by E. L. Todd
Bridge continued to look disgusted.
His dark eyes penetrated hard into her face, his features in shade because the sun was behind him. “Yes. We should.”
“I’ll look for your ship in the harbor.” She stepped back, dismissing the conversation. “Until then, may the winds be in your favor.”
“And may they be in yours.” Captain Hurricane nodded to his men, and they dropped the sails, turned the wheel, and immediately floated away. It all happened so quickly, it was clear they would be the winners in a battle on the open ocean.
Bridge released a long, deep breath. “I can’t believe that just happened.”
Rush turned to Lilac. “You did good work.”
“I know,” she said. “That’s why I’m the captain.”
“I need a drink.” Bridge dismissed himself and headed downstairs, needing some alcohol to subdue the threat of drowning in the ocean.
Rush ignored him and focused on his sister. “You think he believed us?”
“About what?”
“The Land of Ashes.”
“What would it matter if he did or didn’t?”
“I don’t know. I just thought it was odd that he asked about our business.”
“Common talk among pirates. They give updates about weather conditions, stuff like that.”
Captain Hurricane and his fleet continued in the same direction they had been headed before they’d met, so Rush assumed it was over, that they had their own business to take care of. “Alright, then let’s get going.”
Rush lay in his cot in the bunk beds, Bridge asleep above him. Try to reach her.
I suspect it won’t work. We’re too far away.
Try anyway.
Hold on.
Rush waited, staring at the wood above his head.
Flare returned almost instantly. That was strange.
What?
Her mind is…bigger.
Bigger?
Yes.
What does that mean?
The radius around her mind is larger now, so I have to travel a shorter distance to feel it…if that makes sense.
None at all.
Well, I knocked. Let’s see if she answers.
Rush dreaded the moment when their connection would end, when the distance would be impossible to conquer. There would be no way to ensure that she was safe, that she was taken care of. If she needed help, there was nothing he could do.
I’ve got her.
I want to talk to her.
No. I go first.
Rush released a loud sigh. Make it quick.
No. You hog her.
Rush closed his eyes and waited, the minutes trickling by.
Then her voice sounded in his head, gentle like a stream but hard like the rock face of a cliff. Rush?
The sound of her voice was always a burst of peace, a comfort that made every muscle in his body relax. Just the way she said his name, with a hint of excitement and abundant hope, made him feel like someone worthy. I’m here. Made any more friends?
Nope.
No surprise there…
She gave a slight chuckle, showing her amusement. You know I’m delightful.
So, really, how are things?
In terms of making progress integrating with the elves, not so much. I’m hoping when I have something to share, they’ll warm up to me.
Share?
Yeah, it’s an elven custom. Everyone contributes to society, like providing food, flowers, other services, so until I have something, I’m basically a freeloader. Callon is trying to find something.
You’re a blacksmith—and a good one.
Callon said that won’t work. There’s already a blacksmith and not much demand for weapons, so…
Maybe for now.
I said the same thing.
General Callon has a lot of weight in their society. If you can convince him, he can convince everyone else.
Working on it.
How’s the training?
Terrible.
He chuckled. Can’t be that bad.
When I’m up against this brilliant swordsman, it’s all bad. I’m improving, though.
Trained with a sword yet?
She let out a sarcastic laugh. Not even close…
You’ll get there.
He’s focusing on the basics, like evading, anticipating, feeling the enemy’s movements. Learning the dance, I guess. Learning the confidence. But actual techniques for swordplay, not so much. We’ve also worked on meditation a lot. I’m much better at it. Haven’t gotten to the magic stuff yet.
Flare said your mind is getting bigger.
Like in arrogance? Her voice turned skeptical and a little offended.
No. Literally bigger. As if your mind has a wider radius than it used to, which is why we’re still in contact.
Hmm…I don’t know.
Has Callon taught you anything like that?
No. I would ask him about it, but I would have to tell him about you…and I know we don’t want to do that.
No. Rush knew that would be bad. So bad that Callon might exile her from Eden Star.
So, Flare said you were ambushed by pirates?
Yeah, about a week ago.
I didn’t know pirates existed.
The world is a big place. Everything exists.
I’m glad you guys are okay.
Our captain knew him, so she smoothed everything over.
She?
Yes. She’s the only actual sailor we have on the crew. She’s Bridge’s sister.
There was a long pause.
What?
I’ve just never heard of a female captain…that’s pretty cool. The queen’s guard in Eden Star is a woman. The ruler is a woman. I guess I’m just used to the political bullshit of Anastille.
Hopefully that changes soon.
It went quiet because they ran out of things to talk about.
Rush’s life on the ship was uneventful, every day looking the same as the last. It was different when they were together, experiencing life at the same time, allies in their journey, when he could look at her and watch her eyes change with her emotion.
The second I came here, it felt like home. Felt like I belonged… Even though everyone hates me.
He kept his eyes closed in bed, having an entire conversation with someone across the world, no one having a clue. He was grateful she spoke again because every time they broke apart, he was afraid it would be the last time they ever spoke.
But I can’t wait until we’re together again.
He inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. Me too.
Fifteen
Vitai-Animaie
Cora walked up the vines, taking her time, her arms spread out for balance. It was a slow climb, but she didn’t fall over once. She left the last vine and stepped onto the wooden floor outside the tree house.
The door was open, and Callon emerged. “Your balance is improving.”
“Why don’t you guys just build wooden stairs?”
“Too much wood.” He turned away and entered deeper into his home, approaching the kitchen. The fruits and vegetables were washed and prepped, ready to be cooked. It was early morning, the birds waking up everyone who had managed to stay asleep after sunrise. In trousers and a loose shirt, he turned to the counter, his enormous back somehow distinct despite the loose material that covered him.
She entered and looked around, seeing the couches, the coffee table, the bowl of fruit on the surface. There were paintings on the wall, one of a beautiful female elf. Flowers were in her hair, and she wore an ivory gown. “Is this your wife?”
He kept working and didn’t turn around. “Yes.”
“She’s…gorgeous.”
He continued his serious mood. “I know.”
She moved farther and saw another painting, this one of Callon in his full battle armor with a young man beside him, looking to be the same age. He was in the same uniform, the queen’s logo on the front of his chest. T
heir features were similar, their eyes identical, their energies the same. Callon had his arm around his shoulder. “Is this…your son?”
His answer was just as callous. “Yes.”
“He looks just like you…”
“I know.” He turned around and faced her. “We have a long day ahead of us. Let’s get to work.”
She approached the other side of the island and looked at the assortment of vegetables. Mushrooms, cauliflower, asparagus, potatoes, a wide selection as if they were at the market. “Are they here?”
“No.” He grabbed handfuls of vegetables and turned to the fire-burning stove where the pans sat.
He was all work and no play, so she stopped asking her questions.
He poured oil into a pan and waited until it sizzled before he started to sauté the veggies. “You want to combine as many different flavors as possible because the more you add, the more satisfied you’ll feel. The foundation of any fighter is nutrition. If you don’t eat well, you won’t have the strength or cognitive ability to win a battle.”
She moved to the parchment sheets bound together in the form of a book. “These are your recipes?”
“Yes. You can write down any that you want.”
She examined the handwriting, seeing its feminine slant. “Your wife wrote this?”
He continued to cook. “Yes.”
“Did she come up with them herself—”
“Let’s focus. We’ve got to get on the trail.”
They had breakfast together and took the leftovers in their packs for lunch.
Cora scribbled down a few recipes she would try at her leisure.
Then they began the climb back to their private meadow, where they could work together in privacy. The trek was challenging in the beginning, but it became easier every time they did it, and now she was right on his tail.
They reached the clearing, took a short break, and then got back to work.
“Good.” Callon quickly maneuvered out of the way, avoiding the oncoming branch.
“I missed.”
“But you’re fluid now. You’re maintaining the energy. There’s less stopping because you don’t have to think about the specifics as much. It’s turning into muscle memory, becoming such a concrete part of who you are that you don’t have to think about it.”
“My first compliment.”
He struck her with the branch in several different places, bruising her leg and arm. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
She groaned as she rubbed her arm. “You never let me cherish the little victories, do you?”
“Little victories are no victories. Those are battles. I’m training you to win the war.” He moved again, the branch moving so fast and smooth.
She blocked it then blocked it again.
“Better.” He pushed her back, moving harder and faster. “Hold your ground.”
She gritted her teeth as she blocked every hit, her feet forced to move backward.
“There’s a cliff ten feet behind you.” He kept striking, kept forcing her back. “Stop me.”
“I’m trying—”
“Try harder. Maneuver.”
“You’re too fast—”
He moved faster and faster, forcing her back. “Come on, Cora. Get the upper hand.”
She reached the very edge of the clearing, bushes and flowers behind her, the invisible cliff just there. In frustration, she screamed then kicked him in the shin.
He dropped his guard, just for a moment, but that was enough.
She rolled out of the way, got back to her feet, and held up her branch.
“Good.” He came again, the hits hard and fast. “But here we are again.” Blow after blow, he swung the branch at different targets on her body.
She’d only just begun to block his hits, and now he was pushing her to the next level.
“What are you going to do?”
Sweat beaded on her forehead, and the muscles of her arms screamed in fatigue. She couldn’t hold it much longer. Her energy was draining. Her hands turned slippery with sweat. The branch was already soaked in it.
His concentrated expression hardened, the vein in his forehead protruding, disappointment flushing his face like he already knew the outcome of the fight. “Come on. You can do better than this.”
“I’m trying—”
He did a powerful combo on her, bringing her to her knees with the branch at her throat. “Trying is not good enough.” Rage appeared in his eyes before he threw down the branch at her feet. “Do better.”
“I’m giving everything that I can—”
“Then find a way to give more.” He stormed off, his anger palpable all through the clearing.
She stayed on her knees, her clothing soaked with her sweat, doing her best to catch her breath and suppress the humiliation.
Callon took a seat near the clearing, his back to her, and opened his pack.
She remained at the tree line, her hands on her thighs, feeling like a failure despite the progress. She eventually picked herself up and walked across the clearing to join him.
He ate his lunch, his eyes on the stream, ignoring her.
She sat beside him and did the same. “I’ve gotten a lot better…”
He scooped the rice and vegetables into his mouth then chewed in silence.
“Think about where I started—”
“And think about how far you have to go. Yes, it’s progress. But if you really believe you can engage with King Lux and survive, when you can’t even handle half of what I can do…you’re ignorant and stupid.”
She winced at the insult.
“You need to practice when I’m at the perimeter.”
“How can I practice by myself—”
“Figure it out. Otherwise, we’ll be here for an entire lifetime.”
She opened her food and ate quietly, the stream the soundtrack in the background.
When Callon was finished, he sat still and watched the stream pass.
When she was finished, she returned the packaging to her pack and gulped down a few sips of water. “I’m ready.” They always took a break to meditate, to clear their minds and listen to the stream and the birds. He was particularly angry, so she was glad that he would calm down in a few moments.
“We’re doing something different today.” He repositioned himself to face her, a few feet separating them. “You’ve successfully mastered meditation, clearing your mind of everything but the world around you. You’re going to do that again, but this time, we’re going to reach out and feel.”
“Reach out and feel?”
“Yes.”
“Feel what?”
His jawline was tighter than normal, his eyebrows in a straight line to complement his hostility. “Life. Vitai-Animaie.”
She stopped asking questions so it wouldn’t piss him off more. “Alright.”
“Clear your mind. Then I’ll tell you what to do.”
She closed her eyes, her hands together in her lap, and she filtered out everything that had just happened. She released the anger, released the image of his disapproving eyes, released all the fatigue.
The stream passed.
The birds sang.
She breathed.
There was nothing else.
Callon seemed to know when she was there just by looking at her because he said, “The heart of the forest has the greatest consciousness, a life force that’s all around us. I want you to extend your consciousness and connect to it. Press your mind against it, and if successful, you’ll feel it push back.”
The directions were difficult to understand, but in her meditative state, she just listened. She inhaled a deep breath then pushed herself out, the way she did when she reached out to Flare, and she knew she’d done it correctly when she sensed something she’d never felt before.
Life.
So much life.
A heartbeat.
A consciousness.
Her mind suddenly fused with thousands of other bei
ngs, birds, butterflies, every living thing in the forest. There was a sudden burst in her chest, an alarm she couldn’t identify. The birds went silent. The stream turned stagnant. The breeze disappeared. Her contact brought a halt to the entire world.
“Stop.”
She ended the contact and sucked in a deep breath of air as her eyes opened, like she’d just come up for air after a deep dive. The peace she felt disappeared. Anxiety. Fear. Terror. It was in her blood now.
Callon was still and steady, his eyes rigidly locked in position, but there was something about him that was different. He didn’t take a breath. He just stared, giving her a look he’d never had before.
She continued to breathe hard, more exerted by the endeavor than their hours of sword training.
Silence passed.
He stared.
She stared back.
She knew something was wrong. Could feel that something was wrong.
The birds continued their song. The stream flowed. The breeze brushed over their skin.
He found his words. “What did you…?” His eyes narrowed, as if thinking to himself and speaking those thoughts out loud. “How did you do that?”
“I’m not sure… I don’t know what happened.”
“We can feel the life force of everything around us—minutely. The soul of the forest is the biggest consciousness there is, so we can sense it always. But…you did more than sense it. You did more than feel it. You…connected to it.”
She still couldn’t tell if that was good or bad. She feared she would be exiled permanently, judging by the severity in his tone. He never spoke that way, pausing between words, grappling with knowledge. He always knew how he felt about something the moment he felt it.
“How did you do that?”
“I just…did what you told me. I reached out and felt.”
“What did you feel?”
“Voices I couldn’t understand. Emotions. Feelings. There was fear, confusion, like they didn’t understand what was happening.”
Quiet and still, he listened and stared.
She waited for further instructions or repercussions.
Minutes passed, and his eyes continued to pierce hers.