Chapter 34 #2
I must speak loud enough, because it draws everyone’s attention.
“That’s … unlikely.” Ava says, crossing her arms. “There’s not been a documented Terraforger for gods know how long.”
“Not long ago, I thought all Mages were extinct.”
“This is different. Terraforgers were the main Mages wiped out in the original Purge. When the floor and shit starts moving indoors, people get suspicious quickly. It’s difficult for a Terraforger to conceal their powers without proper control.”
I let her words sink in for a moment. “Well … Given that she just set off an earthquake and nearly tore apart my entire dreamscape from the ground up, I’d say she’s a Terraforger.
When I mentioned Siad Nahar to her, she panicked.
I’m certain she knows something, and it terrifies her.
And I’m certain that we’re right where it should be, but we can’t get in because these mountains are impenetrable.
It explains so much. Why no one has heard about Terraforgers for years.
Maybe they were the only ones who could get in. ”
Ava taps her hand against her elbow with agitation, her arms crossed even tighter. She mutters what I’m sure is a series of swear words then heaves a sigh.
“What does this all mean?” Isobel asks.
“It means we’ve wasted time and resources,” Ava snaps.
Guilt heats my cheeks and neck. I resist the urge to retreat, but tears sting my eyes. It means that I’ve led everyone on a pointless mission.
“Perhaps we haven’t wasted anything,” says Sloan.
Their calculating blue-grey eyes settle on me.
“This was a quest for knowledge. We’ve not only learned a lot about the Purists and the state of things, but now we know more than we did before about Siad Nahar.
If Durvla’s right about this, we also know there’s a living, breathing Terraforger in Mainland.
And we know that the moonstone can work as a sort of … connection to her.”
Osheen says something, and when I look his way, he says, “Like the vanishing stones.”
All eyes snap to him.
“What are you talking about now?” Ava asks.
Osheen turns to Sloan and asks, “You took a couple of rings off the Purists back outside of Diadun, right? They’re vanishing stones.”
Sloan reaches into their pocket and pulls out two black onyx stones.
“It doesn’t have magical properties by itself, but apparently it takes imbuement very well.
In this case, it amplifies powers. But not in the way you’d expect, I guess.
Those who already have an affinity to mind magic use it as a way to pass messages through a mental network. I’m not sure how that works, but—”
“Why is it called a vanishing stone?” Ava asks, too impatient to listen for much longer.
“So, Dispellers can transport themselves from one point to another, right? The same goes for the power of the vanishing ring. It’s how the Purists of higher station travel through Erleya—it’s like moving through shadows.
But the rings have limits. They only last for as long as the magic imbued in them lasts.
I’m not sure if that moonstone works the same way, but the connection seems similar.
Except, instead of having any mind magic, it works for you because you have dream magic. ”
Ava turns and stalks off with steps that appear thunderous, both hands atop her head. Chiyo glances toward her, then back to me and Tiernan.
“Do you know where this Terraforger is?” Chiyo asks.
I nod. “Barr na Cahar.” Everyone’s face drops. Even Ava stops marching off and spins to face me. She clenches her jaw so tightly that I’m almost certain it hurts.
“Grab the map,” she says to no one in particular.
A while later, we’re all crowded around the map atop a fallen tree trunk. We are in a series of mountain ranges toward the east.
“The closer we get to Mainland, the greater the chance of danger,” Sloan says.
Ava and Tiernan exchange a look—something I cannot quite decipher. Then Ava says, “We’ll do what we have to. You’re not afraid of danger, are you Sloan?” She pins an intense glower on the warrior.
“No, Warden.” Their single hand runs through scarlet hair, making it stick out awkwardly. “I would gladly run headfirst into danger if needed.”
Isobel lifts an eager hand. “I second that!”
Chiyo laughs. “We know you’re fearless, Isobel.”
The redhead beams, but Ava’s face only grows more sullen as she turns to me again. “Are you certain about all of this?” she signs. “That this is our ticket to Siad Nahar?”
“I’m not certain of that, but it’s the only heading we have.”
Ava closes her eyes as if paying for patience. “But you’re certain she’s in Barr na Cahar.”
“Yes. Unfortunately.” I’m aware that the city is right in the heart of Mainland, the closest to Paramount and, therefore, the most dangerous.
Ava sighs and points to the map at the mountain range that we’re nearest to.
“There seems to be a pathway that leads straight to Dubh Carrig. We don’t have the supplies to scale this damn mountain range, so everyone better start praying that this pathway hasn’t been eroded or something.
If it has, we’ll have to backtrack into Diadun and start again. ”
If anything, Chiyo looks more excited. “At least we know we’ll have a place to stop in Dubh Carrig,” she says. She looks to Tiernan and smiles, a warmth flooding her eyes.
But I groan inwardly. I’ve led us here, indeed wasted precious time—three weeks—and resources, plus set everyone on edge. Perhaps I should’ve insisted on gathering even more information before leaving the Verge. We could’ve had more time in comfort. I could’ve had more training.
“I’m sorry,” I say, tears clinging to my eyelashes. I get to my feet quickly before the tears can fall. The throb in my head intensifies.
Between the dreamwalking, training, and this travel, my body is sick and tired of me. I just want to be back home in the Verge with Taig and the others.
As I walk away, pain stabs through my head and my vision swims. Tiernan appears in front of me, scaring me half to death.
I press my hand against my stomach as nausea threatens to empty it.
As much as I want to hide it—to pretend that I’m well—it wouldn’t do anyone any favors if my ailment flares and I collapse or decline into a full episode.
I open my eyes when I feel Tiernan’s gentle grasp on my upper arms. “You should sit down,” he says as my body goes warm and clammy at the same time.
He helps me to the ground. I press my head between my knees and remain sitting there with his arm around my upper back.
Slowly, I breathe in and out as the ground seems to move beneath me, as my head throbs, and my mouth waters unpleasantly.
I have only a few more tinctures left. I’ve been using them sparingly, but in the constant activity of today, I forgot to take one.
A gentle squeeze and a prod of Tiernan’s power against my mind has me lifting my head, but instead of Tiernan’s face, I find Alys’s. My eyes burn from the overwhelming headache rapidly intensifying. I squint and swallow the bitterness that rises in my throat.
“May I?” Alys asks, holding up her hand. Light already shimmers on her thick fingers.
“Please,” I sign silently.
Alys’s fingertips gently rest on my temples and my eyes close.
The cool sensation morphs into warmth, the piercing ache in my skull fading to a dull throb.
The nausea slowly dissipates and the dizziness settles.
I release a deep breath of relief and reopen my eyes.
Alys sits back on her ankles, looking absolutely worn.
She blinks, sluggishly at first, then a little more alert as she asks, “Better?”
I nod, though guilt gnaws at me. “Thank you.”
She smiles. “No thanks needed, sweetling.”
Tiernan helps her up as she starts to get unsteadily to her feet, then he helps me up. I study Alys, noting her weariness.
Again, I feel awful. This could ruin everything, and suddenly, all the answers about the prophecy and every chance that we should have to help the state of Erleya seem farther away than ever.