3. The Heart
THE HEART
Thea clung tightly to Starspark's neck as her destination came into view. The glimmer circling her target faded momentarily, and as she passed through the opening, she felt the tickle of magic over her skin.
A grassy knoll grew closer, closer. Starspark’s feet landed silently, impressive for such a young dragon, and yet Thea wasn’t surprised. Starspark may not like her, but Evergale had trained him to heed the commands of whoever was on his back.
The majestic beast beneath her huffed, lowering his head to the ground diligently, but stiff. He was unhappy. She could feel it in the tension of his neck, gripped tightly between her thighs.
"Thank you for getting me here safely," she told him, as much truth as it was distraction. A few familiar faces arrived, and they approached the dragon carefully, politely.
“Easy, big fella,” a young woman called with a kind voice. In her hand was a bucket of smelly meat that Thea could unfortunately smell from her seat.
“Well, I’ll be,” another woman's voice boomed up to her. “I was half afraid you’d forgotten about us.”
She eased herself down while Starspark was preoccupied, the distraction working better than Thea’s botched plan had. She wanted to melt into the ground and escape from the archdruid’s kind eyes. Instead, she grumbled, “As if,” and dusted herself off before taking in the familiar scenery. Avoiding.
But Vaelen’s eyes were aged and wise, and the archdruid gazed at her as if she could see right through Thea.
Behind her, a dragon stared, as silent as the patient earth her verdant scales reminded Thea of, as stern as the woman in front of Thea tried to be.
“Welcome home. Would you like food, rest, a bath, or a chat?”
Thea’s eyes drifted shut in relief. “Yes.”
Vaelen chuckled and drew a gloved hand out from her body.
Her deep brown skin seemed to glow beneath the torchlight, and the green band of runes and symbols around her arm was still prominent, shining mutedly, along with the line carved into her brow and the rings woven into her intricately braided hair—ten in total, one more than when Thea had seen her last, catching the light in a small hoop in her nose.
The tradition left a bubble of humor in her throat, a twinge of pride.
Vaelen reached up and brushed a thumb over Thea's own smooth, uninterrupted brow. “We'll get this fixed once you settle in. Come with me."
Thea walked, with a last glance over her shoulder. Starspark was... still, while the druids around him attempted to coax the dragon deeper into the Dragons’ Nest, where he’d be safe. In the distance, she could see the silhouettes of others awaiting him.
A memory of Aaryn brushing him so lovingly flashed in Thea’s mind, and she ignored the quick ache behind her breastbone.
“You’ve been gone for so long. I’m eager to hear your tales, of which you have many, I’m sure.” Vaelen led her toward a dim orange glow.
Which was the kindest way Vaelen could’ve possibly given Thea room to breathe, to come to terms with her failure, and how to explain it. “There’s plenty to entertain you with.”
“And this hair!” Vaelen said with a laugh. “It’s really grown out!”
Thea flicked one of the braids at her temple. “The fringe got unruly. It was pissing me off in my armor. Braids were the answer.”
“Practical.”
“It had to be, because the armor they wear isn’t,” Thea grumbled.
Vaelen arched a brow in interest. “Why’s that?”
“It’s not like ours,” she said, and motioned to Vaelen. The archdruid wasn’t wearing battle armor around the circle on an average day, but she got the jist. “It doesn’t breathe. And it’s heavy.”
Vaelen chuckled and glanced over at her, but remained quiet while Thea ranted about being a guard. Spending almost two years listening to them sing the king’s praises when—
Thea huffed, ending her tirade about the time they arrived at the rune circle.
“Ready for this again?” Vaelen asked.
Thea stepped eagerly into the unlit magic beneath their feet.
With the toe of her boot, she shifted the tile into place, completing the illustration of a rune painted into the flat stones beneath her feet.
The spell activated and a full-body shiver worked up Thea’s spine.
By the time it was making her scalp ripple with gooseflesh, a new landscape awaited Thea.
Thea sucked in a breath as she looked out. In the time she had been gone, they’d done so much.
“Timberscale was raided. We had to pull new ground, shuffle some folks around," Vaelen explained.
“So that was you,” Thea murmured. She’d heard word of a new crater in the earth on Windhelm’s side of the mountain range, whispers of rotten druids poisoning the land, sacrificing it for the sake of revenge. How wrong they all were. “I thought I counted a new ring,” she offered.
“We had to make room for them. About two months ago, Evergale took their land,” Vaelen said as they walked, her expression neutral. Which meant she was pissed. "We took them in."
“At least they're safe here,” Thea murmured. The only ones who knew Cloud Haven even existed were the ones who were offered refuge here.
Thea noted a guard on duty near the teleportation runes and offered them a nod. “Now that looks comfy,” she told one, pointing to their armor, which was made up of leather and shiny scales that bent and moved with every motion they made.
They laughed and did a little spin as Thea directed, the scales shimmering green and blue with every movement, every reflection of light. “Welcome back, Thea,” they said.
A smile cracked Thea’s lips. “Thank you. It’s good to be back.”
“We’ll have to get you a new set once you’re settled in again,” Vaelen offered as they continued walking the worn paths between small buildings home to the tannery, the blacksmith, the seamstresses, and more.
Every now and then Thea would spy a dragon lounging around, but most of them preferred to stay on their own isle, where she had delivered Starspark.
Thea swatted at Vaelen. “You spoil me.”
She waved off her thanks, as always. “You haven’t seen anything yet."
As Thea looked up from the archdruid, her jaw dropped. Homes had been carved from the earth and molded by magic hands with paths stretching off in every direction, tucked between the wildlife. Dozens of them. Maybe hundreds.
It was more organized, and more crowded than when she’d last been here.
“Archdruid Vaelen,” Thea whispered, throat catching tight around a lump of emotion.
“Timberscale was home to carpenters, loggers. Their help has been… instrumental. We’ve come very far in your absence, though it was felt by all.”
Thea was silent for a long moment as she took in the glowing lanterns, the alleys and neighborhoods, and home after home—whether set into a rolling hill or a trunk of a tree.
“Come here, Thea,” Vaelen said, and tugged her into a hug. The familiar green, bright scent of Vaelen filled her senses, and she embraced the archdruid, forcing her tears back. “It’s so good to have you home. No matter what happened.
Thea’s heart thumped at the word. This is what she’d been missing, in Evergale—this feeling of belonging. “It’s good to be home,” she managed to mutter, though it was rough from her throat.
Vaelen chuckled. “You always were stubborn. Come. I’ll show you your new place and you can rest.”
Though her body was sore, her mind tired, Thea frowned. “Don’t you want to know…”
“There’s plenty of time for that. Just come to Claw Hold when you’ve collected your thoughts and rested.”
“Alright. Thanks, Vaelen.”
“It’s good to have you back, kid.”
Thea rolled her eyes at the archdruid, but only after she’d left a key in Thea’s hand.
She used it to unlock the small abode, and stepped inside to find a furnished and modest… home. A bed, a small kitchen, a bath, and even a resting area with a fire stove. Small round windows looked out into the Heart of Cloud Haven.
The grime of the day seemed to weigh on her all at once, and she tried out the bath first, with the water and warmth spells working in tandem, runes glowing softly.
Then she tried the clothes already placed in the small dresser.
They were mismatched and well worn, but comfortable and warm. Then she tried the bed.
She avoided most thoughts and, after lying down for exactly ten minutes, put her boots back on and went to find Vaelen.
Thea walked amongst the new growth with awe. These homes were filled with—and had been built by—the refugees the druids had saved. Their progress was admirable, but it also meant Evergale had been making their move.
When exactly had the crown decided to take over Timberscale? It must have been after Thea left the Sixth Guard, where she had started, and worked her way up to Fourth Guard, before she'd come across Aaryn and been recommended for the Second Guard.
All according to plan, she thought drily as guilt wormed through her. Thea walked along the tread path, moss and clover and grass and flowers and trees filling in the rest of the land that wasn’t taken up by homes.
It was practically crowded now, though at this late hour perhaps not quite so. Everyone she passed offered her polite nods. She recognized none of them.
Rat folk and humans and elves and satyrs and draconic peoples—a melting pot. The druids turned away no one in need, because Evergale cared not who faced their wrath.
The runes glowed and dispensed her on Claw Hold.
When the tile shifted out of place, her surroundings had changed and the sounds of revelry reached her, and despite the small buildings that surrounded her, a bonfire glowed, and she followed its light.
“You didn’t give us much time to set up,” Vaelen complained as she approached.
“What’s all this?” Thea asked.
Vaelen held her hands up, and as she clapped them, the fire behind her exploded into a shower of sparks. The small crowd of people surrounding it cheered. Familiar faces.