25. Kyros
Chapter twenty-five
Kyros
The more time I spend idle with my thoughts, the more they spiral in an unrelenting cyclone.
The bag of sand, necklace, and book sit mockingly on the table in front of me.
Each one of them presents their own conundrum to work through.
I know they possibly have ties leading back to Astraea, but how?
Kaeleith had written the prophecy down on a folded piece of parchment that she had placed in the middle of the book.
I’ve read the words so many times that they’ve burned into the recesses of my soul.
What lies beyond the darkness sleeps, a world cast out, seeks release. All dreams reveal a truth withheld, hiding behind the lies of an ashen veil. When the fallen star claims the night, the Senka reign will bring the tide.
“Does Astraea know who you really are?” I take a deep calming breath at the sound of Ruaan’s voice.
“Yes.” I supply in a clipped tone. This truce of ours is still unfamiliar, and the frustration when he is around remains ever present.
He hums, and I finally cut my eyes toward him.
“We didn’t get to finish our conversation earlier.
” I say as he comes to lean against the window sill.
The sun is blazing beyond the Halcyon mountain peaks at his back, telling me that the morning has nearly come and gone already.
We’re leaving later than I had wished, but I know Astraea and Colette needed to have their private conversation.
Regardless of how I feel scorned by the world and how unjust fate has been, like Astraea, I know I need to allow myself to trust sometimes.
Even if Ruaan pushes my patience, something tells me fate has been just as unkind to him.
“What do you want to revisit?” He smirks, knowing full well that it grates on my every nerve.
I give him my own condescending smile, then let my gaze fall back on the items on the table.
As much as I hate to admit it, Ruaan was right in questioning why I didn’t know as much as I should about my magick.
“As you know now, my upbringing was not what it should have been for a royal child. The heir to the throne should have a deep understanding of their magick and the magick within the kingdom. That was taken from me by the man who now sits on my throne, and then I was misled by a queen who only wished to control me.” My hand drags through my hair, distracted with all the thoughts stirring around in my head.
“You want to learn more about your heritage as a Senka born?” He guesses, and I lift my eyes, fist clenching.
“The more I learn, the more I realize how little I truly know. It makes me wonder what limitations they’ve put on me.
I should have realized sooner that there was more to this magick with their reaction to my ability to portal.
” I reluctantly admit, and Ruaan, being Ruaan, lets out an exaggerated sigh, blowing out his cheeks and letting his brows peak on his forehead.
“So not much, huh?” He laughs, and as much as I don’t want to, I feel the same sense of humor at the paradox we’re facing. After a beat of silence, he clears his throat to fill the awkward silence.
“Yea, only a lifetime of partial truths to rectify.” A breath comes out as a huff from my nose as I shake my head.
This has been the most true and least tension-filled conversation between the two of us as of yet.
Perhaps patience really is a virtue. Ruaan considers me for a moment, his mind clearly racing through where he thinks he should start before taking a deep breath and crossing his arms over his chest.
“Well, let’s start at a problem that you seem less than knowledgeable about…
” I can't help but narrow my eyes at his choice of words. He shrugs. “There are several types of magick, as I’m sure you’re aware.
Of those, there are only two that are derived from the gods themselves, and they live within the royal lines.
We consider these to be the Senka-born and the Kres-born.
Each is said to be a specific type of magick wielder.
Though the latter less commonly manifests.
Wielders of divine fire have to be strong enough to carry the burden of its heat.
” He pauses only enough to silently inquire if I'm following.
I stare, statue still, as I wait for him to continue.
My mind is racing at his words. Divine fire.
“Being Senka-born, obviously, I am more familiar with our attributes, but Senka and Kres have some similar magick too. Both are said to be what we call Oneiros-Vagant, dream wanderers. Though, only the strongest among us can project into a true Umbra Vitae.” His eyes meet mine again, searching for comprehension.
“Umbra Vitae?” I ask, pressing my fingers to my mouth as I try to recall ever hearing the term. Nothing immediately comes to mind.
“The Umbra Vitae is a dangerous form of projection,” an unexpected voice interrupts before Ruaan can even respond.
I look up to see Kaeleith hobbling into the room with her walking stick.
She jerks her chin toward the table and continues.
“The book will tell you more about the Umbra Vitae. It is a very old form of magick, archaic and unstable if the wielder is not ready to harness that sort of transformation. It can eat away at the soul.”
“Are there other types of projection? I’ve learned to send someone into the throes of sleep, but I—” I clamp my jaw down, unable to admit that I think I was present in one of Astraea’s nightmares; that I may have projected myself into it.
I watched it unfurl like a passenger. Kaeleith looks at me knowingly but says nothing else on the matter.
For that I’m grateful. Though, that doesn't stop Ruaan from interjecting.
“Umbra Vitae is the only form of projection that transforms someone into their shadow-self. I’ve only read about it, but it seems like it would be cool as fuck to master.
Anyway, that's what I think Phaedra has portaling her around. Considering the display we all saw in the dunes at the Shula Morana.”
Astraea and Colette choose that moment to join us, letting a flash of sun cut into the cabin as they open the front door. As soon as our eyes clash, it’s like someone has thrown me into the Shula Morana. Fire warms everything, my very soul setting ablaze in those blue-flame eyes.
“Did you kiss and make up?” Ruaan’s cocky arrogance returns in full force at their entrance. My eyes stab into him; he only smiles wider and then blows a kiss in my direction. Astraea surprises me again, actually laughing at the exchange.
“There was nothing to make up about.” Astraea says, reaching for Colette’s hand and twining their fingers together.
They smile at each other in a way that isn’t unlike the secret conversations that Mavros and I can have with just eye contact.
Just thinking of my brother makes my gut twist with guilt.
I should have him at my side already. There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where I haven’t felt worried about him and everyone else’s safety.
As the days turn to weeks without answers, the pain of not knowing for certain that they are okay is only intensifying, and it’s eating at me the longer we don’t have answers.
I look down at my hand and the tremble that has only gotten worse.
The weakness that has only become more evident.
“I’ve given each of you some supplies that you might come to need.
” Kaeleith says, using her stick to slide into the other high-back chair with a sidelong look in my direction.
Those opaque eyes linger a moment before she reaches for the steaming pitcher in the center of the table and pours the hot water over a mix of leaves.
I stand as she continues to busy her knobby hands.
“Thank you for letting us stay in your home.” Astraea says to the old dweller as I place a hand on the small of her back, and Kaeleith’s mouth twists into something between a warm smile and a knowing grin.
She lifts her walking stick, laying it across the table in front of the chairs with a loud slap and lifts the tea she's just made to her lips.
“Aye, you are always welcome here in my forest—all of you.” She says into the mug.
“I’m sure you will be ready and waiting as always.” I say under my breath, but not so quiet it’s unheard. She only smiles at that.
We’ve loaded the horse up with what little we have to take with us.
As the sun reaches the highest point in the sky, we’re finally ready to head to Aithne.
Colette and Ruaan are in light conversation, and as I cinch the strap holding the last of what remains to the saddle, I feel Astraea’s presence at my back.
Her energy is unique to anyone else, and now that her magick is unmasked, there’s no mistaking it.
“Are you worried?” I ask without turning around.
“Are you?” She automatically questions back.
“I would be lying if I said no.” I turn to face her and am met with a look of sympathy, bringing her brows together between her eyes. “I’ve not gone a day without worrying about them,” I admit, showing her a vulnerability I don't give just anyone.
“They will be ok. You said it yourself, Kyros. You would know. The same way I knew Colette was okay.” She closes the distance between us, her hand sliding up the plane of my chest as she fiddles with the leather strap of the baldric I now wear.
“You’re right.” She beams at my words, and I trap her hand, pressing it more firmly above my heart. “Please, be alert when we go through the portal. I don’t know what will be on the other side. We left quite a mess just outside of Aithne.” I warn. She swallows and nods.
“The necklace—Colette said it was created to be a protection. Do you think that if I put it back on— would it still block my magick? Would that protect people from me hurting them?” She asks nervously, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Is that what you think? That the necklace was meant to block your magick from hurting people?” I wait for her response, but she only looks down at her boots.
Lifting her gaze back to mine, I cup her face with both hands and stare intently into her eyes.
“Kaeleith created that necklace to protect the realm from your magick getting into the wrong hands. Not to protect the realm from you. You are good, Shula. It’s the realm that has failed to protect you. ”
“Kaeleith?” She asks, her brows pinching in the center of her forehead.
“Kaeleith. The batty old dweller has many secrets, most of which she refuses to divulge.” I say, and Astraea tries to suppress a smile.
“I mean, I could tell that she was eccentric from the moment I met her.” She says, looking up at me. I huff out a laugh.
“She was once the Royal Seer for Diemos. And she was the one who foretold the prophecy.” I pull the leather-bound book from the satchel hanging at my hip.
Its cover is worn and old, and I run my finger over the faded golden mandala at the center.
“I think this book may have some useful information, but some of it is in a language that I can’t decipher.
It’s why I want to go to Aithne before anywhere else. I believe Rowan can help.”
Hands shaking, she takes the offered tome.
Running her fingers over the faded foiled text, just as I had done.
Her magick thrums along her arms, and a look of shock takes over her face as her eyes bounce between the book and my mirrored expression.
Then she reads aloud from the folded, handwritten parchment that Kaeleith left within.
“What lies beyond the darkness sleeps, a world cast out, seeks release. All dreams reveal a truth withheld, hiding behind the lies of an ashen veil. When the fallen star claims the night, the Senka reign will bring the tide.” She recites the prophecy with her brows furrowed, trying to understand.
She folds the paper, placing it back where it was, but the black coils of smoke begin to slither from her skin and wrap around the book, imitating a dust devil in the sand, suggesting that I’m right about the importance of whatever is written inside.
I can see the fear build behind the initial shock and awe. Her chest begins heaving, her breaths too deep and rapid. The skin along the hollow of her neck ticks with the increasing beat of her heart, barely visible to most over the collar of the vest she wears. But I see it.
“Shula,” I breathe the nickname only I call her.
Her eyes flick up, away from the soft vortex of magick.
It's not a huge show of power, but it's alive nonetheless.
I have to remind myself that she's not used to seeing any magick—especially not magick conjured by her own hand.
Every bit of it is terrifying for her. I call my shadows to me, and I breathe a little deeper when they respond instantly.
It feels so good to have access to them again.
The glittering sand-like shadow wisps are slow to swirl out to meet the more matte version of her smoky magick.
I urge the shadows to slow, and hers respond in kind.
They ease their dance around the book, and with the decrease in its intensity, Astraea’s breaths begin to slow as well.
My lips curl into a small smile seeing her expression morph from anxiety to wonder.
It's like watching her see a new place for the first time.
The splendor in her gaze is enough to make even a man like me see the beauty in a world that has been nothing but bleak.
Like a tide receding, so do our shadows. They swirl back up our arms and take their resting place along our skin. Her blue eyes are gleaming when they return to meet mine.
“Thank you.” Her voice barely reaches me with how softly she utters the words.
“Your perception of your magick will evolve. You’ll accept what I know to be true.
You are exceptional. It's devastating how enamored I am. It's a shame you were never shown just how captivating you are.” Her cheeks glow that pretty pink I’ve come to obsess over.
We stand so close to one another. I can feel her breath flutter out at the base of my neck.
I could wrap her in my arms, close my mouth over hers, and show her the madness that lives inside me when in proximity to her…
but my hand comes between us, my gaze snagging on a stray lock of hair that has blown across her face.
With more tenderness than I have ever touched someone, I brush that hair away from her face and tuck it behind her ear. “I’ll show you—with time.”