by Genna Love
“I’m saying that she needs hope right now, yes, but the more times she gets excited and that excitement leads nowhere, the closer she’ll be to losing her hope all together.”
He might not like the fire mage, but it was clear that Taariq desired to protect Zarah as much as he did. “Next time, I will think any suggestion through before sharing it with her.”
Taariq nodded. “And I will do better at doing what I can to discourage her from dangerous ideas. But if she jumps into a burning building, I’ll be by her side whether I think it’s a good idea or not.”
“Understood.”
Clearly, they both had been intoxicated by Zarah.
She was unlike any woman Eli had ever met, and not just because of her unusual possession of magic. He didn’t know her well. How could he in such a short amount of time together? But whatever connected them allowed him to see her in a way he’d never seen anyone before. He’d never been a believer in fate, but the past week had him questioning his skepticism.
He’d been too stubborn to help her save her sister. But he wouldn’t make that mistake again.
She desired answers, and he would do what he could to help her find them.
Zarah
Disbelief swirled through Zarah as she stepped into her room. Her limbs tingled as numbness plagued her, her mind disoriented.
Fragments of the past week bounced around in her mind as she did her best not to break down in tears again. Crying was useless, but the urge to fall apart crept up her throat.
Seeing her younger sister so certain of the path she must now follow only made it all the more real. Aerilyn was strong. She always had been. As much as Zarah had tried to guard her, she never really needed protection.
As a child, when Zarah had slapped their playmate for calling her sister ugly, she’d thought she was helping. But the next day, when he returned, she saw Aerilyn talking with him at the small table set in their playroom. She’d moved closer so she could overhear their conversation, ready to jump in and hit the bully again if he said anything mean again.
“That really hurt my feelings,” Aerilyn had said. “How would you like it if I called you names?”
The boy avoided her gaze. “You aren’t ugly. I just…” He fidgeted. “You’re actually pretty.”
She didn’t respond right away, instead waiting until he lifted his chin to look at her. “Then why did you say it?” An apology wasn’t enough for her. As always, Aerilyn needed to understand the boy.
He crossed his arms, doing his best to not answer her. But Aerilyn had a way to get anyone to do what she wanted. She could wear nearly anyone down with her doe-eyed stare.
Finally, he’d caved. “Because I was too afraid to tell you you’re pretty.”
Looking back, Zarah couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. Here she was, the big sister who stepped in and smacked someone to protect a little sister who didn’t need violence to get her way. What she had was more powerful.
Even so, Prince Marius was no mild child with a twisted sense of flirting. No, he was a powerful royal with a cruel streak. And although Zarah knew Aerilyn had more restraint than she did, and would be much better at not provoking him, she feared it was only a matter of time before he found a way to break her.
The thought of him touching her sister brought rage to her stomach. The fire inside her flickered.
“Dinner is ready,” Eli said from the doorway.
She didn’t turn to face him, embarrassed by her glossy eyes. “I’ll be down in a bit.”
He stepped toward her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Her anger softened just a little.
“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you when you told me you wanted to save your sister,” he said. “I still don’t think it was a wise idea, but I shouldn’t have dismissed your desire so easily.”
She spun around and stared up into his blue eyes. “You were right. I needed to think it all through. I should have known my sister wouldn’t run away if it meant endangering our people.” As always, she’d dived into something with no thought or measure, and this time, things hadn’t gone her way.
“At least you know you tried.” He tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “I’m grateful you made it back safely.” His hand lingered at the side of her face. “I’m sure you have no appetite, but at least join us for dinner.”
“I’ll be right down.” She smiled, though it felt wrong to even attempt a happy expression after the day she’d had.
Still, moping around, starving herself, would only weaken her. While the thought of leaving her sister behind still broke her heart in two, her focus now needed to be on getting out of Penrith without getting caught.
She changed into one of the dresses Eli had bought her and met them in the dining room. Eli had prepared a plate and placed it in her spot. Although she wasn’t hungry, she ate a few bites. He’d gone to the effort and she didn’t want to be rude after all of the kindness he’d shown her.
No one spoke. It was as if a storm had formed in the room and sucked all the positive energy right up. The thought of dark clouds reminded her of her dream.
It had told her something bad was going to happen. Had she somehow predicted her sister would refuse her plea to flee the castle? But if so, who was the man? Zarah had never been a spiritual person, so she wasn’t sure why she’d conjure up a Monk, but perhaps it was some sign that she needed to be holier. Her mother always urged her to trust more in the Divine, though Zarah preferred to rely on herself more than some deity above. Still, the dream had been strange and felt like none she’d ever had before.
When she’d picked through her food enough to make it all blend together in a mush, she pushed her plate away. When all three were done eating, Eli took the plates—all of which were no more than half eaten—to the kitchen to clean.
“How are you doing?” Taariq asked, pity in his gaze.
“I’m bitter. I don’t understand how everything in my life turned upside down in barely a blink.” It was almost funny how the source of her anguish had changed in such a short amount of time. One moment, she was annoyed at the prospect of having no choice but to marry the Cardasian Prince. She cared little about jewelry or dinner choices for the wedding. It had all been nothing more than a burden she must accept as a princess. But now, she wasn’t even really a princess anymore. And she no longer had to wed the bastard. And if it hadn’t flung all those same expectations on her sister, perhaps she’d see the light in it all.
“Life doesn’t always go as we hope.” Taariq shifted in his seat. “Your only choice is to keep your head above water and not let the waves crash you down.”
“A water metaphor from a fire mage? Surely, that’s some form of blasphemy.” Zarah allowed herself a small grin, and this one felt less forced than before.
Here she was complaining about how awful her life had been as princess, and how horrific it was for her sister to marry a prince, when Taariq had lost both of his parents so young.
“I’ve been around water-boy too much.” He grazed a finger over her hand. “Hang in there, Princess. Life has a way of persevering.”
It wasn’t some over-the-top optimism, but it brought her a little hope.
Zarah excused herself to the garden for some fresh air, and Taariq retreated to his room for the night.
The air was much chillier now that the sun had set and only the moon and stars lit the sky above. But she’d noticed the rise in temperature whenever she fell prey to the wrath inside her, and today had been her angriest yet.
A few minutes after she stepped outside, Eli joined her.
“I’ve always loved the stars,” he said as he approached her. “They sparkle in the sky and are a map to sailors like me.”
“I’ve heard they can predict our future.” Zarah rested her hands on the water feature. “Do you believe our lives are written in the stars?”
He stepped next to her, his body brushing against hers. “No. I believe our choices guide our
paths.”
“Good. A predestined life sounds horrifically boring.”
“That it does. But it seems there’s more to this life than what we can see. Take magic. Somehow, some of us can access something that others have no connection to.” Five droplets rose from his hand. “I can’t help but wonder where the gift comes from.”
“Do you believe in the Divine?”
“Yes, but not in the way most Lyrians do,” he said. “I’ve travelled all over this continent and beyond, and it seems every culture believes something a little different.”
Zarah yearned to be more worldly. Perhaps, as much as she hated abandoning her family, this could be her new beginning.
Although she wished more than anything to save her sister, her path ahead was less certain than ever. Soon, if all went as she hoped, she’d be out of the kingdom and onto a new adventure. Her wild heart had craved nothing more.
“They say the elements are related to the emotion inside of us.” The water droplets fell back into his hand and disappeared. “Fire is rage and passion. Water is peace and healing. Whenever I sense fury boiling inside, I come out here and let my water gift calm me.”
Zarah had been so focused on learning to harness her fire, she hadn’t given much thought to using her water magic. She’d only accessed it the one time. “Will you teach me?”
“Of course.” He took her hand into his own. “Although we can produce water from nothing as fire mages produce flame, we’re strongest when we wield water that already exists.” He hovered his free hand over the water feature. Liquid rose from the pool in a single stream, moving slowly until it met his palm. He guided the water across the garden and released it onto the rose bushes lining the edge.
Zarah brought her hand past the fountain’s ledge and closed her eyes. Somehow, shutting off her sight strengthened her connection to her magic. She pictured water running over her skin, its wetness flowing through her hand.
When she opened her eyes, nothing had happened.
She tried three more times, and still nothing.
Finding her fire hadn’t been nearly as difficult. She closed her eyes again.
Eli whispered in her ear. “You have to release what troubles you.”
She thought of her sister, this time bringing the good memories to the surface of her mind. How as children they’d play together for hours. They’d dress up and host tea parties with all of their dolls. And create dances, twirling around in their play room with no music, letting their laughter fill the room. As they got older, she remembered how her sister would always be there to help dress a wound she’d gotten from doing something she wasn’t supposed to, like climbing trees or riding horses from the stable. Aerilyn never judged her. She let Zarah make her own choices, and now Zarah needed to do the same for her.
Eli moved behind her and rested his hand on her hip. “Open your eyes.”
Droplets of water had risen from the pool below. It wasn’t as impressive as what Eli had done, but she was thrilled all the same. “I did it!”
She spun to face him, the first full smile she’d worn in days spreading across her mouth.
Eli grinned, too, his hand returning to her opposite hip this time. “Great work.” So often, he looked so serious. But now, he shared a different side of himself. His smile spread across his entire face, the skin around his eyes wrinkling as he squinted.
She cupped his jaw softly in her hand.
Although the fear for her sister hadn’t left her completely, it no longer consumed her. The tightness in her chest softened. “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you and Taariq.”
He didn’t respond right away, as if he wasn’t sure what he should say. “I promised to help you get safely out of the city, and I keep my promises.”
The connection between them hummed as her gaze held his. She wanted to ask him to stay with her, to plead for him to never leave her, but she couldn’t. No matter how desperate she was, she wouldn’t force him into any decision.
“Let’s go back inside. I’ll make some tea and we can relax by the fire and read the books you brought back with you.”
She nodded. “Very well.”
Her only goal now was to escape the city alive. Getting caught would only endanger her family more than she already had. Although her father had vowed to give Prince Marius her head, following through with the act would bring her family pain. So, she couldn’t let that happen. Not just because she liked her head just where it was, but because the last thing she wanted was to mess everything up more than she already had.
She wasn’t sure if the Divine had brought the two men into her life or if it had all been pure luck, but whatever the reason, Zarah was grateful.
Zarah
The next day, Eli visited the psychic witch as he promised he would.
She agreed to meet with them the following day. He’d tried to convince her to come to them, but she refused. If they wanted to see her, they would need to sneak to the edge of the city.
It was a risk, but Zarah needed all the answers she could get. Everything that had happened to her had been out of the ordinary. She hadn’t developed magic as a child like most mages, and she seemed to need to pull it from someone else. But most of all, she could control two elements. Zarah had never heard of such a thing.
Which meant, the woman might not have either. But they had to try.
With only four days until the royal wedding—when Zarah would make her escape—every extra risk they took felt more reckless. But with Taariq and Eli by her side, she believed they could make it across the city and back unnoticed.
Taariq had spent his entire life stealing from merchants and had never gotten caught. And Eli made his money by bartering with people all across the continent. He could negotiate better than anyone she’d ever met, which was always a valuable skill to have.
The next morning came, and Zarah awoke with nerves bubbling in her stomach.
She’d drunk two glasses of mead the evening before, which knocked her out for the entire night. But the buzz they’d given her had worn off, and now she was completely sober.
An hour later, the three of them were walking away from Eli’s house.
“Although it’s a longer route, we’re going to stay to the outskirts most of the way,” Eli said as they turned the first corner.
Zarah kept her head scarf up and walked in between the two men. The closer to the outside of the city they got, the more run down the buildings became. When they’d gone far enough one way, Eli led them down a shortcut to cut off some of the distance, but it still took nearly two hours to get where they were going on foot.
Finally, they arrived.
When they entered the small detached building, they stepped into a dark room. All the windows were blocked, and the only thing that lit the area were a few sconces hung on the wall and the candles surrounding the elderly woman sitting on a rug on the ground. The smell of incense burned throughout the space, a thin haze clouding the air.
Shelves lined the wall to the right, filled with tinctures of liquids and boxes of herbs. A small section was devoted to books and another section housed an assortment of potted plants.
“Welcome. Please lock the door behind you and have a seat,” the woman said. She had a scarf tied around her head and wore a dress of vibrant colors. Zarah had never seen someone look so much like the gypsies she’d read about in books.
Eli pulled the large wooden lock in front of the door and the three of them all sat in a small circle with the woman. Zarah sat in the middle. “Madame Briar, these are my companions Zarah and Taariq.”
“It’s an honor to have a princess in my shop,” the madame said.
Zarah had never met a witch before, but in every story she’d read, they were old, ugly women with black eyes and warts covering their bodies. This woman was elderly, but that was as far as the similarity stretched. Age had wrinkled her skin, but at one time, Zarah imagined she would have been quite pretty. Her large ey
es were a bright shade that hovered in between blue and violet, and she had a petite nose and mouth.
“Thank you for seeing us.” Zarah tucked her feet beneath her butt as she tried to get comfortable. She hadn’t sat on the ground, unless she’d just fallen from a tree or horse, since she was a child.
“Eli tells me you have an unusual gift.” She emanated a strange energy, as if her aura was palpable. It wasn’t the emotional sort, but there was no mistaking that she was a real witch.
Zarah hoped Eli was right in trusting her. She had plenty of information to turn Zarah in if she so chose. But he was a careful man, and she had confidence he was a good judge of character. “I do, yes.”
The woman pulled her legs into a criss-cross and closed her eyes. He hummed quietly for more than a minute as the three of them just stared. “The fire in you burns strong. But water flows quietly deep within. And beneath that, there is air and earth power.”
“Air and earth?”
The woman extended her hands, palms up. “Your hands, dear.”
Zarah gave Eli a quick glance, and when he nodded, followed her request. When her skin touched Madam Briar’s, the magic in her center surged.
An overwhelming sensation of power overwhelmed her. She fought the urge to yank back her hands. Instead, with deep breaths, she allowed the strange phenomenon to flow over her like cool water. The pressure of a thousand dull needles pushed gently against her skin, but she didn’t pull away.
“I see pain inside you. And fear,” the madam continued. “Passion and trust. Your future is cloudy. There is darkness. A storm is brewing. Something waits at a Y in the road. Another man will choose.”
“Another man?”
“Yes, he is connected to you just as the men in this room. He is balance and wisdom. I see deep brown eyes and a bald head.”
Her magic vibrated as the man in her dream flickered in her thoughts. “A Monk?”
The madame’s eyes shifted beneath her lids. “Yes. Yes, he’s a Monk. And he’s seen you.”