by Tara West
“Is it bad I feel no remorse for his death?” Ryne asked.
Alec was caught off guard. He hadn’t been prepared for such a question. “I don’t know how to answer you, Ryne. That is between you and your conscience.”
Ryne nodded, his bloodshot eyes hollow and devoid of emotion. “Markus told me you were wise—and kind.”
Alec swallowed a lump as he thought of the soldiers he’d shot in the back. He was too tired to tell Ryne he was anything but kind. Besides, he knew what was happening. Ryne had no kinsmen. Now that he was alone on his quest, he needed to befriend Alec again. But he had seen Ryne’s ugly underside. As soon as they returned to land, he resolved to part ways with Ryne and follow Grim to Aya-Shay. Ryne wouldn’t be welcome in the dwarf village. The ice dweller had ventured on his last quest by himself, and he would have to endure another solo journey.
Alec bowed his head. “We must say a prayer for him.”
Ryne smoothed a hand down his face, the lines around his drawn mouth making him look far older than he’d appeared a few days ago. “I suppose he needs one, as he was the cause of Ven and Luc’s deaths.”
Alec wanted to remind Ryne that his foolish tantrum was also to blame, but he let it go—for now. Ryne had a lot to atone for, starting with an apology to Grim and the other dwarves.
Alec recited the same prayer he’d said at his mother’s grave after he’d been left alone to bury her. “In life these dreams we make. In death our spirits wake. To the Elements we ask our souls to take. Amen.”
Then he and Ryne hauled Filip over the side of the ship and watched his body spiral into the black abyss below. Alec reflected on how much his life had been altered over the past few days. He worried they wouldn’t make it back to Aya-Shay, that they wouldn’t find a safe haven for their people. He worried that Des was frightened without him and Markus wouldn’t be able to escape Ice Mountain without catching Madhea’s eye. He did not worry about Dianna’s safety, for she had powerful magic and a mighty protector. He did fear for her heart. He and his sister had bonded this past winter. Would she mourn him if he didn’t make it back? Even though they’d beaten their captors, they were still on Eris’s vessel. If the sea goddess learned of their mutiny, she could send more ships or even her sea dragon after them. Elements save them if they had to go up against a goddess.
Chapter Twelve
After they landed beside the pond, Dianna stroked Lydra’s neck. “Thank you, girl.” She smiled when Lydra answered with a low purr.
She slid off her dragon, summoning the courage to challenge the golden dragon once more. Patting the stones in her pocket, she ignored Simeon’s outstretched hand and marched up to Tan’yi’na. “I accept your challenge to defeat The Seven but on one condition.”
The golden dragon snarled. There are no conditions. You have already agreed to defeat The Seven in exchange for the stone.
“I don’t recall agreeing to anything.”
The dragon reared back with a roar, shooting a stream of fire into the sky before hunching on all fours, growling at Dianna and blowing steam that dampened her clothes. I should have known not to trust the spawn of the ice witch!
Though Simeon tried to pull Dianna back, and Lydra growled behind her, she ignored them. “Help me defeat Eris, and I will help you defeat The Seven.”
You expect me to fight a powerful goddess?
“No, not the goddess. I have heard tales that she has a water dragon, a powerful leviathan that spits venom.”
She does.
Simeon cleared his throat. “And sirens, carnivus plants, and pixies, too.”
A low, sinister chuckle erupted from Tan’yi’na’s chest. You expect me to fight all those monsters?
She turned toward her dragon, whose red eyes were trained on Tan’yi’na. “Lydra will help you.”
Tan’yi’na glared at Dianna for a long, tense moment. And what is my motive for helping you?
“I should think it obvious.” She threw up her hands. “To prove you care about humanity and not just the treasure The Seven have stolen from you.”
Simeon groaned, covering his face.
I never said this was about the treasure.
She folded her arms, impatiently tapping her foot. “Then what is it about?”
What it’s always been about. Despite the heavy moon and brilliant stars which lit up the night sky, dark shadows fell across Tan’yi’na’s features. My one and only goal since your mother turned my goddess to stone is vengeance. I want to destroy the witch who shattered my soul over a thousand years ago.
Though she hadn’t been responsible for her mother’s actions, she felt remorse for Kyan’s death. “Help me defeat Eris and then we will take on Madhea.”
The golden dragon rose to full height. You would fight your own mother?
“Madhea put a curse on my father’s heart, turning him into a cruel monster. She murdered Jae, the girl the Elementals switched me with at birth, the true child of my adoptive parents. She cursed my brother and forced Lydra to murder hundreds of innocent people, including children.” She took a deep, steadying breath. “I ask you, Tan’yi’na, what kind of mother is she?”
She is no mother at all.
She laid a hand against her chest, feeling the warm pulse of the stones, wishing she had a sister whose heart beat for her, too. “You do not know the guilt that weighs heavily on my heart. Had I not been switched at birth, Jae would still be alive. My adoptive parents gave me a childhood of love and happiness. What kind of life do you suppose Jae had? My brother Markus told me Madhea made her a servant.”
Simeon wiped moisture from his eyes. “A mother who forces her child into servitude is no mother at all, and I understand the guilt, Dianna. I feel it every waking hour of my life. Though my twin was born without magic, we share a magical bond.” His voice cracked. “I feel her suffering, her sorrow, her rejection as if it was my own.” He wiped his wet cheeks.
“Oh, Simeon.” Giving into an impulse, she hugged him. She stood on her toes, whispering into his ear. “I’m so sorry.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist. “If you help us defeat The Seven, I will help you fight Eris and Madhea.”
She pulled out of his embrace, instantly missing his warmth and hating herself for it. “Thank you, but I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“I won’t.” A wide smile split his face in two. “I have very persuasive abilities. Why, just recently I persuaded a powerful witch to trust her life to mischievous little pixies.”
“You did.” She couldn’t help but smile back but reminded herself not to get lost in his golden eyes, though it was incredibly hard not to.
“And when this is all over, I may just persuade her not to slap me if I kiss her.” The grin he shot her was so mischievous, she expected to see pixie wings sprouting from his back.
“If we survive a battle with seven witches and two goddesses, I will gladly let you kiss me.” She wanted to mentally kick herself for her foolish promise, which both excited and unnerved her.
“Even more of a reason for us to win,” Simeon said with a wink.
And that all of humanity is counting on you.
“That, too.” Simeon laughed.
“So is it agreed?” She held out her hand. “We all battle The Seven and the goddesses together?”
He grasped her hand and squeezed perhaps too hard.
Tan’yi’na shrank back. I cannot reach The Seven. Should I break through their tunnels, I will crush hundreds of innocents.
“Fine, Simeon and I will take them on.” She pointed at his scaly chest. “But will you help us defeat Eris and Madhea?”
Tan’yi’na nudged their joined hands with his snout. If you defeat The Seven, I will gladly help you battle Eris and Madhea. I swear it. He raised his head, gazing at something behind Dianna. Something is wrong.
A solitary cloaked figure approached them. She recognized Feira’s gnarled cane and was surprised at how quickly the old deity moved.
Feira pul
led back the hood of her cloak. “Come,” she said to Dianna, holding out a hand. “We must hurry.” The deity’s expression was tight, guarded, though Dianna sensed a deep, disturbing chasm in the old woman’s soul.
She looked to Simeon and Tan’yi’na, who nodded their encouragement. She said a quick goodbye to Lydra, rubbing her snout and promising a swift return. Then she took Feira’s outstretched hand, looking over her shoulder as Simeon followed them. Knowing he was shadowing her brought Dianna comfort, even as panic jumped off Feira’s skin in erratic currents.
The caverns and tunnels they traversed on their way to Feira’s chamber were devoid of life, save for a few jumpy guards. ’Twas as if everyone had gone into hiding. Something had happened, and though she didn’t know what, the prickles on the back of her neck and down her spine warned her danger was imminent.
Once they were inside Feira’s chamber, Feira threw down her cane and chased away the few remaining servants, demanding in harsh tones that they leave, something unusual for the deity. Dianna halted beside the throne, her feet obscured by the fog.
Feira stared into the swirling mists. “Curse you!” the old deity swore, scattering the mists with a swipe of her hand. She fell back onto her throne with a guttural wail, burying her face in her hands.
“What has happened?” Dianna asked.
“Please tell us, Grandmother,” Simeon begged, standing beside Dianna, his steady strength radiating off him in waves.
Feira lifted her head, staring at the scattered mists with red-rimmed eyes. “They’ve taken Tumi.”
Shadows fell across Simeon’s features. “The Seven?”
Feira wiped her eyes. “They came for him while I was inspecting the damage done by the pixies.”
Dianna looked from Tumi to Feira. “Why?”
Feira absently twirled a worn metal band around her finger. “As punishment for weakening my magic.” Feira clutched the sides of her throne. “The dark magic I used to keep Tumi alive has compromised my own. They say ’tis why I didn’t have the strength to destroy you.”
Dianna’s knees weakened, and she stumbled back into a chair behind her. “Destroy me?”
Feira nodded. “As daughter of the goddess who turned our benevolent goddess to stone, they believe you should pay for your mother’s sins.”
“Ridiculous.” Simeon punched the air. “Dianna killed the pixies and saved our people. She is clearly not like Madhea, and they know it.”
Dianna cleared her throat, searching Feira’s gaze. “Do you believe them?”
“Of course not, child.” Feira waved her away with a shrill laugh. “Your mother’s actions are not your own.”
She swallowed hard, hating how parched her throat had suddenly become. “Will they come for me?”
“They are too afraid.” Feira averted her eyes but not before Dianna read the guilt on the older woman’s face.
She is hiding something from you, Sindri said.
She would not betray Dianna, Neriphene argued. She has our mother’s gentle heart.
But her fear for Tumi has weakened her resolve, Sindri answered. Can you not feel it?
Sliding off her chair, Dianna knelt beside Feira, her legs disappearing beneath the blanket of mist. “They ordered you to kill me, didn’t they? That’s why they have Tumi, to ensure you do it.”
When Feira looked at Dianna, tears streaming down her weathered face, her heart broke for the old deity.
“Yes,” Feira whispered, then bit down on her knuckles and looked away.
“Grandmother!” Simeon’s deep bellow echoed through the room. “You will not hurt Dianna!”
Feira reached for Simeon, patting his arm. “Of course not, my boy.” She gave Dianna a watery smile. “You are our last chance for peace in the Shifting Sands. I will not take that from my people.”
See sister, Neriphene chided. Our mother’s heart.
I hope you are right, Sindri warned.
“Feira.” She hoped Neriphene was right, and she could trust her cousin. “I will get him back for you.” Her innards shook when she realized she might not be able to keep such a promise. What if The Seven defeated her? She’d no idea the strength of their magic.
“’Tis sweet of you, child, but he should have gone to the Elements long ago.” She patted Dianna’s hand, her smile affectionate. “I only wish for him to go on my terms, not theirs.” Feira nodded toward Dianna’s bulging vest pocket. “Did you recover the second stone?”
She slowly stood. “You knew?”
Feira pointed at the raised pool. “I have the swirling mists, as do The Seven.”
Her heart thudded against her ribcage. What if they were ready for Dianna’s attack? What if they had already laid a trap? “Do you think they know I have two stones?”
“The mists only reveal what they want us to see. I do not know what they have shown The Seven.”
Feira scowled at the cloudy pool, and Dianna realized the old deity resented the swirling mists. Why hadn’t they warned her The Seven would take Tumi?
“I need to strike now.” The longer she waited, the more likely The Seven were to discover her plans.
Feira eyed Dianna’s pocket. “Do you know how to use those stones of yours?”
“No.” So desperate was she to recover Tumi for Feira, she hadn’t thought that far ahead.
It’s simple, cousin, Sindri said. You will it and let our magic flow through you.
She remembered flattening Tan’yi’na when she willed him to stop his attack against Lydra, but the second time she’d tried to subdue him, ’twas as if her magic had fled. “What do I will?”
Whatever you need the Elements to do, Neriphene answered.
She turned from Feira and Simeon, facing a cavern wall. “Fire,” she breathed, holding out her hands. White bolts of flame flew out of her hands, burning the edges of Feira’s tapestry depicting Tan’yi’na sitting regally among his jewels. “Sorry,” she said sheepishly, though truthfully, she did glean a small amount of satisfaction seeing the smug dragon burn.
The old deity shrugged. “You are not concentrating hard enough. Watch me.” She held up both hands, curling her fingers like cat claws. “Fire,” she breathed, and flame burst out of each finger, striking the tapestry and making it combust into millions of tiny embers.
She gaped at the charred tips of Feira’s fingers. “How did you do that without the stones?”
“Find that place between this world and the next.” Feira gestured at the ceiling above them. “Give yourself over to the Elements.”
“Like I did when I healed Jae?” she whispered to Sindri.
Yes, but don’t lose yourself, Sindri warned. Stay tethered to this world, or you may burn down all of Kyanu.
“Siren’s teeth!” she grumbled. “How am I supposed to do that?”
Focus, Neriphene warned.
She focused on a vase filled with brilliant young flowers, thinking about floating in that space between her world and the Elemental world. Bright bolts shot out of her hands, blasting the vase into a million fragments that sparkled like starlight.
“Whoa.” Simeon swiped sparks off his arms. “Remind me to never cross you.”
“Now you’ve got it.” Feira flashed a feral smile, swatting the swirling mists, scattering wisps of cloud across the floor. “Let’s go defeat The Seven.”
Casting Simeon a wary look, Dianna stayed rooted to the spot. “I think I need more practice.”
Simeon agreed. “She’s still green, Grandmother.”
Feira pulled her cloak tightly around her shoulders, her charred fingers flaking off on the fabric. “We are out of time. The mists have just revealed my Tumi strung up on a rope.”
“Oh, heavenly Elements,” she cried.
“Do not call on them.” Feira sneered. “Had they wished to help us, they would have revealed The Seven’s plans long ago.”
Dianna swallowed hard and took Simeon’s outstretched hand. As they followed Feira out of the chamber, her legs felt heavy, we
ighted with a thousand stones. Somewhere in the distance was the steady pounding of a low drum, and she couldn’t help but think she was marching to the beat of her own funeral.
* * *
Sparks flew from the bottom of Feira’s cane every time it struck stone. More sparks flew off the old woman’s skin, crackling as they dissipated in the heavy air. She moved with surprising alacrity. As Dianna followed Feira down the smoky tunnel toward the rhythmic drumbeats, her skin prickled with magic, too.
“Where is the smoke coming from, Grandmother?” Simeon asked.
The old woman’s lips were drawn into a thin line. “You’ll see soon enough.”
Their journey felt interminable as they descended far into the bowels of Kyanu, farther than Dianna had gone before.
“Where are we going?” Dianna whispered to Simeon, trying not to inhale the smoke’s fumes.
He coughed. “To the ritual chamber.”
“It’s so far down,” she moaned. Being forced to battle a coven of witches underground was frightening enough, but so far below the earth, Dianna feared the world would crash down upon her.
Her eyes widened when they passed through a smoking archway carved in the form of Tan’yi’na’s gaping maw. A blast of hot air hit her as they entered on the edge of a rocky slope, with a ceiling so dark and vast, she could not tell where it ended. Looking down into the cavern, her heart skipped a beat and then came to a sudden stop.
Below them was a seven-pointed, waist-high ring of fire, and in the center of that was a long platform where the seven witches stood, their hoods pulled back as they looked expectantly at Dianna with devious smiles. Behind them were two wooden posts connected at the top by a horizontal column on which hung two hooded people, ropes tied around their necks. They steadied themselves on stools. One figure was bent, misshapen, and eerily still as he leaned into the rope.
“Tumi,” Feira breathed, clutching her throat.
The other figure fought her bonds to no avail. Dianna recognized Jae’s tattered dress, which flapped against her legs in the smoky current. Had she healed Jae only to watch her perish at the end of a noose?