41. Chapter Forty-One #2
"Looks like you two enjoyed your little day trip," Drea teases, a knowing grin splitting her face.
I almost choke on my drink when Jeska chimes in, leaning over to ask, "Where did you sneak off to anyway? We expected you back hours ago."
Zenn answers before I can think of anything to say. "Aly's been staying in camp, taking care of Hendrix and Willa, all week. Figured she should get up in the mountains one more time before we leave."
"It was so beautiful. We could see half the island from up there," I add, sending silent thanks to Hendrix for distracting them with a question for Jeska, because we were so not convincing.
"The view really was spectacular," Zenn agrees with a smile. "I feel a lot better now." Ducking his head behind his mug, he leans closer and whispers, "Thanks to the wet, naked goddess I enjoyed all afternoon."
Flame licks my cheeks, and I sip my tea in an effort to distract myself, thankful it's so dark, shadows hide most of my face. "So not the time or place," I grit out, giving his leg a hard squeeze.
"I'm just saying, your hands felt pretty damn magical sliding up my–"
I'm quick to cut him off before he gets any more descriptive, grateful the others aren't paying attention to us anymore.
"If my hands are so magic, maybe I should test them on Hendrix's injury then?
See if I can make him feel better too?" I raise my eyebrows and move to stand, as if to walk around the fire.
"Absolutely the fuck not," comes the growled response, and I laugh, knowing that round goes to me.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear any of that," croaks a faintly amused voice on my other side.
Oh gods, Willa's awake. I'm equal parts horrified she heard us and relieved to see her eyes open as I rush to hold the canteen of infused water to her lips without making eye contact, until the beautiful sound of her hoarse laugh has me smiling, sliding closer to give her a gentle hug.
I sit with her all night, reveling in every steady, rhythmic breath. Asking myself over and over, how we're going to get out of the mountains when she can barely lift her head. The question becomes more and more insistent. She's out here because of me. I need to think of a way to get her home.
I've changed her bandages, and it's close to dawn when Nav and Lira take over and I can slip away to contact Varistia.
Tucking my hair under the hood of my cloak, I follow the stream toward the same mossy pool I used last time.
When I find it, I brace a hand against a rough stone and reach out to her.
It's easier this time, like a path already walked so my mental footsteps know the way.
I open the space, and, a minute later, she's there.
"You've got guts, I'll give you that." Those glowing eyes blink at me slowly, this time so much more than two floating circles of lavender light. Now, I see the full length of her magnificent spiked body, even if she looks more transparent than before.
"Thank you for speaking to me," I say, determined this conversation will be better than our previous one. "I'm sorry for what I said last time. I meant no disrespect. You should know, we found and searched the final cave, and there was no trace of your wing feathers."
Varistia says nothing for a minute, only cocking her head slightly, as if trying to determine if I'm telling her the truth before she grumbles, "And yet you still linger in the peaks?"
"We're trying to find a way to leave."
"So you're here to ask about the magic at last?"
"Yes, please."
"You need to know this is the last time I'll be able to sustain a connection like this, so make it quick."
I don't waste time asking why. "If I really have your magic, is it possible I accidentally used it to heal someone’s injury? As in, completely healed him, not even a scar."
"Who is he to you?"
Dear gods, pick an easier question. "He's…a friend, the same one you helped heal last time with your ice."
"Ice? I am a creature of brimstone and flame. The two are incompatible. No dragon forges ice." Her luminous eyes narrow. "Are you saying you did?"
"No. I…well, I thought it was you. He had a fever, and I needed–"
"The same one whose injury you healed this time?"
"Yes, well, we were in a natural hot spring. I thought maybe it was from the minerals in the water or residual magic from the gods." I regret the words the second they leave my mouth.
"Are you really so determined to cling to your delusions of inadequacy that you concoct a story about a magical healing pool before considering it might have been you?"
"No?" It comes out more like a question than an answer.
Varistia mostly mutters to herself, chuffing disgusted bursts of purple fire from her nostrils.
"Eight years. Eight years, I waited, for this? What's changed in you, Alyxia? After so long, I was able to make contact with you. Why? Aided by proximity, yes, but there was a spark to enable it. Desire finally triumphed over pain."
"Desire? Are you trying to tell me all this is because of Zenn? I've known the man for a month, and—"
"Not the boy. Not the waters. YOU," she roars. "Magic is hard to access without intent. If you did this twice, the desire must have been so strong, the pain couldn't keep you from using it."
"So you're saying I did heal him, purely because I wanted to?"
"It would have been more of a need, but essentially, yes. Healing." Her derisive scoff is so unimpressed, she rivals my mother. "Fancy, turning raw power into an ability to heal. And not just yourself, but others. How sweet."
Definitely not intended to be complimentary. "I thought you said I had your magic. Is that not from you?"
"I gave you raw power. What you can do with it depends entirely on you.
When our hatchlings get their magic, they shape the power into a few unique gifts.
I suspected it would be the same for you, instead of getting what was specific to me.
Healing is not one I've ever seen before.
A strange use for dragonic magic indeed. "
The projection of her curious face flickers in and out, and there's a tug behind my ribs, pulling at me to hurry.
"Ok, so, intent and desire. There must be something more to accessing it?
I need to heal someone else and can't wait around to do it accidentally.
" I hold my breath, expecting her to refuse to help, knowing this is leverage she could hold over me.
For Willa's sake, I'm grateful when she doesn't.
"Your body acts as a conduit to access your power.
You must drop into it. Desire is its spark, its fuel.
The deeper you feel, the more it will light the path within.
As for what's waiting for you on the other side, I can't say.
We all have our price. Now, I need to go.
If you want to learn to wield the power, come to Envenar so we can forge the permanent connection.
If you do not, I suspect it will tear you apart within the year, and either end us both or return to me as its rightful owner. "
Good, great, not terrifying at all. "I will try. How do I get through if I make it there?"
"There is a small ancillary reflection pool deep within the helianthus forest. That is the only way I'll be able to hear you and guide you through. Just you." Without another word, she swings her enormous body around and disappears with a grumble.