21. Ellowyn
Chapter 21
Ellowyn
I padded across the dry and cracked landscape, occasionally tripping over some of the larger divots, causing my steps to falter and my ire to grow.
Why did I keep coming here?
I angrily pulled my nightgown up so my legs and feet had greater room to move. I thought about ripping off the bottom completely but wasn’t sure how I would explain a ripped night dress to Pip . . . or Mother. I groaned inwardly as I grasped the bottom of it in my arms.
A roll of thunder and crack of lightning punctuated my thoughts, and I halted my steps, choosing instead to twist my face to the sky. Colors rolled and swirled above me, mingling with the black clouds. Some of the tendrils flowed lazily about, almost teasing the sky, while others moved with agitated precision, all jagged edges and anger.
It was heady, seeing the colors interact that way, and I found myself getting lost in their depths.
They moved with such purpose, such emotion, that it was hard to believe this was all something my mind created.
“I haven’t discovered what that is, yet,” a voice said thoughtfully from behind me.
I screamed, my voice loud in the otherwise quiet space, my terror echoing off the mountains in the distance. The storm and colors seemed to react to my fright, each swirling in earnest. I whirled around, my nightgown still clutched in my hands, and came face-to-face with Torin.
My jaw was open, my mouth in a silent “o” as my eyes quickly raked over him. He was dressed in a plain cream tunic and loose brown pants, his sun-kissed hair tousled as if he rolled around in bed before appearing here. My cheeks heated at the thought of Torin in bed, and I quickly tore my eyes from his form, only to meet his gaze head-on.
He looks good.
If possible, my cheeks heated further, and I clutched my nightgown tightly.
Torin’s eyes never left my face, but he gave me a slight wink when our gazes connected, acknowledging that not only did he know I was checking him out, but that he was completely okay with it.
I gulped, and he folded his arms loosely across his chest, tightening the sleeves of his tunic and exposing sculpted biceps and shoulders. My eyes instantly tracked the movement and Torin let out a low, gravelly chuckle.
I closed my eyes on a frustrated groan.
Great. Just great.
“You can open your eyes, Ellowyn. It’s quite a compliment, really. Though you may want to do something about the, uh, nightgown you’re holding.” His words were careful, and I popped one eye open. Torin’s left hand was grasping his neck as he stared at my thighs before glancing away quickly.
My thighs?
Both of my eyes flew open, and I stared in abject horror at the skin my nightgown exposed. In my fascination with the colors and Torin’s sudden appearance, I failed to realize that the hand holding my bunched nightgown slowly crept higher until it barely covered the apex of my thighs.
I let the nightgown go in a rush before burying my face in my hands, my hair falling in a curtain around me, hiding my shame.
“This is beyond embarrassing,” I said, my words muffled. Torin only laughed.
“Come now, it’s okay. You weren’t expecting company, clearly, and it’s not the first time I’ve seen a woman’s thighs.” He grinned cheekily.
I pulled my head from my hands and shot him a look full of ire and disgust.
“Really? You’re going to admit that to your betrothed?” I spat.
He blanched, blinking quickly.
“I figured you would, uh, have had similar experiences but with men?”
I stared at him blankly before shaking my head once .
“Women?” he asked with a slight wince.
I shook my head again.
“Ah, well, I see. I’ll just uhm, let that go for now.” His cheeks were pink, and he seemed thoroughly embarrassed, though I couldn’t shake the strange feeling in my chest.
Jealousy? Inadequacy?
I couldn’t quite place it, but I knew I didn’t like it.
“It was important to my parents that I be . . . pure,” I finally answered and Torin cocked his head.
“So, your brother was allowed to experience life, as were the other ladies of court, I’d imagine, but you were locked up tight like some ancient princess.” His words were careful, and I missed his playful nature.
I shrugged my shoulders. “Pretty much. Not like there was much opportunity for that anyway.”
His brow furrowed, and I quickly changed the subject, not wanting to discuss my inexperience.
“What did you mean when you said you haven’t discovered what that”—I pointed to the sky—“is yet? Have you . . . been here before? And why have I never seen you?”
Torin frowned for another moment before visibly shaking himself and pondering my questions.
“Yes, I’ve been here before. I honestly didn’t think that anyone else could access this place, but clearly those thoughts were wrong. I’m happy to see you can, though.”
I hummed slightly.
“What do you think it means?” I asked, tilting my head to look at the sky again. I heard him shift behind me as he took a few measured steps, so he was standing even with me, and his face also tilted toward the storm. He smelled like sunshine and something sharper, and I wanted his scent to envelope me completely.
I tried to take deep breaths without him noticing, but the slight quirk of his lips told me that I failed. Thankfully, he didn’t mention it.
“I’m not sure,” he finally said, “but I have an idea at least.”
I pulled my eyes from the sky and watched him.
“You emerged as a Creation Mage, right? Both pillars illuminated when you Awakened?” I gave him a jerky nod, surprised that he knew that when I couldn’t find him after my ceremony.
“I suspect that you have more than just Creation Magic, then,” he admitted, finally turning to face me. “And you can pull on it without a Vessel or crystals.” His eyes were such an arresting shade of hazel—like molten honey that I wanted to bathe in, flecked with a forest I wanted to get lost in.
“And why is that?” I whispered, my eyes never leaving his. I had the oddest urge to reach out and touch him, push a lock of his hair off his forehead, but I clenched my fist to suppress the urge.
“Because I also have multiple powers and don’t need a Vessel or crystals.” He shrugged like it was the most normal thing to admit. “Both pillars lit for me as well when I Awakened a few years ago, and I found myself here more often than not.”
“Has Fate ever spoken to you?”
“Once or twice.” I expected him to elaborate on their conversations, but he was staying close-lipped on those interactions. I could understand and respect that. We didn’t know each other well, yet, and I didn’t want to give away all my secrets either.
Though, I felt the pushing urge to just tell him everything and learn everything about him in return.
What is wrong with me?
The sky crackled and split open as lightning hit near our location. My hair stood on end from its charge, and the ground scorched from the impact before the mark disappeared entirely.
“Interesting,” Torin mused to himself.
I felt my body tensing, the sign that I was going to leave this place soon, and I anxiously looked at Torin.
“I’m waking up,” I said, my voice flickering. His eyes met mine and he gave me a smile—one that held an undue number of secrets.
“We’ll see each other soon, I’m certain. Try and pull on your Destruction Magic. It’s there, I’m sure of it,” he said as my vision fogged.
“Wait! If I write to you, will you answer?” I felt silly blurting that as I was pulled from the dreamscape, but something in me had to know that he would.
His lips quirked in that signature grin and he winked again. “For you, Ellowyn, I’d do pretty much anything.”
Then he was gone, and I was hurtling back to my body in bed.
I gasped and sat up straight in my bed.
What a weird dream . I thought to myself, casually running my hand across my forehead. Unlike all the other previous dreamscapes, this one left my eyes heavy, sleep just around the corner. I turned to my side, finding a comfortable position before my eyes began to flutter shut of their own accord.
Just before I succumbed to sleep, I swore I saw vines trailing up my walls and a coat of the same grass covering my floor. But when I awoke the next morning, well rested for the first time in ages, the room was empty and barren once more, a thin spattering of ash present instead.