From Flame and Ash

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  “Let’s go.”

  “Thank you,” he whispered but didn’t let go of my hand as we walked down the plank towards where the estate was located.

  People milled around, some shouting at one another and talking about different things that I couldn’t really hear. I heard the word Creed, and the words Spirit Priestess, but I ignored it all. Instead, I paid attention to the two people running towards us, the two who looked to be only a little older than me. But I knew they were Rhodes’ grandparents.

  It was a little shocking, and I had to remind myself that someone who was five hundred years old could look the same age as someone who was twenty here. Age was a different construct in the Maison realm, and I had to remember that.

  “Rhodes.” Rhodes’ grandmother ran towards us. “My darling. What’s wrong?” She cupped his face, and I looked over at her. I couldn’t help but stare. She had long, dark hair that had a similar wave to Rosamond’s. She was paler than both Rhodes and Rosamond but had the same sharp cheekbones and features.

  Rhodes’ grandfather had dark skin that glistened under the light, with short-cropped hair cut almost in a military style. They both wore long robes, but I could see the battle leathers under Rhodes’ grandfather’s. It looked as if they’d both been waiting for us, and since that was what the sentries had said, it made sense. But it was also confusing. Because how could they have known?

  How.

  “It’s Mom,” Rhodes whispered and then cleared his throat. “Grandpa, Grandma, I want you to meet Lyric.”

  Both of Rhodes’ grandparents looked at me, and they smiled, though it didn’t reach their eyes.

  “We know who you are, dear Priestess,” the Lord of Air said, smiling, even though it didn’t really reach his eyes.

  “I’m Lanya,” the Lady of Air said softly. “This is my husband, Holdar. Let’s get inside. We can check on your friends, and we can get you both bandaged up. And you can tell us what has happened to Áine.”

  “I would say it’s good to meet you, but I know this isn’t under the greatest of circumstances,” I said softly.

  Lanya moved forward and hugged me close. “Think nothing of it. Now, tell us what has happened to Áine, and we will discuss it more. I assume we will be headed towards the Lord of Water’s territory,” she said under her breath. I could tell there was tension there.

  It just reminded me that there was so much more for me to learn.

  “Rhodes, tell us what you know as we head inside,” Holdar ordered, though his voice was soft. “What’s wrong with our daughter?”

  “She’s sick,” Rhodes answered, his voice breaking. “Dad sent me here to get you.”

  “Why did he not send a note?” Lanya asked then shook her head. “No, don’t answer that. We know the answer. Because he likes ordering others around.”

  Holdar and Rhodes shared a look, and I wondered what was going on. However, I didn’t think it was time for me to really know. After all, these were also the Lord of Water’s in-laws, so in a strange way, it made sense that they might not like their son-in-law. It just seemed out of place since we were also talking about territories and power. Then again, Maison and human nature seemed to parallel in some respects.

  Eventually, Lanya led me to a room where someone helped me get bandaged up after washing my wounds, and then I showered, trying to wash away the grime and sweat while keeping my bandages dry at the same time—Water Wielding at its oddest.

  I sighed, trying to figure out what I was going to do next. I knew I needed to see Rhodes, knew he might need me, but first, I needed to check on another. Easton had been so close to dying, and all because he had sacrificed himself for me. It hurt just to think about. So, I needed to make sure he was okay.

  I stood in the shower for a while, ignoring my aches and pains, just letting everything wash away from me. I hurt, my head hurt, my body hurt, and my soul hurt. I hadn’t had time to just breathe, to figure out what was going on, but I knew this wasn’t over yet. It couldn’t be.

  If I sat in the shower any longer, I knew that things weren’t going to get better, they would only get worse.

  I dressed in soft, clean leathers that those of the Air Estate had left for me, and I was grateful. From what I’d seen, everyone either wore leathers like these or long, billowing dresses and robes that always seemed to be blowing in the wind. I liked the fact that they’d given me something to fight in instead of a dress because no matter how hard I tried to avoid it, it seemed I was always fighting.

  I was exhausted and just wanted to go to bed, but I couldn’t. Not anytime soon. I didn’t trust myself. Not when I couldn’t control the power within me.

  I looked down at my hands and tried to do what I normally did when I started my day, just stretch. I attempted to let my Air Wielding out, flicking my fingers ever so slightly, like I was rotating a shiny coin. Only it didn’t come. It was just a puff. I frowned.

  I focused on what was inside of me, on the Wielding that I could feel pulsating within me, but it wouldn’t come out. I looked over at the pitcher of water and pointed my finger at it, just to see if I could float any water. Nothing came.

  I couldn’t reach for the earth, not when I was in a building that I could bring crashing down by accident, so I just looked down at my hands again and tried to Wield.

  Nothing came.

  “You need to rest,” a deep voice said from the doorway. I turned quickly, and the water pitcher suddenly shattered, all three of my Wieldings hitting it at the same time.

  I looked up at Easton and blinked.

  “What are you doing out of bed?” I ran to him and put my hands on his face, then moved them down to his chest where he had been bleeding. Though he was wearing a shirt, it wasn’t laced in the front, so I could see where he had been stabbed. Everything looked healed, and there wasn’t a single scar on him.

  “I’m fine, Lyric. They have good healers here. Everyone is getting patched up. Even you.” He reached out and pushed my hair from my face, and I tried not to lean into that movement. “It seems you healed me, as well.”

  I looked up at him again, and then down at my hands where they still touched his chest. I quickly removed my hands and took a few steps back. I could feel myself blush, but I ignored it.

  “I don’t know how I did it.”

  “I don’t know either, but you can do surprising things, Lyric. Once you have the energy and the training.” He paused. “And once you believe in yourself again.”

  I didn’t realize I was laughing until I was shaking with it. “Believe in myself?”

  “Believe in yourself,” he snapped, but it wasn’t harsh. “You’ve had some knocks. Remember what Uncle Ridley said? Wielding comes from within. You need to focus on who you are so you can delve deeper into what you can do with your Wielding.”

  I shook my head, studying his face. “I don’t understand what’s happening.”

  “You used too much of your Wielding. It’ll come back. Plus, you’re shaking on what little ground you have. I get that.”

  “I don’t know, Easton. I just don’t know anything anymore.”

  “You’re awake,” Rhodes said as he pushed past Easton, careful not to actually jostle him.

  “I am,” Easton said, his voice low.

  I looked between them, and all of a sudden, they appeared exhausted, weary, and battle-worn. It didn’t matter that they were in different clothes and were both clean.

  We all just seemed worn out.

  It felt like this was the beginning again.

  “You will need more training, and understand what the legend says, and then you’ll be able to work out all of your Wielding. No one has three elements like you do. So, of course, it’s going to take you time.”

  “Well, I guess we’re eventually going to need to make it to the southern Spirit territory to figure out exactly what the rest of the prophecy is.”

  “You know part of the prophecy?” Rhodes asked, his voice high.

  “Part. But we don’t
know exactly what it means. There’s only one place we haven’t really been to yet, and that’s the ruins of the southern Spirit territory. There’s got to be something for her there.”

  “Well,” Rhodes began before I stepped in between the two of them.

  “I love the fact that you two are talking about me like I’m not here. But we will deal with the next part of the plan after we deal with this. Because I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I think I’m just tired. That has to be it.”

  Easton met my gaze, and the look he gave me said he knew I was lying. He likely knew I was afraid. I was scared because every time I attempted to use all three of my Wieldings at the same time, something bad happened. And Easton had been the one to save me each time. I hated that.

  I refused to rely on him.

  No matter what.

  “If that’s what you want,” Rhodes said softly.

  Before anyone could say anything else, there was a scream, and we all started running towards the throne room.

  Air billowed about, and Wyn, Arwin, and Teagan were right on our heels as we made our way in.

  The Lady of Air was standing on the dais, her face in her hands as she sobbed. The Lord of Air stood and watched over her, his eyes also filled with tears, his body shaking with rage.

  I noticed a piece of crumpled parchment in his hand, and I knew.

  I knew that someone had sent a note, even though they had sent Rhodes and the rest of us here.

  Someone had sent a missive, just like they could have before. Rhodes should still have been in the Water territory.

  Because as soon as the Lord of Air started speaking the words, I knew what they would be.

  “The Lady of Water is dead. Áine is dead. My daughter is dead.”

  As Rhodes fell to his knees beside me, I didn’t move, I couldn’t do anything.

  Because I could feel the grief and didn’t know how to help. We had been sent away for a reason, I just didn’t know what it was.

  We weren’t there, at Rhodes’ home.

  And now the Lady of Water was dead.

  Rhodes had lost his mother.

  Still, somehow, we needed to figure out what was going to happen next.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  I stood there, watching as Rhodes calmly walked to his grandmother and pulled her into his arms. She sank into him for a moment before pulling back to look stoically like the queen she wasn’t but the lady she was.

  I might have said calmly, but there really wasn’t anything calm about Rhodes. I could see the strain in his shoulders, the way his hands were still fisted as he held his grandmother close.

  There was tension in him, grief, and all the pain that I could feel, though I couldn’t reach out and help.

  I stood back, feeling lost and as though everything had once again changed. But could things actually change when I didn’t even know what my base was anymore? What if this was just life, the next breath, the next moment. Because everything altered with each breath these days, with each choice and decision.

  And now, with each death.

  The Lady of Water was dead.

  The daughter of the Lord and Lady of Air was dead.

  Rhodes’ mother was dead.

  The Lord of Air looked at us, fire in his eyes, and just glared.

  The heavy brocade drapes in the tall windows that were at least three stories high blew, and it felt as if we were suddenly in a tunnel, the Air moving quickly.

  The Air didn’t touch us, it was only around us, threatening but not hurting.

  “Holdar,” Lanya said under her breath. “Don’t.”

  “I’m not touching a soul,” he growled, glaring at the world. It was like he wasn’t looking at any of us but rather seeing something far off in the distance that he couldn’t touch, that he couldn’t save.

  “Did you know that I am almost two thousand years old? Two thousand years have passed, and I have watched this world crumble and rise and then crumble again. Two thousand years, and my daughter should still be alive. She should still be here at our side, married, happy, and not a casualty of this war. But now she’s gone. I want answers. Somebody’d better give me answers.”

  Then the winds died down, and he swallowed hard.

  Rhodes was standing in front of him then, one hand on his grandfather’s shoulder as we looked on.

  Easton was by my side, and I hadn’t even realized he had moved so close. It was as if he wanted to protect me, but there was nothing here to protect me from.

  Even in the height of the lord’s anger, Holdar hadn’t attacked us, hadn’t used his powers in a way that would have hurt anyone. He had lashed out and released all his anger, so much energy, yet he had been in control enough not to harm any of us.

  That kind of power was breathtaking.

  Teagan, Wyn, and Arwin were behind me, and I knew that they were ready to use their Wielding at a moment’s notice, but I didn’t think we would need to.

  At least, not yet.

  “Grandfather,” Rhodes whispered. “She’s been weak for some time. You know that.”

  “She was never weak when she lived here. She was strong. Happy.” He beat his chest with his fist just once, but I saw the anger there, the strength of the warrior.

  “Things change over time, my husband,” the Lady of Air said softly. I could hear the steel beneath her words though. There wasn’t anything calm about her.

  No, she was ready to take a blade to the throat of anyone who dared to come at her family. Yet there was no one to attack here. We were hundreds of miles away from the Water Estate. Hundreds of miles away from their daughter. We had only just come here to tell them about their sick offspring. I didn’t know if we were supposed to bring them back to try and heal the Lady of Water, or maybe to say goodbye.

  I hadn’t known the answer when we set out, and honestly, I didn’t think anyone did.

  Now, it was too late.

  And because they had just gotten a message about Áine’s death, that meant someone could have told the Lord and Lady of Air without Rhodes having to be away from his mother as she took her final breath.

  I didn’t think I could ever forgive the Lord of Water for that.

  I didn’t know if he was my enemy, wasn’t sure if he’d had anything to do with what had been attacking us over and over again since we neared the Lumière Kingdom.

  But I knew that no matter what happened in the end, even if he became my most loyal ally in this new war, I would never forgive him for pulling Rhodes away from his mother in her final days.

  Never.

  “Help him,” Wyn whispered, tears streaming down her face. And then I remembered that she could feel emotion, at least sometimes, and she didn’t know how to help. But then again, neither did I.

  “We’ll be right outside that door,” Teagan said, pulling Arwin and Wyn back. I nodded at them, grateful that they understood that the family needed privacy. I wasn’t part of this family either, and I knew I should probably leave. But one look from those silver eyes made me stop. Rhodes needed me here.

  I looked over at Easton, who gave me a tight nod, his jaw clenched as he turned on his heel and walked out with the others, leaving me behind with Rhodes and his grandparents.

  I stood apart from them, feeling alone in the grand throne room, a place that had once been filled with love. I could tell that just from the aching memories.

  It wasn’t power, it was just a feeling.

  And now, it was fading.

  There was no daughter left.

  Just a grandson in pain.

  And more family members far away, like Rosamond.

  The King of Lumiere’s family was tied to Rhodes on his father’s side, so none of those in the court would be grieving like this family.

  Instead, it was just us, and I didn’t know what to say.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

  “Thank you, Spirit Priestess,” Lanya said, not looking at me.

/>   “Call me Lyric.” I swallowed hard. “I don’t have any words. I wish there were some, but there aren’t any.”

  I moved towards them, unsure whether I’d be welcome, but they didn’t tell me to go away, didn’t stiffen or even look elsewhere. Instead, the family stood on the dais, the actual thrones empty, no one looking at each other, but grief so immense in the room I could taste it on my tongue.

  “I should ready the airships,” Rhodes’ grandfather said, his voice hoarse. “Come with me, Rhodes. You can tell me about my daughter. Tell me about the years that I missed because her husband wanted his estate perfect. Tell me about your mother. And then we’ll go. We will say goodbye. And then I want answers.”

  Rhodes gave me one last look and then followed his grandfather as the Lord of Air stomped towards the doors.

  I reached out, brushing my fingers along Rhodes’ arm, and he gave me a grateful smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Then I was alone with the Lady of Air.

  I hadn’t meant to be. I didn’t know her, but I had a feeling she didn’t want to be alone. Neither did I, honestly. I had lost people, but never like this.

  I could still remember the pain, the agony I had felt when I watched Brae turn to ash, when she died in front of all of us.

  But now she was back in another form, and although it wasn’t really the same, and sometimes watching her reminded me that she would never be the smiling and laughing sweet girl I had known, she was alive. Though she’d never truly be my best friend again.

  Maybe it would have been easier if she were gone forever, but even that thought was selfish of me.

  I didn’t know what Brae thought, no one did. She was back in some form, and I had to be grateful for that.

  Emory was gone too, but she was still alive, in captivity as far as I knew. Rhodes had said that he would help me save her, that he’d help me figure out how to fix her.

  I just didn’t know if she wanted to be fixed. I didn’t know anything about her anymore.

  It had been so long since I had seen her, that I didn’t think about her every day.

  Maybe that made me a bad person, but with so much going on, it was hard to remember every single aching pain in my life.