by Elise Kova
The clothing she’d requested was neatly laid out: a fitted pair of leggings with a white split tunic that bore the Solaris crest. A wide belt attached a ceremonial sword to her hip. Everything was carefully embroidered in gold thread, reminiscent of a coat she knew so well she could draw it from memory.
On top of the tunic was a simple envelope. Vi lifted it, flipping it over. She’d said goodbye to her family when she left—that had been the hardest part, especially after getting to live nearly three years with them in Solarin while all the logistics for her voyage were being worked out.
The Senate was still adamant that it was too risky to have both heirs running all over the world and putting themselves in harm’s way. But Vi got the impression Romulin would be all right staying in Solarin and working with Andru, the son of the head of Senate, and Minister Fritz.
Before she left, Vi had tasked them with brainstorming and ironing out some details for her next big idea. It was still in its infancy, but in a few years’ time, if all went according to plan, Solaris and the Kingdoms of Meru would be reunited. And that called for a celebration to shake the ages.
Vi would oversee the diplomatic elements of treaties and alliances. Romulin, Andru, and Fritz would run with her wild ideas of lavish parties, friendly sorcerer competitions, and other ways to share knowledge and culture. She couldn’t wait to see what would ultimately come to pass.
Her parents didn’t come on the voyage because they refused to be separated. Not because they couldn’t be; they simply didn’t want to be. Vi didn’t argue with that reasoning. She knew better than most what they’d gone through to be together now.
On the back of the envelope was a golden seal bearing the sun. She slid her finger underneath to break it, then slid out the letter and sat on the bed to read it.
Our dearest daughter,
We asked Elecia to give you this on your arrival to the Crescent Continent for one final reminder of home before you step off onto a new land for the first time.
Vi cracked a smile at the first line. It would be her first time… in this body.
We will of course remind you that these negotiations could open trade that would change our Empire and the lives of our people for the better. But we know you already understand this. After all, you were the one who somehow managed to open discussions with a closed off land that we, and our forefathers, had long since written off.
You will conduct yourself with grace and poise, of that we’re certain. You’ve grown into a young woman wise beyond her years. We are so proud, and have every faith in you.
But the most important thing we wished to remind you of is that this is an opportunity for a grand adventure. This is the start of your journey. This is the moment you begin to write your story.
Go and explore. Seek adventure. Seek the world we have always seen you dreaming of.
When you are ready to return, your throne will be here waiting. We, and your brother, will be here waiting with all our love. But don’t worry for us. We’ll be fine.
For the first time, she could believe it. Solaris had a bright future ahead of it.
Our love goes with you. We cannot wait to hear all the stories you will have to tell when you return… Whenever that might be.
Your parents
Vi brought the letter to her lips and kissed it gently. “I love you too, mother, father,” she whispered against the parchment. She could almost detect the faint scent of her mother’s perfume, mixing with the smoke that always seemed to coat her father’s clothes.
She read the letter twice more before setting it aside and beginning to dress. It felt like permission. It felt as though, somehow, her parents understood. One story had ended, but thanks to Yargen, she had a new one just beginning. Vi couldn’t stop beaming from ear to ear, and she bounded back on deck in time to see the details of Risen coming into focus.
They anchored as close as possible to the port—close enough that Vi could see the ceremonial delegation that lined the docks, ready to receive them. Her heart raced as she took her position in the front of the rowboat that would take her ashore.
Elecia and Jax were behind her. Ellene and Jayme were behind them in a separate vessel. Vi worried the silver ring in the shape of a phoenix that she wore on the middle finger of her right hand. It was not Fiera’s exact ring, but her father had commissioned it from old schematics found in the Le’Dan archives as a gift for her eighteenth birthday.
The rowboats pulled up to a low dock and Lumeria’s guard was ready to receive them. Men offered her assistance, bowing their heads as they helped her out of the small boat. Somehow, Vi managed to disembark without stumbling, and she said a quiet thanks to the sun above.
Lumeria stood down the dock, hidden behind her veil and flowing fabrics. A line of honor guards stood on either side, creating a walkway for Vi. She approached stiffly and bowed low.
“Your highness, Queen Lumeria, it is an honor to meet you.”
“It is,” she replied in her whispering tones. “Or should I say, meet again? Which would you prefer?”
Vi straightened in shock. She had told Deneya years ago that she could share the truth with Lumeria in her reports, but… she hadn’t been expecting Lumeria to actually believe the stories. Jax and Elecia arrived at that moment. She was prevented from questioning as they bowed.
“Your highness, I present Lady Elecia of the West and her husband, Lord Jax.”
“Welcome to Meru, Lady Elecia and Lord Jax.”
Vi turned to the next two. “This is Lady Ellene of the North—she is blessed with Lightspinning—and her honor guard, Jayme.” Vi had changed Jayme’s post before they set sail.
Even though things were better in this world, Vi still thought it was healthier for her and Jayme if the woman reported to Ellene. Besides, Vi didn’t know where her travels would take her, and Jayme needed to remain on the same continent as her father as much as possible.
“Welcome.” Lumeria raised her voice slightly, and said, “See that the dignitaries and their guards are shown to the palace.”
Soldiers stepped forward, each one appointed to a different person. Vi watched as they paired up with her friends and family. There was not a single trace of foul play, which was a welcome change from the last time she’d stepped foot in Risen.
“I am to be your escort.”
She met a familiar pair of blue eyes. “Deneya,” Vi said with a sigh of relief, and threw her arms around the woman.
“This is a nice change from the last time I saw you on the Stormfrost. It’s good to see you again,” Deneya whispered as she held Vi in a crushing embrace. She pulled away abruptly and looked Vi up and down with narrowed eyes. “It really is you this time, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. I’m goddess-free.”
“Good. I mean, not good. Yargen don’t smite me, I just like my friend. Now, Vi, follow me.” Deneya stopped her rambling and started after the rest of the procession.
“I’m glad nothing horrible befell you for… you know.” Vi stopped herself before she could say “stealing the Flame of Yargen.”
“I’m just glad I made it back in time.” Deneya and Vi had lost their communication token when Vi’s body had been destroyed. Without it, they’d only been able to exchange a few letters, in which they didn’t dare write too much. So there were still large gaps Vi was ready to have filled in between now and when they’d parted ways on the Stormfrost twenty years ago.
“In time for what?”
“To make sure my Queen knew of Lord Ulvarth’s treachery.” Deneya shook her head sadly in the face of Vi’s shock. “Stealing the Flame of Yargen and framing the last Voice.”
“Then the Voice survived?” she asked hopefully.
“Unfortunately, the woman had already been put to death.”
Vi winced. She felt every bit of guilt and sorrow she should’ve felt on the Stormfrost.
“Tell me, at least, that Ulvarth faced the same fate.”
“That’s the greatest crime of
them all. He’s been stalling trials and leveraging favors from friends in high places to spare his neck from the executioner’s block.” Deneya scowled. “Lumeria is fed up and, for now, has locked him up and thrown away the key. Hopefully being away from public eye will cool his influence, and she can revisit the matter in the future.”
“Good to know that justice for the wicked being elusive isn’t exclusive to Solaris.” Vi had spent the past few years entrenching herself in Solarin’s politics. Some of the records she’d read—like a sham trial involving her own mother—made her skin crawl.
“Indeed.” Deneya paused. “Are you all right with a detour?”
“If we have time?” Vi glanced back to Lumeria.
“She made sure we have time for this.” Deneya stepped off into a side alley and Vi followed. It was right before the public crowds began to thicken, ready to watch and welcome the first dignitaries from the Dark Isle in centuries.
Deneya led her down the narrow alley to the back of building that lined the port. They climbed several flights of rusted stairs toward the top floor. Deneya stepped up to the door, opened it with a flourish, ushered Vi inside, and closed it behind her.
Inside was a simple room—a meeting space for traders, perhaps, judging by the tables and chairs. A row of windows overlooked the port and Vi could see her own vessel in the distance. The sun glistened off the sea, casting everything in a warm glow. Including the man who stood, framed by light.
Vi moved forward in a trance. She held her breath until he turned to face her, then exhaled his name like a prayer. “Taavin.”
“Vi Solaris.” He still regarded her warily. It was the physical embodiment of the verbal distance he’d kept in all of their communications through the watch she now wore.
She approached slowly, as though he were an animal that might spook. “It’s good to see you.”
“Yes, well. I only agreed to this meeting because you said you had something for me.” He was as stiff as Vi remembered him being the first few times they’d met. The memories brought a nostalgic smile to her lips, and that only seemed to frustrate him more.
Just as there had been a Vi born into this world, so there was a Taavin. But like all the other ninety-three Taavins, he lacked his memories.
Reaching up to her neck, Vi undid the chain there. She held out the silver pocket watch to him. Taavin accepted it with both hands, running his fingers over it.
“This… is what has my mark.”
“Yes.” Vi motioned to one of the sofas. “Let’s sit?” He followed her, still fascinated by the watch.
“You said when we were in person, you would tell me how you got this.”
“It will be easier to show you.” She paused, hesitating. The crescent-shaped scar was missing on his face, and his hair was shorter than she remembered, but everything else about the man was the same. Should she force him to endure the memories of his past selves? Was it cruel to bestow that on him once more?
Give him his memories. Let me return to you, Vi.
“Show me… how?”
“I’d like to give you a choice,” she said softly. “It will be a lot to take all at once. It might hurt. And once I give you this knowledge, I can never take it back.”
He chuckled deeply. “I’m not afraid of whatever magic you have.”
“Then you wish to know?”
“I did not help you come all this way to stop now.”
Vi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened them with purpose, looked him right in the eye, and said, “Thrumsana.”
Glyphs appeared from the watch in his hands—layers and layers of them. They swirled around him, filling the room with symbols that Vi could still understand even though Yargen was long gone from her body and mind. In every shining symbol, she saw an entire turn of the vortex written in the language of the gods. She saw joy and sorrow, victory and defeat—she saw herself and Taavin in every one.
Taavin dropped the watch and clutched his head. He trembled, groaning. Vi reached for him.
“It’ll be all right.” She wrapped her arms tightly around his shoulders. “It’ll be over soon.”
His shakes became violent but Vi only held him tighter. The magic began to shine brighter. Taavin’s ragged gasps grew longer and longer. The watch had fallen to the floor and it now glowed white-hot from the endless release of magic. Vi clutched the man in her arms, watching as the watch cracked, released an exhale of fire like a dying breath, and then disintegrated to dark ash.
The magic faded and the room returned to normal. Taavin pushed her away roughly, staggering to the windows. He placed both hands on the panes and continued to inhale and exhale loudly.
Vi stood, waiting for his verdict. Would he truly remember her? Would he still be the Taavin she knew?
Would he hate her for the pain she’d forced him to endure one final time?
She dared to approach him. He still didn’t turn. “Taavin?” she whispered, hoping and pleading at the same time.
He spun in place, looking at her with shining emerald eyes. Vi saw recognition. He knew her.
A surprised, strangled noise escaped her as something like a laugh of relief. Taavin moved for her and Vi stood in joyful shock. This should be impossible.
And yet, those were his arms wrapped around her. His hand on her face, in her hair. His lips pressed to hers—him kissing her as though they were still saying goodbye. Vi’s fingers knotted in his clothes, tugging him closer still. She deepened the kiss, as if to remind him that this was hello.
The world wasn’t ending any longer, though it still contained its share of problems. Light and darkness, chaos and order—everything was precariously balanced. Vi knew better than most that every action was what kept them—all of them—from slipping into despair.
A kiss couldn’t change any of that. A kiss wouldn’t ensure the happiness of Meru and the Solaris Empire, and all the people within for years to come. A kiss wouldn’t be the end of the brutal dance of light and darkness.
But if one kiss could, this kiss would be it.
WANT MORE VI AND TAAVIN?
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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Vi and Taavin’s story is over and the world has been saved from Raspian. Her grand plans of uniting Solaris and Meru have exceeded all expectations with the signing of the Treaty of Five Kingdoms. A tournament has been set to celebrate the unification and surely nothing will go wrong now…
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Next in the Air Awakens world…
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Ice is in her blood.
Eira Landan was the most forgettable Waterrunner in the Tower of Sorcerers until the day she decided to compete for a spot in the Tournament of Five Kingdoms. She knew going against the best sorcerers in the Empire wouldn't be easy. Eira expected a fight. She didn’t expect that not everyone would make it out alive.
A new young adult, epic fantasy series filled with magic, action, rivalry, and love.
Full Synopsis and Cover Reveal
COMING SOON
Return to Solaris in A TRIAL OF SORCERERS to see beloved characters again and meet new favorites.
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Also by Elise Kova
If you haven’t already, read the story that started it all with the original Air Awakens series. Described as, “Avatar the Last Airbender meets Harry Potter meets Throne of Glass.” A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond in this bestselling YA fantasy. Romance and magic fill this epic fantasy world.
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Binge readers rejoice, the original Air Awakens series is complete!
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Curious about “Uncle Jax” and his tortured past?
Book one of the Golden Guard Trilogy starts with the story of a young Jax, a Golden Prince, and a Western Lord on a summer quest for pirate treasure that quickly takes a turn for the worst.
Start with The Crown’s Dog: http://viewbook.at/TheCrownsDog
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Not in the Air Awakens Universe
LOOM SAGA
(A dark, epic fantasy)