28. Apatite
The next three days pass in the blink of an eye. With the new humans adjusting to under mountain life, I have little time for much else between meetings. More and more scrolls pile on my desk as we plan to first retrieve the artifact and then march on Zlosa to kill Rholker.
Some days, the pending future doesn’t feel real. It’s just calculations, crystals, and endless hours of talk.
Estela has been subdued. When I presented her with the books that Melisa had given me, she revealed that one contained Rholker’s writings, and the other was something truly awful: a book bound in human skin.
After that, we went back to work.
She has fallen into a quick rhythm—actually, a back-breaking speed. She scrubs pots, holds children, and listens to these humans until her eyes can hardly stay open.
Today, we both rose early. She went to train with the elves, humans, and Svanna, while I came to oversee the progress of the crystal suits that Liana and Flova have been working on in order to retrieve the artifact. Reports indicate that they have a unique feature that I would enjoy seeing.
Thorne has requested to join this particular journey, as he has made it extremely clear he will dive with the rest of us. When someone shoots him a mistrustful glance, he looks unfazed and observant, the same expression that he has had the entire time he’s been in the caves.
There’s something about him—I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I do not trust him. Despite the fact that several seem to appreciate him, including Estela and Ulla.
His quiet, silent presence fades away as my mind swims with things I could do for Estela to help ease the hurt of Melisa leaving. She wears the jewels I’ve given her every day, but there must be something more.
The day that she helped me put on my armor is still fresh in my mind, and I think of her wearing a matching set. Golden plates to protect her soft human flesh. It would be wise.
The idea sticks, and I decide to discuss it with Flova after we’ve inspected the suit.
Thorne takes a deep breath, still walking in silence next to me, and I look at the knives gleaming on his belt.
Curiosity loosens my tongue.
“You are friends with Mrath—did you ever know Arion?”
Thorne stiffens. “I am Thorne the Peredhel—the halfing. Why would I have any dealings with the Elf King?”
“You tell me,” I say.
No one has been unkind to Thorne or the other members of the sisterhood, but there is discontentment in the air. The crystals can only amplify what others are feeling, so when we look upon this snowy-haired man, sneaking through hallways, I know a few Enduares are reminded of Arion.
He doesn’t respond, and all too soon, blistering heat from the forges greets us before any of my people do.
I spot the back of Liana’s crystal-covered tunic and the familiar bend of Flova’s spine. They stand in front of a table, concealing the suits from my view.
“Ho!” I call out, and Liana looks up.
She nods in my direction and then scowls at Thorne.
At least I have one ally against him.
“Your Majesty,” she says, and I feel proud of her for snuffing our guest.
Thorne grins at her and gives a short bow.
“Mother Liana, a pleasure as always. I love the blue gems you’ve used for your brow jewelry today.” One of his gloved hands reaches up to tap the space on his eyebrow to demonstrate.
Liana purses her lips. “They are my least favorite pieces.”
I stifle a laugh, but she turns to me.
“Estela has not met with me. I’ve reminded her twice, and I had hoped she’d help with this project,” she says.
I frown. “She is… occupied with the humans.”
Liana quirks up her eyebrows. “So I’ve seen. I would appreciate it if you would remind her to come. I’d like to make the final suit with her.”
“Very well. Where are these grand creations?” I ask as Flova turns, giving us a view of the table.
Before me are three suits that glow blue in the forge light, despite looking like they are made of glass. Unlike typical armor that I’ve worn into battle, they aren’t separated into many pieces, and there are no gaps between sections.
In fact, they look more like statues—inflexible and solid.
“There are three. One for you, one for Lord Vann, and one for Master Thorne.”
I look up at Flova who is wearing a look of supreme pride.
“May I touch them?”
Flova dips out of the way with his hands behind his back and the wrinkles on his face deepening. “Of course, My King. I think you’ll like what you find.”
The closer I get to the suit, the louder a dull note pierces my ears. I wince.
“That is… unpleasant.”
Liana nods. “Yes, but it is the best we can do. Perhaps with many more months to explore frequencies, we could find something more palatable. But we are on a strict timeline.”
When I reach down and pick up one of the crystal gloves melded into a sleeve, it flexes in my hands, as soft as the finest leather. My surprise must be obvious because Thorne comes over and picks up a piece of a different suit.
“Impossible,” he breathes.
Flova tuts.
“Not so, blood cousin. My benders have spent weeks perfecting this design. The magic is thanks to Mother Liana, and you will find that they are extremely durable against the pressures of the ocean.”
I nod. “It will not crack when we dive deep.”
“Precisely,” Liana says.
Thorne looks up at her. “How does it provide air for us?”
Her lips flatten, but she answers him far more graciously than I would have.
“You will put this on, and you will spend time where there is an abundance of air.” She gestures around her exaggeratedly. “It will create a bubble that will go with you into the water. Similar to the gills of a fish, it will filter the breathable elements from the sea. I don’t think you should spend more than a few days in the water, but it will have to be enough to explore the ruins.”
My mind wanders to Iravida. It was a massive city, far beyond the capacity of Enduvida.
“Are you sure? The capital was once one of the largest cities known to mankind. I can’t imagine that a few days will be enough?—”
“Not much is left. I have seen the ruins through my Fuegorra—Estela is coming by later to see what she can scry. I may know where the artifact is but it is clouded from my vision. I am preparing a map for you to look at.” She eyes Thorne once more as he squeezes the glass-like crystal.
It makes a high-pitched noise as it flexes.
“When can we test this?” Thorne asks.
Liana looks at Flova, who crosses his arms and surveys the three suits.
“I need to make a few minor adjustments, but I think that you could do it as early as tomorrow. In fact, I think we must insist. The sooner…”
“Eager to be rid of me?” Thorne asks, interpreting the silence.
“Yes,” Liana says without hesitation.
A part of me wants to deny that, to say that everything isn’t so bad, but the desire to laugh wins out.
Thorne doesn’t find it quite as humorous.
“Tomorrow it is then.” I turn to Flova, “And while we are here, there is another matter I’d like to discuss. I will need another set of metal armor for the queen, one that matches mine.”
It’s Thorne’s turn to chortle.
“Armor? How romantic.”
I cast a single glance at him.
“Yes, Lady Estela will surely love it, especially since she came asking for one not too long ago.” Flova nods approvingly.
My eyebrows rise. “She did?”
Flova nods. “Perhaps not in so many words, but she liked to see how it is made. She asked questions about how it is to be worn, what it protects, and things of the like. She’s a delightful woman.”
I am utterly at a loss for words. I didn’t realize that my little mate had such a hunger for things of war. Of course, Enduar women are hearty. Many have joined us in the pursuit of blood and vengeance, but it makes my pulse raise to think of my soft, broken love swinging a sword to lob off the head of Rholker or one of his minions.
My father took vengeance to a new level, but I have no disillusions that we aren’t heading toward another Great War.
I wince.
Thorne misinterprets my expression. “Come now, you can’t tell me you haven’t thought of a woman fighting before.”
I whip around to look at him, and he almost staggers back in surprise.
“You don’t know anything, Elf,” I sneer. Flova has already gone back to work, and Liana is ignoring both of us. “You’ve seen Enduar women.”
“Ulla lacked basic training. She could barely point a short sword at me, but she’s much improved now,” he smirks.
I glower.
“You are teaching Ulla how to fight?”
“Why would it matter if I was?” he asks.
“She already knows how to fight!” I insist.
He shakes his head and makes a tsking sound.
I step closer. “Leave my people alone.”
He throws his hands up. “Yes, yes, I will be going now.”
I stare at him for a long hard minute before he does just that. A bit too slowly for my liking.
As soon as his pristine white head is out of sight, Liana comes to my side. She gazes in the direction of Thorne with thinly veiling mistrust.
“He’s hiding something. I smell it all over him, and the crystals whisper it into the air,” she says in a low voice.
I look at her.
“I agree, but he is still an ally.”
“For now,” she adds forcefully. Then she looks at me. “If you are thinking of Estela fighting, then she should be working on her Fuegorra training as well. She did very well at the ceremony. I’ll be the first to admit my displeasure that she has met with Flova and not me. Is she… healed?”
Drawing one lip between my teeth, I consider her words.
“She is strong and ready to take on the world.”
Liana goes still, the jewels on her face flashing. “I heard what she said, but was there more to the story?”
I take a deep breath. “Yes and no. They tried to break her mind. It’s hard to know exactly what saved her, but I believe it was a combination of the Fuegorra and the mating bond.”
Liana places one finger on her temple, gently nudging the piercing above her eye.
“You would be right. As you know, the bond you share is powerful magic—it goes a long way in healing.”
For a moment, I am lost to memories of her in my bathroom, legs parted, eyes closed, but mind open. We turned pain into such sweet ecstasy, and it makes my blood race with an unsuspecting surge of lust. It’s the wrong time, but the insatiable nights we spend wrapped up together have done nothing to quench the thirst I have for her body.
Drawing myself up to my full height to erase the images while I speak with gods-damned Mother Liana, I open my mouth to respond but find all I can manage is a firm nod.
Her white eyebrow curves up, almost concerned.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yes.”
She gives me a confused look, and then reaches into her pocket and pulls out a few shards of obsidian about the size of her palm. They’ve been carefully flint-knapped into thin rectangular sheets, sharp enough to cut leather. Handling them requires extreme care. Expert stone cutting aside, my eyes catch on their paintings.
I recognize the vibrant blue and green pigments from several precious stones: lime azurite, melachite, lapis lazuli… And something that smells of a beast. Bone, I realize, as my eyes study the contours.
There are figures painted on each of the cards. Enduares, but the light paintings of brown human bodies now accompany our azure forms.
“Cards, of a sort,” she says. “We used to use these to maintain our connection to the stars and stones—to help us read the Fuegorra.”
I nod as she hands one to me. The sharp edge passes along my skin, not quite cutting but almost uncomfortable.
“I don’t think I ever saw these used.”
She shrugs. “It was more popular with the women in Enduvida.”
I purse my lips. “You mentioned that you had found dozens of traditions lost to time while you were looking for answers in the royal library. Is this one of them?”
She nods, but I see the question in her eyes.
“Do you wish to teach these things to Estela?” I ask. The wrinkles in her face deepen. “You are her mentor; it is your choice what she learns and when.”
Her mouth twists down as if she were tasting something bitter.
“Obviously. I merely want to ensure that she is well enough to handle physical training and learning magic. I know that woman. She’d lie to me if the task looked interesting enough.”
Nodding along with her assessment, I cross my arms and gaze back at the impressive suits.
“Anything that you can teach her might be to our advantage when it comes time to face the giants,” I say simply.
I’ve seen the bloodlust in Estela’s eyes. The fear.
She needs every inch of power that she can—whether it be learned or gifted.
Liana is pleased by the answer. Then she takes back the stone card, stacks it atop the others, and carefully wraps them in a stretch of leather.
“Tell her to seek me out in the morning. And make sure she isn’t too tired to work hard.”
I grin and push away from the workstation.
Liana picks up her small bundle and tells me goodbye. I wave back to her and head toward the palace. I need to find my mate and make her stop frowning.
After, I’d like to work on translating Rholker’s book.