However, it confirmed that there was power here. Perhaps she wouldn’t just discover the platform these marines needed to return home—maybe she would find the weapon they sought as well. She wouldn’t grant them it, of course—she would use it herself against Sintiya’s enemies. Frightened though she might be, the chance of gaining power might be worth the risk.
She took a deep breath and focused, transporting herself closer to the source of the magical energy. When she opened her eyes, she found she was staring at the ruins of a palace, just as her knight commander had suggested. Much like her own, it was nestled at the foot of a mountain range.
However, unlike her own, this mountain range was small. It ended on the coast to the east, and at the gorge which separated this land from Gatlan. These mountains were even smaller than those which the dragon had called home. However, the peaks reached high enough to have a smattering of snow, even this far south, and they cast an impressive shadow on the land.
Eleanor didn’t transport herself inside the ruined palace walls. She walked the few hundred yards that separated her from the castle. The feeling of magic got stronger the closer she got, prickling against her skin. She was close to what remained of the entrance archway when she heard a click.
A moment later, she was surrounded by a flash of light, and transported several feet to the right. An explosion rocked the air, fire and dirt flying up from where she had been standing just a moment earlier. Eleanor stumbled back and felt a firm grip on her elbow. She screamed and twisted, seeing that it was Yannick who was there.
Yannick smirked at her. “Careful, my dear. It’s not your time yet; you are still of use to me.”
“Thank you,” Eleanor managed after a moment.
She hated to be indebted to any man, but Yannick had saved her life. He inclined his head in acknowledgement and thankfully didn’t torment her further. She looked at him expectantly, hoping he would explain why he was here. A smirk played across his lips and he said nothing. She scowled, knowing that his presence would remain a mystery. It could just be as simple as he heard what she was doing and was bored, so decided to join her. However, with Yannick, nothing was ever simple.
Eleanor sighed. He had just saved her life, so she supposed she should be grateful he was here, whatever his motives actually were. Given what had just happened, she decided not to venture inside the ruins, not if there were magical traps laid. She would return some other time and explore when she could take proper precautions. Instead, she looked around, scanning the area for anything of use.
This ruined palace appeared to be the only structure in the area. Eleanor turned on the spot, taking in a full panorama, and that was when she noticed it—a cave halfway up the mountain. It might be nothing, but it appeared to be the only cave on the mountainside, and there was a clear if crumbling path leading to it.
With a sharp look at Yannick, Eleanor transported them both to the mouth of the cave. She formed a ball of white flame in her hand so that she could see into the dark depths. A slow smile crossed her face, seeing the intricately carved stone platform with metal pedestal that Ortiz had described. Now, she truly did control all aspects of the situation, exactly how she’d wished.
She had found the way to Earth.
*****
To be continued in Reckoning, Book Three of Divided Destiny…
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About the Author
Taitrina Falcon is a passionate author who writes and dwells in England, U.K. She may have studied Computing Programming at university, but the art of writing has been her number one passion since she was just a kid. Taitrina began storytelling before she even jotted down her very first word.
When she's not creating, Taitrina Falcon is a gamer, swimmer, Star Wars fan, and DVD collector. Music is one of her many muses, and she never leaves the house without her iPod. The coast is also an inspiration of hers, with the calm crashing of the ocean waves and the salty tang in the air.
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Justified (#2 Divided Destiny) Page 23