Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
The priestesses say it was through the will of the gods that the hufen were created. That’s never made sense to me. Why would the gods embrace such darkness?
— From the journal of Violet Andrever
Ihad now been in Valdris for over two and a half months and was no closer to fixing the Veil than I was when I first came here.
If fixing it the last time required the sacrifice of both of my parents—powerful channelers by anyone’s estimation—how was I, a barely trained magic user who had no idea what she was doing, supposed to figure it out?
Clearly, the prophecy wasn’t going to help me.
I needed more information. Something that no one else in all the years of studying this phenomenon had uncovered and tried.
But nothing was what I was looking for. Although since I didn’t actually know what I was looking for, it was hard to put into words.
But people were dying out there. The reports were just getting worse. Griff was constantly in danger every time he left. And, as Zachariah reminded me every chance he got—not that he needed to—it was all on me to fix this.
“I just need…” I slumped in my chair in frustration, trailing off—because that was the problem. I didn’t know what I needed.
Finn rubbed my shoulder in solidarity. “What do you need, Lexie?”
“More knowledge? There’s something I’m missing about the Veil and the prophecy. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, but something doesn’t sit right with me.”
“Then you’ve come to the right person. There’s no history book, no knowledge, no archive, that’s forbidden to me. Let’s try a different track.”
I was starting to wonder if what I was looking for didn’t actually exist. But somehow, someway, I knew that when I found it, I’d know it was what I was looking for.
Finn decided that maybe what I needed couldn’t be found within the castle walls, and that we should check out the second-oldest place in Valdris.
I think he also thought, rightly so, that I needed a break.
And so I made my first foray outside the castle walls since that trip with Griff, now almost six weeks ago.
The afternoon air was crisp in a way that only late autumn air could be.
The season was certainly turning, bringing into sharp relief the fact that Ignistar was next week.
I pulled my coat farther around myself. Even though it was made of the finest wool and lined for warmth, the chill permeated my bones.
Although, even with the weather, I was ecstatic to be outside the castle walls and ready for my first visit to the city of Valdris.
“You’re practically dancing down these streets,” Finn observed, grinning. “Anyone would think you’d been a prisoner up there.”
“Wasn’t I?” That came out more bitter than I intended and I laughed to soften it. “I’m just used to more… freedom, I guess. The ability to wander wherever I please.”
“Wander away, my dear.” Finn gestured grandly, and I skipped a few steps.
We followed the cobblestone path down the mountainside.
It was fairly steep as we left the castle, but it settled into a low slope soon enough.
The path spiraled down the mountain, with the ramparts, carved straight from the mountain stone, rising high on both sides of us.
We soon came upon the first set of shops and houses, built into the rampart walls.
Some of the buildings were in front of the walls, narrowing the already tight passageways, and others were behind, forming close-quartered alleys.
Some you could only enter from the ramparts themselves, while some had street-level entrances or were up half a flight of stairs.
All were built of that same gray, brown, and yellowing stone.
Dark-gray stone appeared every so often—newer places that hadn’t yet weathered over the years.
The buildings went up several stories, apartments and houses dotting the rest of the path.
Staircases leading to other levels of the ramparts were either open to the elements or contained within narrow towers.
Taken as a whole, it was a maze of stone passages that I would have loved to explore, given half a chance. Everyone walked with a purpose here, as though they knew exactly where they were going, navigating the narrow streets with ease. My steps faltered slightly when I noticed the stares.
“Do they know who I am?” I asked quietly.
“Word travels fast,” Finn admitted. “And you are fairly noticeable, especially with that signature hairdo.”
My hand raised involuntarily to my hair, where it was braided in a crown. I had taken to wearing it like that ever since Kaia had grabbed my hair early on in one of our sparring sessions—something Cormac had taught me years before, and I had foolishly neglected.
“But look.” Finn took my arm, tucking it into his, directing my attention to the passersby. While they were staring, people simply nodded respectfully, and then went about their business. There was no swarming me like the courtiers did every chance they got.
“They’re curious about you,” Finn said quietly. “And who wouldn’t be curious about our long-lost princess. But they won’t beset you, unlike those beasts above us.”
I relaxed, nodding back at the people who bowed their heads to my passing.
The first set of stores we came upon were textile in nature—clothes, bed linens, blankets. Slightly farther on were the various apothecaries and stores that sold essence-bound trinkets.
Finn explained this practice. “For people who don’t have access to various channels, they can buy medallions or some other item that has a small store of power in it for that task.
Like Azar does with teleporting. Not everyone has access to a teleporter like Griff, so they may buy a necklace that allows them to do so.
Of course, there’s a finite amount of power stored, so it may only get them a handful of trips.
Could be fewer if they’re going farther distances.
Or someone may decide they don’t want to use flint and steel and buy a fire starter.
Again, a cheap fire starter may only be able to start a dozen fires, while a more expensive one could do a hundred or so.
” He continued, “And then there are those who do it for love of the craft, like essence-forged blades. Master blacksmiths will forge weapons of considerable power. You’ve seen Griff’s swords?
Taladhar is imbued with air and earth. And Pyreth is fire and water.
Opposites in each blade. They heighten his channels, making him a more effective killing machine. ”
I bristled at that description of Griff, but I had no time to counter Finn, as he announced, “Ah, here we are.” He ushered me toward a tall stone building with seven columns on the outside. “This is what I wanted to show you. The Saicharan. Our temple.”
I stared up at the seven columns, each a different color: green, blue, red, silver, gold, purple, and burgundy.
An image of the god tied to that power was carved into each one.
Green was the most familiar to me, being the earth mother, Erde.
Her hands hovered over the ground, coaxing new life into being, the plants spiraling up to meet her.
Blue was water, and depicted as a female, Voda, the ocean behind her, with a wave crashing up over her arm.
Fire, Ignis, was all in red, and holding a fireball, the warrior incarnate.
Air, Vitr, was in silver, his wind depicted by swirls surrounding his head.
The internal channels were more complex.
The woman dressed in gold with a serene expression on her face and her hands folded gently could only be Solais—goddess of soul.
Her features were familiar to me though I couldn’t place them.
Purple must have been mind, Meddwl, who had a tricky look on his face.
And the last was body, Corff, as burgundy, a stern and foreboding massive brute.
Finn kept pace with me as I climbed up the tall steps, my attention lingering on the image of Solais. It wavered as I passed, almost as if her eyes followed me.
Inside the temple, there were three main sections, in the shape of a “T.” The upper arms seemed older, like it was the original section.
Worn, weathered limestone formed the walls.
The middle portion down the center was newer, sharper, built of sections of dark granite.
Stretching out before me were three rows of benches—gold, purple, and burgundy.
To my left were two rows, green and silver.
My right had red and blue. Each of the benches were carved with representations of the god or goddess of that section.
Light flowed in through skylights and stained glass, again each colored according to the god, bathing the stones below it in a wash of color.
I gravitated to the earth section, hoping to sense some familiarity there.
For people who were mostly farmers, Erde provided all we needed.
Our fortunes rose and fell depending on her gifts.
I’d never heard of the other gods in Fairhaven, although here, I’d been quickly exposed to them, as everyone had their favorite that they prayed to.
I stayed for a moment on the green bench, grounding myself and drawing strength through it, smelling the scents of rich loam and fresh herbs, bringing to mind greenery and growth. The stained glass around me was etched in spiraling vines, the green glaze washing over me, making me feel renewed.
Next, I sat on the silver bench, the scents changing to crisp mountain air. Swirling winds and cloud formations formed the stained glass here.
I paused at blue, not feeling a strong connection to water, although the ocean freshness and hint of rain reminded me of Griff. And the flowing waves outlined in the windows were peaceful.