest had been set as lookouts and hunters for now.
Nassir sat quietly in the corner.
Early reconnaissance reports of Icehold were bleak. We had managed to avoid damage to the residential areas, and thanks to the solstice masquerade, most of the population of the city had been on the other side of Icehold, away from the destruction.
We had, however, decimated the kitchen, barracks, armory, training rooms, and equipment workshops.
After a few days, with the help of magic and rest, Schula invited me out for a walk alone.
She let me lead us somewhere, and I took us to the hill where my mother had left the stone for me.
Schula had been mostly quiet since our retreat to Mila’s cabin. Today, she played with a strand of hair that had come loose from her long white braid.
“Is everything all right?” I asked softly.
She shook her head. “It’s not. It may never be all right again.”
I nodded, giving her another moment of silence before I tried again. “It seems you’ve had something on your mind.”
Schula sighed and turned my way. “I’m DuVarick’s daughter. But I don’t want to be. And even if he somehow came to accept it, I could never forgive him. I know he’s not right. I know his mind is foul, but I can’t forgive him.”
I bristled at that. “I wouldn’t want you to.”
She nodded, a melancholy smile on her lips. “I know what we did will have repercussions.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “But it’s high time the other kings realized what is going on in the Winter Lands. DuVarick isn’t right, and he’s not kind to his people.”
Schula gave a dark laugh. “Don’t let the other royals fool you. The fae aren’t a peaceful people. We put on a pretty show, but that’s where it ends. Though DuVarick is definitely the worst of them.”
Puko fluttered overhead, landing heavily on my shoulder, and I stroked his head absentmindedly.
“I don’t want to go back to Thanantholl,” Schula whispered.
Ah. That was what was bothering her.
“I don’t either.”
She looked at me, startled. “You’ve made friends there.”
“I know what they’ll call me behind my back. The elf witch. That’s all I’m going to be to them, and I’d prefer not to waltz up to Baeleon if he’s going to react the way DuVarick did. I don’t belong in the Wyldes, not anymore.”
Nothing could hide what I was from the two dozen creatures of the Autumn Court that Eberon had brought with him. They had easily pieced together that I had called the serpent from the crater, and they had questions.
Her eyes softened. “Then where?”
“The wards are deteriorating. And the witches are the ones who built them in the first place. And they might know more about Lark.”
“It sounds like we could get several answers from one place,” Schula finished. “What about the elves?”
“I don’t know where to start. I think the witches would be easier to find. I’ve grown up knowing them, and I know where to find information on them, but the elves have been hidden for a long time, right? I don’t know how to find them.”
“Well, we can start with the witches then,” Schula said. “Maybe they can lead us to the elves.”
“Maybe,” I said. “And one more thing. I want to bring Nassir with us, if he wants.”
“Of course,” Schula said instantly. “I couldn’t imagine going without him. How would he survive a big city? He’s too used to quiet. And I know it sounds silly, but I’ve grown fond of him, though I’ve only known him a few days.”
I smiled. “He has that effect, doesn’t he?”
“All right,” Schula said, much calmer now. “An adventure it will be, then. My lovely Wren, our wonderful Nassir, and we’ll find the witches and the elves and see distant lands and maybe find the black . . .”
She trailed off, and I chewed on my lower lip in thought. “It told us to find it. Do you think we should?”
“I don’t know,” she said quietly. “I feel like we’re supposed to. It’s frightening.”
“I feel the same way.”
We sat, enjoying the peaceful breeze for a while. It was quiet times like this that made me notice the difference from the Wyldes. The air wasn’t thick with magic and life. I might miss the Wyldes someday, but for now I was content to be far out of its reaches.
We stood, disturbing Puko for a moment, and headed back.
There was a pair of fae that we needed to talk to, and one particular goodbye that I wasn’t looking forward to.
“So, you’re leaving soon then?” Eberon asked softly.
Schula nodded.
We had taken Thain, Eberon, and Nassir with us away from the bustle around the cabin.
We walked a deer trail near one of my old fishing spots, and as we told them about our plans and concerns, they listened patiently.
Still, the sorrow in Eberon’s eyes cut deep.
Thain’s stony expression didn’t reveal anything he was feeling.
“A war may very well start in your absence,” Eberon said.
“And if we leave, DuVarick will split his resources and leave himself weakened,” Schula said. “You can’t believe that he would leave us alone after all that.”
“Which is all the more reason you shouldn’t go alone.” Thain spoke for the first time since we’d started our walk.
Schula and I looked at each other, surprised.
“Lord Eberon and you will be needed in Thanantholl,” Nassir said quietly. “These two have proven capable of taking care of themselves. They will return to you once they have found the answers they seek, Lord Thainalan.”
Thain glowered at Nassir, though the older fae couldn’t see him do it.
“He’s right, Thain.” Eberon laid a hand on him gently. “We would be miserable apart like that, and we’re going to be vital in the pursuit of DuVarick. We’re needed by Baeleon’s side.”
“And if he harbors us in Thanantholl,” Schula added, “it will only cause trouble.”
Thain’s attention landed on me, his silver eyes melting my heart as he resolved himself.
“I think I should gather some provisions,” Schula said.
“I’ll help you,” Eberon chimed in quickly, and they both left.
“I will simply leave, as it seems you need a moment,” Nassir said honestly, a smile on his face as he slowly walked back. Puko took off and landed on Nassir’s shoulder, startling the old fae as he walked back toward the cabin.
I looked up at Thain, not knowing what to say. Thankfully, he broke the silence first.
“I will find you,” he promised.
Shaking my head, I swallowed down the ache already forming. “I’ll be back.”
“I will find you anyway,” he swore, his tone firming. “Once my duty to the Autumn Lands is completed, I will find you.”
I still didn’t know how. There was no telling where the journey to find these answers would take me. The quiet swirled between us, the calmness of the air in stark contrast to the war inside me.
“I will miss you,” he said softly.
He put his hand up to my face, and I leaned into it. His warm palm was a comfort as I held in the tears trying to escape.
“What gave you interest in a plain girl like me?” I had always wanted to ask.
“There’s nothing plain about you,” he murmured, now rubbing his thumb in small circles on my cheek while he held my face. “Kindred souls, perhaps? I admire your resolve, though it irks me right now as it’s taking you away from me.”
He drew back a moment and pulled a thin silver chain from under his shirt. It was long on Thain, and as he slipped it over my head, it dropped nearly to my belly button. I lifted the chain; on the end of it was a tiny stone. It was dark blue, as dark as Thain’s hair, with specks of silver in it.
“What is this?” I asked.
“I had been meaning to give it to you since that fight we had. But then you came back from Dwellonmar with that quartz from Caldon, and I never did.” He took the chain from me for a moment to look at the stone. He whispered, leaning down to my ear, “I like that color of blue against your skin.”
Heat bloomed on my face, and I pulled in a breath. “I think I do too.” He held my wrists gently and pulled my hands away. Then he leaned in and gave me a slow kiss.
It wasn’t like our first one; it was slow and passionate. It spoke more words than either of us could have said out loud. It was a promise. A promise to pick back up where we’d left off when I came back.
He deepened the kiss, making me gasp as his tongue slid into my mouth. I met him with more warmth, and he growled playfully before pulling away again.
I was breathless and hot when he pulled away. His eyes were full of emotion as he watched me recover from him.
“Let’s get you back. We have things to do.”
“Right,” I breathed. “Let’s go.”
Thain laughed and led us to the cabin.
It was dawn when we left. Schula, Nassir, and I carried packs filled with supplies.
I’d asked Eberon to take my smoky quartz for safekeeping.
I had no romantic intentions toward Caldon, at least not anymore, but he was still a friend, and I didn’t want it destroyed.
I wasn’t sure what Thain might do with it while I was gone.
Schula gave Thain the key to her apartment. He would move her things into a guest room in his home, and Mama Flori could rent the place to someone who would be there, since we had no idea how long our trip would be.
Nassir, with food and meditation, was now able to get around much better.
He walked in a meditative trance, sensing the objects around him and skillfully navigating the mountain terrain.
He said he didn’t want to be more of a burden than he already was, and he’d progressed quite a bit over the few days we had been here.
The three of us walked in quiet contemplation as the Autumn creatures behind us said goodbye, watching us leave their sight.
There would be hard times ahead, and hopefully good times too. But with Schula and Nassir by my side, and Thain to come home to, I was ready for the challenge.
I needed answers. Not just for me but for the good of the Wyldes and the humans who lived south of the wards.
As we stepped from the tree line toward the plains below, I held my head high.
I was Wren.
Witch. Elf.
Bonded to Schula. Daughter of Bryn.
I would find the witches. I would find the elves.
I might even find the black presence.
And then I would save the Wyldes.