“Sometimes that leads to the same end.” Daelis blew across the surface of his tea, then shook his head. “I never told your mother this, but I remember what happened before I ended up underground. I was lost and alone, and for years all I could bring myself to do was work and sleep. I walked off a bridge on the way home that last night. It was intentional. It just happened to be the same night my mother sent one of her warlocks after me, so I wasn't allowed to die like I wanted. I woke underground, angry and disappointed that I was still alive, but that feeling faded when I saw I wasn't alone. Later, after we made it back to Jadeshire, my father told me that during the months I was supposedly dead, he'd suspected that I had died by suicide. He apologized to me and said he had known for a very long time that I was hurting, but he didn't know how to help me. Tessen, I don't know how to help you now. I don't know what to do.”
“I'm not suicidal.” Tessen took a sip of his tea. There was something else mixed in with the peppermint and ginger, something lightly floral. Chamomile perhaps. “I don't want to die. I went in the water because water is the only way I've found to purge the pain and emotions I've collected from everyone else. With the Uldru here, and especially with Itrek, I am constantly overwhelmed by feelings I don't recognize. I can't escape it here, except in water.”
Ragan's eyes connected with Daelis's. “You do know what he actually means to do, right?”
“No,” Daelis replied.
Ragan's attention settled on Tessen. “You mean to leave here, don't you? I was in your bedroom earlier. Saw your winter traveling gear packed. You and Serida are gonna go off alone, aren't you?”
“Yes.” Tessen gulped the rest of his tea and passed the empty cup to Ragan. “I don't intend to leave permanently. Maybe a couple days, maybe a week or two. I want to see what I feel like away from everyone else. Maybe distanced from all the noise, Serida and I can figure out how to control this.”
“Did you tell your mother?” Daelis asked. Worry sparked the air between them.
“You know she'd never let me out of her sight if I had.” He scratched at the back of his head and tried to ignore the distress coming from the other two. “Like I said, I don't intend for this to be long-term. I know where some hot springs are a little higher into the mountains. I think I'll go there.”
“It's winter, Tessen.”
“I still have Rose's hideous all-temperature enchanted collar, so I won't freeze. If I wait any longer, I don't know if I'll be able to find my way out of the darkness. I don't know if I'll be able to drag myself out of the ice. I need to do this. I'll be okay.”
“You're sarding foolish,” Ragan said, bearing his pointed canines. “I want to stop you, but I don't think it'll make a bit of difference.”
“It won't. I'm going with or without your approval.”
“I don't approve.”
“Me, neither,” Daelis added.
“I know.” Tessen stood and paced behind the settee. His muscles were sore and stiff, but the ache would work itself out with some walking. “I didn't intend to tell anyone, but now I realize it's best that you know. Maybe Mom won't panic so much if you tell her what I'm doing.”
“I know where these hot springs are. I've been looking at the maps you tucked in the side pocket of your rucksack,” Ragan said, narrowing his eyes. “Seven days, Tessen. I give you a week before I come after you and bring you back.”
“Seven days, Ragan. I think I can work with that.”
Ragan closed his bright eyes and rubbed his brow. “Good. Take your sword with you, and a bow. I know you're a shit shot with it, but you're gonna want it. There's some good caves up there that'll keep you warm, but watch out for hibernating beasts and anything that might wanna eat you.”
“Ragan...” Daelis's disapproval reached far beyond the sour notes in his voice.
Ragan bared his teeth. “Listen, Daelis. I've known this kid for longer than you have. I've seen him fight and I've fought alongside him. His drive to survive is stronger than any I've ever seen. We need to let him figure things out because he sure as hell can't do it with all the commotion here. I don't wanna see him hurting anymore, do you?”
“No, but–”
“You and Rin will just have to deal with it. You'll be okay, won't you Tessen?”
“I'll be back in a week,” Tessen said. He tugged at the lapel of his robe. “I'm going today because I had already planned to. I won't discuss it further. Serida and I want to take advantage of the upcoming full moon. I know you're both upset, but thank you for understanding as much as you have. And for not locking me in a cell or something. Thank you both, for the warmth and the tea. And the paternal concern. I'll be all right. Honestly.”
“I'M GOING WITH YOU.” Ragan stood at Tessen's door, an overstuffed rucksack on his back and Cadriel peeking out of his jacket pocket.
“No. I need to do this alone.” Tessen tried to shoulder past him, but Ragan caught his upper arm and held him tight. “Let me go. Please.”
“Not alone. I'll keep my distance, okay? We'll hike up there together, and I'll camp on the other side of the hot spring or something. I won't bother you, and if you feel too much of me just say so and I'll move a little further away, but not out of hearing range.”
“No, Ragan.”
“Yes, Tessen. I promised your mother I'd look after you. I know you're not a kid and I don't want you to feel like we're treating you like one, but you have no business going out there all on your own.”
Tessen scowled into Ragan's jacket sleeve. It would be safer to have him there, but Ragan's company was also a guarantee that Tessen would have to return to Mountain Home. “If I let you come, will you let me stay there longer?”
Ragan thought for a moment, then nodded. His tail flicked the air behind him, revealing his irritation before the feeling reached Tessen. “Ten days. I've got enough provisions for two weeks in case a storm pops up, and I'm planning on hunting for the lot of us. Three of us, I suppose, since Serida can do most of her own hunting. Either I go with you or you don't go at all, and I will restrain you if I have to. I don't wanna do that, so you'd best agree to our arrangement.”
So, he wasn't being given a choice. Staying in Mountain Home wasn't an option so he'd have to drag Ragan into solitude with him. He did feel safer with the half-Fae near, but Ragan was a social person who needed someone to argue with or he grew angsty and sullen. Tessen didn't want to be interrupted to relieve Ragan's boredom, but he was even less keen on being locked up. “Okay. Come with me. Keep your distance, though, or I'll find somewhere to hide.” He squinted at the bright midday sun. “We need to leave now. It should take about three hours to hike to where I want to camp, and I want to get set up before dark. “
“I knew you had some sense in you.” Ragan stepped aside to let Tessen exit the house and close the door.
Tessen held up his hand and pinched his fingers together. “Just a little. The rest is hopeful desperation.”
“I hope this little camping trip of yours is enough to fix that.”
“Me, too.” He sighed and patted Serida's head. “Is Mom angry at me?”
Ragan's shoulder bumped against his as they walked side-by-side down the road. “No. She's worried, but not as much as she was before I said I was going with you. She wanted to come see us off, but Daelis reminded her that if she came to see you, she'd never let you go.”
“Yeah. She wouldn't.”
Serida yipped, then stood semi-upright to adjust the pouches that crisscrossed her midsection. She had insisted upon packing supplies of her own, but Tessen had no idea what kind of things she found essential. Every time he had tried to look at what she was doing as she packed, she had narrowed her eyes and crouched lower over her bags.
Ragan laughed but kept walking. “Little girl, must be convenient to have opposable thumbs and pouches to carry your treasured shit in. Cadriel gets frustrated that he can only carry something the size of a coin when he'd rather make a treasure out of a wagon wheel.”
“Chirp, rawrr.
” Serida tilted her head nearly upside-down, then trotted ahead of Tessen.
“Watch your mouth, girl,” Ragan said, grinning.
They only made it to the edge of the village before hearing a call of, “Tessen! Wait!” Breathless, Kemi dashed out from behind a frostbitten bush. She leaned forward and pressed her hands into her thighs as she struggled to catch her breath.
“I'm not going to argue with you,” Tessen said. “I need to do this. You know why. And before you worry too much, Ragan is going with me.”
Kemi looked up and shook her head. “What? No. I'm not going to argue. I'll let you go, but I need your help with something first. It will only take a couple minutes.”
“I need to leave, Kemi. It gets dark too early for me to stay any longer.”
Still breathing heavily, she pressed her gloved hands together in front of her mouth. “Just a few minutes. Please. I need help with a spell and it needs to be an empath who helps me. It's . . . I think it's something that could help your brother.”
“What does Shan have to do with anything?” Tessen asked.
“Aw, damn it.” Ragan turned his head and spat onto the frosted grass. “You figured it out, didn't you? You figured out the locating spell.”
“Yes.” Kemi said. She looked up at Tessen from within a cloud of hope.
“What?” Tessen searched his memory and found a string of translations. “Is that what you were having me translate piecemeal a couple months ago? A spell to locate Spellkeepers?”
“Yes. I couldn't do the spell until now because I had to wait for the hellebores to bloom. I need to do the spell now. Right now. It's important. We need to find the other Spellkeepers before my father does because–”
“Because you think your father is going to use them to turn my brother into a weapon, to turn all of them into weapons.” Tessen rubbed the back of his neck. This delay was irritating, but necessary. “Fine. I'll help you find them, but only if it's quick and only if you don't beg me to stay.”
“I won't beg. I know why you're leaving. And I'm relieved you're letting Ragan go with you.” Kemi grabbed Tessen's hand and pulled him toward the village. “Hurry. The other two are waiting.”
“Other two what?” Ragan asked, easily matching Kemi's frantic pace. “What exactly are we doing?”
“You're not doing anything, Ragan. You need to wait outside.” Kemi led them up the stairs to the keep, then threw open the door. “It takes eight to perform this spell. Four dragons, three witches and an empath. If anyone else is in the room it won't work.”
“Fine, Princess. Don't let me in on the fun,” Ragan scoffed.
Kemi turned around, then reached up to tap the end of Ragan's nose. She winked and said, “You're not magic-skilled, Sweetheart.”
Ragan's nose crinkled. “Sweetheart?”
“You call me Princess, and I'm gonna call you Sweetheart.”
“But you are a princess, Princess.” Ragan swallowed the giggle that tried to escape his throat.
Tessen sighed and shook his head. “If you two want to flirt, I'm all for it. To be honest, I'm not sensing more than mild attraction coming from either of you, but I think more could happen if you gave it a go. Hell, I'd fully support it. Not right now, though. Let's do this spell so Ragan and I can go on our ill-advised camping trip and you can get back to whatever it is you should be doing. Blacksmithing? Is that your hobby of the week, Kemi?”
“It was, but the heat made me nervous. I'm learning about fletching from Angolara now.” Kemi paused in front of an unadorned black door. “This is the ritual room. I had to purge it of some intensely dark warlock garbage, but it's serviceable now. Ragan, there is a bench over there. Why don't you and Cadriel sit and take a nap or something. This shouldn't take long.”
Ragan patted a pocket. “I've got a book. Couple of 'em, actually.”
“Of course you do. You always do. Would you keep watch for me, too? I don't want my mom to know we're doing this right now, so if she happens to come by tell her . . . tell her I'm in here alone and doing a cleansing spell. Tell her I asked you to make sure no one interrupted me while I was skyclad.”
“Naked witchy shit. Got it.” Ragan sat on the bench and pulled a thick book from his pocket. “Have fun, kids.”
Kemi opened the door, releasing a soft green light and the floral scent of dragons.
“Oh good, you found him,” Iefyr said from the edge of a circle chalked at the center of the room. His balefire dragon, Auna, whipped her frond-tipped tail back and forth behind him. He eyed Tessen's weapons and rucksack with concern. “Going somewhere?”
“Ragan and I are going camping,” Tessen muttered. “Kemi, where do I need to be?”
A sharp snap of dragon jaws startled him. Ectran the midnight dragon lurked in the far corner of the room, shrouded in shadow and alert on his haunches.
“Uncle Elsin? Are you in here, too?” Tessen asked, confused. “Kemi, you said three witches. Elsin–”
“Yeah. I'm here.” Elsin stepped out of the shadows, a crystal rod in one hand and a book in the other. He held up the rod. It sparked green as it caught the light, then held the glow as he lowered it. “Will this work?”
“Is it amethyst or rose quartz? I can't tell in this light.” Kemi stepped over Lenna's tail as she circled toward Elsin.
“Ametrine.”
“Even better. Ideal, really.”
“Um, Uncle Elsin?” Tessen wasn't sure what to say. No one in the Sylleth family was known to be magic-skilled aside from Shan and himself.
Elsin scratched at his short black curls with the rod, then thought better of it and set the crystal on a nearby altar table. “I told you I have secrets.”
“You're a witch?”
“Barely. I'm like Iefyr and you—the dragonbind brought it out of me.”
“You're a witch?” Tessen repeated. “Does Mom know you're a witch? What kind of witch?”
“Just a cottage witch. Basic household spells and charms, kitchen spells, nothing fancy. Melly appreciates it, no one else cares.”
“I care.”
Kemi returned to the door side of the room and took Tessen's arm. She led him to the edge of the circle and let go. “Right here. This is where you go. Sit.”
Tessen set down his rucksack, then sat cross-legged and used it as a backrest. “Elsin, are you keeping any other secrets from our family?”
“A couple.” Elsin winked as he sat down across the circle from Tessen. His blue eyes flashed green as he laughed. “This one isn't really a secret, but it's usually so inconsequential that it's not worth mentioning.”
“I've known Elsin for a long time. Actually, longer than you have. I didn't know he was your uncle when we met,” Kemi said. She laid an oilskin roll next to the circle, then lowered herself to the floor. “He's not a powerful or skilled witch, but I don't need him to be. I just need to trust him.” She nodded toward Iefyr. “Same with you. Also latent skill revealed in adulthood. And I trust you.”
“What exactly is going to happen here?” Iefyr asked. He sat on his knees instead of cross-legged like everyone else.
“I'm not sure. All I know is we're going to learn the location of the marked Spellkeepers. The hard part will probably be traveling to them and identifying them once we get there. We probably not meaning us. Maybe Elsin, maybe me, but not either of you. I don't know. For now I just need to find them.” She slowly unrolled the oilskin. “This will be quick, and then everyone can get back to what they were doing. Dragons, sit behind your dragonbound. Touch them and do not break contact with their skin until this is over.”
Serida trilled, then arranged herself behind Tessen and pressed her cheek against his.
Kemi took the crystal rod from Elsin and set it in the center of the circle. “Seven points, not all alight. Three are marked, three we'll find, one forever lost to time.” One by one, she placed objects at equal distances around the chalked circumference of the circle. “An adder stone, waterfall worn. Spider silk parcel, conta
ining a scale from each of the four dragons present. A hellebore blossom, freshly picked. A double-edge knife, soaked for three full moons in a witch's moon blood. Weeping willow shoots, woven into a poppet. A silver bell, buried in salt for seventeen days and then consecrated under a new moon.” She reached over and plucked a hair from Tessen's head, then did the same to Elsin. “Hair from the kin of a known Spellkeeper.” She held up her hand and the crystal rod began to spin. “Witch of flame, reveal the world within the circle.”
Hesitantly, Iefyr held his palms over the circle. He flinched and lines ignited beneath his hands. They spread and split until the outline of Bacra and the divisions of its realms filled the circle. Iefyr flicked his fingers to extinguish the tiny flames jumping from his fingertips, then sat back to survey the smoldering map and whispered, “Whoa.”
Kemi glanced up at him and smiled. Ember light and green wisps danced in her dragonlike eyes. “Empath, reach into the map and reveal the Spellkeepers.”
Without thinking, Tessen lowered his hand onto the floor in front of him. Four blinding white lights and dozens of faint sparks burst from the map and hovered just above the floor. Of the bright lights, one rested above Bacra's lower southeast, one leapt above the map not far south of Mountain Home before sinking into the floor and vanishing, and two circled each other in north-central Bacra.”
Kemi's hand jumped to her mouth. “Oh no. He has two now. The one that vanished must be the lost one, or a memory of her. We need to find this one.” She pointed at the light on the border of the Agate and Azure realms.
“What are the small lights?” Iefyr asked.
“Potential Spellkeepers,” Tessen replied. He didn't know why the answer was so obvious to him. He stared down at the map, at the approximate location of Mountain Home. Two little sparks hovered there—one silver and one red. He had a bad feeling that the silver spark was Zinnia. The red could only belong to... “Shit, Iefyr. You're a potential?”
“He's a magic-skilled half-elf of royal blood, so that doesn't surprise me,” Kemi said, shrugging.
“I am?” Iefyr asked.
Spellkeeper Page 27