This was the first time she’d seen the Dynalya flower other than in books. Nonetheless, she was well-versed in medicine to recognize what he was making. A small pot of water simmered over the fire, the handle hanging from a spit. Rawn removed it to pour it into a wooden cup and mixed the powders.
“What is it?” Cassiel asked stiffly.
“It’s a remedial concoction for my head,” Dyna murmured as she sat up.
“You’re awake.” Zev exhaled in relief. “How are you feeling?”
She managed a brittle smile. Weakness had settled over her bones. Her Essence was spent. It may take her longer to recover. “I’ll be all right.”
Rawn passed her the cup. “Drink, my lady. You will feel much improved.”
A sweet-smelling steam swirled above the red liquid. She blew on the surface before taking a sip. It reminded her of raspberry leaves and a hint of lemongrass. It warmed her sore throat, and her headache immediately faded away.
“Thank you,” Dyna said to Rawn.
Cassiel gave him a curt nod. “Given that you came to our aid, you have my thanks.”
“That puts us within your debt,” Zev said, observing him.
Rawn inclined his head. “I relieve you of your debt. It is dishonorable to gain favors and life-servants at the cost of saving lives. The elves do not practice such a custom. Slavery is banned in the Vale.”
“As it is in Hilos and the Four Realms,” Cassiel mentioned. “The Celestials are not so arrogant to believe we may own a life. That is not the will of Elyōn.”
Dyna made a face at him. He deliberately didn’t mention that fact the first time he had saved her life. His expression remained casual, but the corner of his mouth quirked.
“Von and Geon must be life-servants,” she said.
Rawn shook his head. “‘Life-servant’ is an understated term. They are slaves. To have your life saved only to lose it to enslavement is reprehensible. As of late, several kingdoms have proposed to end the Life-Debt Law, but most of Urn resists it, unfortunately. Owning lives is a manner of wealth.”
“Is there a way for them to gain their freedom?” She kept thinking of Von and his insipid face when the sorceress confronted him. He knew he would be defeated, but Dyna sensed his fear had not been against her magic.
“As of last month, the Azure Kingdom has abolished slavery,” Rawn said. “On this land, they are free. They need only acknowledge it.”
“You mean they can walk away?” Zev asked.
“The braver ones do, but many fear the repercussion. With the proper legal assertion of their rights, those in bondage can attain their freedom. However, with Tarn as their master, it may not be a simple feat.”
“Who is he?” Cassiel asked.
“I have yet to make his acquaintance. I know of him through infamy alone. There are several narratives and rumors about him. All of which depict him as a treacherous man who does not fear recourse for his deeds. His band of Raiders pillage and slay in his name. He has murdered and thieved in several kingdoms. Many have placed a sizable bounty on his head, dead or alive. Which is why he never lingers in one place for long.”
“He’s a cutthroat,” Zev concluded.
Rawn nodded. “He has no qualms in killing for what he wants. He will take anything from gold to people.”
Dyna gasped. “People? You say it as though he didn’t earn their servitude.”
“Tarn enslaves those with the skills to serve him. And there is a rumor that he searches for Sacred Scrolls.”
She frowned. “Why would Tarn want those?”
“He does not strike me as a pious man,” Cassiel retorted.
“The Scrolls hold more wonders than the makings of the world,” Rawn said. “Such things could illicit power if not great knowledge.”
“Why did he come after Dyna?” Zev growled.
“Von overheard us speaking of the map in Landcaster,” she said. “They’ve been spying on us since.”
“The Raiders knew about us,” Cassiel told Zev. “They know what we are.”
“That is Tarn’s method,” Rawn explained. “He studies his opponents before he advances. I suspect he must seek the treasures of Mount Ida. Now that he has learned of the map, his pursuit of Lady Dyna will not cease until he obtains what he wishes.”
Zev’s eyes glowed iridescent in the firelight. “I’ll end it the next time he comes for her.”
“Now that we know about him, we will be ready,” Cassiel agreed. “I am assuming he is after the treasure.”
“I don’t believe it’s the treasure he wants,” Dyna said.
Rawn nodded. “I agree. He has already gathered abundant wealth from his raids.”
A snarl ripped out of Zev’s throat. “Then what does he want?”
“Power. Mount Ida contains unimaginable magic. Whatever he seeks, Urn and the rest of the world may be at risk because of it.”
Dyna shuddered. “The boy mentioned something strange. He said they had been expecting me for years. That a Fae Seer had foretold it.”
“The Seer of Faery Hill?” Rawn asked in surprise. She nodded. “The Seer is eminent in Arthal. She has the gift to see the future and fate of others. It is a rare ability many among the fae folk seek to use or control. Because of it, she lives in confinement within the Unseelie Court under the protection of the Night Queen. To request the Seer’s services, you must entice the Night Queen with a gift. She is known to prefer human children.”
A prickle of goosebumps coursed down her arms. “God of Urn. Do you think Tarn would have …?”
“From what little we know of that man, I would not think otherwise,” said Zev.
Her eyes stung with tears. That poor child.
“Did they tell you what the foretelling was?” Cassiel asked. He looked skeptical.
She shook her head. “Geon called me the Maiden with the key to Mount Ida. He spoke of six Guardians that would protect me. It seems you and Zev are two of them.”
The men stared at her, not sure what to make of it. She didn’t understand it either, but she believed it. Her journey since leaving North Star had all been too incredible to be a coincidence. Zev had protected her since birth and Cassiel had guarded her against danger since their first meeting.
“I suppose this is where I shall leave you,” Rawn said as he stood and gathered his belongings.
“Are you to leave us again, Lord Norrlen?” Dyna asked him.
He paused, taken aback by the question. “I do not wish to overstay my welcome. I have imposed myself again in your matters.”
“Something led you to us the moment Tarn came for me. If the foretelling is true, you must be a Guardian. You gave me an oath of protection, Lord Norrlen. You promised to be my shield and to guide me to the end of the world and back. I aim to hold you to your word. Please, be our Guidelander.”
Rawn’s eyes widened. “If that is what you wish, my lady, I shall join you with goodwill … should your companions’ consent.”
Dyna glanced at the others, wary of their reactions. She had expected them to immediately refuse, but neither of them did. They studied Rawn in consideration.
“He saved your life,” she reminded Cassiel.
Zev crossed his arms. “He also had a hand in our escape on the loch.”
They had not told her about that.
Quiet anger simmered on Cassiel’s face. “There was a second attempt to take you. Their elf wields magic. I doubt we would have survived it.”
Dyna would have to reflect on that snippet of information later, for she couldn’t help but notice the use of “their elf”. She grinned widely and said, “You mean, our elf saved us?”
Cassiel rolled his eyes, an indignant admittance.
“He can join us then?”
Cassiel and Zev shared a look and both nodded in agreement. “I suppose there’s no sense in arguing.”
She beamed and squeezed both their arms. “I knew you’d see reason.”
Rawn sat back on his heels, too bewild
ered to speak for a moment. “Thank you.”
Zev pulled out Azeran’s journal from his pack. He opened the pages to a section before offering it to him. Rawn’s hands trembled as he accepted the journal. He drew in a deep breath and looked down at the blank pages. Cassiel and Zev chuckled at his confusion.
“The map disappears when it’s separated from me,” Dyna said. She motioned for him to pass the journal to her, and she whispered, “Tellūs, lūnam, sōlis.”
Rawn stared at the vivid purple swirl of magic. The calligraphic strokes swarmed across the page. When the glowing island of Mount Ida appeared, emotions crossed his face in rapid succession. Astonishment. Relief. Joy.
He blinked his misted eyes and gave a short laugh of amazement. “My lady, you mentioned Azeran Astron is your ancestor. You have an incredible heritage. To be of his bloodline, you must be powerful. I have only witnessed elves and mages with formidable magical abilities perform Essence Healing as you have done.”
Dyna shrugged, feeling timid at the praise. “My abilities end there. I’m human but I share his blood and Essence. It’s the reason I can reveal this map.”
Rawn smiled warmly. “You are far more precious than I have foreseen. This excursion would cease to exist without you.”
“What do you mean?” Cassiel asked.
“He means, should anything happen to Dyna the map would disappear,” Zev said. “Only her Essence can reveal its secrets.”
Cassiel sucked in a sharp breath. He looked at her as though he feared she would vanish in a wink. She hadn’t brought herself to ask him what his true intentions were for going to Mount Ida.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Cassiel declared so ardently that she blushed. He nervously scratched his neck and clarified, “I mean to say that I will protect you from Tarn.”
“Me too,” Zev said.
Rawn nodded. “As will I.”
Dyna’s eyes filled with tears at their promises. For once, she felt to be on the right path to her journey. “Thank you.”
“What is one man?” Cassiel said to the flames. “You have far worse enemies.”
Rawn glanced from him to her, his smile fading. “My lady?”
Zev tilted his head at her and shrugged. “Will you tell him, or shall I?”
She sighed at the reminder. Lord Norrlen should know her reason to reach the island. She would need every possible ally on this mission. Lyra and the children of North Star depended on it.
Dyna pictured the mountain of bones from her dreams. Pitch-black clouds shrouded the peak, smothering the sky from any source of light. The mountain had always represented her fear and the imminent death of everyone she loved. It was fear that kept her back, knocking her down whenever she had tried to climb it. This time, she was determined to reach the top.
“I have a Shadow demon to vanquish.”
Epilogue
Cassiel
The land of Azure gleamed with the rising sun. A gradient of pink and purple bled across the sky as the gray of early dawn faded. Arms crossed, Cassiel stood on the edge of the cliff that sheltered their camp below.
He had lost count of the days since their escape from Corron. Other things consumed his thoughts. Struggling to find any sleep, he had gone for a flight before the others awoke. But even flying now brought him little joy.
He was not the same. He felt it. He was different. Unclean.
Forsaken.
The flute weighed heavy in his limp hand. He’d thought music might help, but he didn’t have the desire to play it anymore. He glanced down at the instrument, and the urge to vomit rushed up his throat at the sight of dried blood beneath his fingernails.
If he was worthless before, now he was truly nothing.
There had to be some good in this. He was no longer the person his father claimed. The throne wouldn’t be forced on him now.
“Cassiel?”
He stiffened. Dyna’s slight form passed through the foliage with her cheeks flushed from the climb. She clutched the caplet around her shoulders, breath swirling in the morning chill.
Her foot dragged as she limped over to him. “There you are.”
He turned away and sat on the edge of the cliff, not able to look at her. His promises had turned to smoke, along with the last shred of purpose he’d found. He couldn’t be what she needed anymore.
“You should not be wandering about on that ankle,” he muttered. “How did you find me?”
“I’m … not sure.”
His wings twitched. The bond led her to him as it had led him to her in Corron.
She settled beside him. “Are you all right?”
He attempted to lie, but he broke off at the concern radiating from her. How could he explain the festering inside of him? He couldn’t.
“I hear you at night,” she whispered. “The nightmares.”
He closed his eyes, not wanting to admit it to her or himself how much he wished they’d never left the inn. Lying beside her had given him one night of peaceful sleep. He’d never have that again.
“Cassiel.” Dyna placed her hand over one of his fists clenched on his lap. His skin vibrated beneath her touch. “What happened was not your fault.”
He gritted his teeth and jerked away. He was at fault, and he could not bear to face it while being around her.
Cassiel rose to his feet and strode away.
Dyna jumped up, following his clipped pace. “Don’t do that. Don’t take all the blame.”
“What do you know about blame?”
“I know plenty. Von would not have come after us if I had not met him. This is my fault.”
Cassiel stopped with his back to her. “Do you not see?” he snapped. “I took human lives. Any divinity I had is gone.”
“You cannot carry the deaths of those men—”
“I will not discuss that with you.”
“They attacked—”
“Enough!”
The hurt he caused her punched him in the gut. Cassiel didn’t mean to be so harsh, but he couldn’t speak of his deeds. They were to lie in the folds of the abominable husk of his existence.
He should apologize. So many times, he owed her one, but he wanted her to leave him alone. To go away so she wouldn’t see what she could undoubtedly feel from him.
The heavy silence dragged. Dyna’s feet shifted in the dirt behind him. He thought she’d walked away when a small pebble hit his back.
“What are you—” He ducked as another one bounced off his head. “Stop!”
“Foolish, stubborn-headed, full-of-yourself prince!” She pelted him wherever she could hit him with a handful of pebbles. “Killing them changes nothing!”
He scowled and whirled around, not realizing how close she was and whacked her with his wings. She stumbled backward and slipped off the edge of the cliff.
“Dyna!” Cassiel lunged for her, catching her flailing wrist. He yanked her into the clutch of his arms, and they fell backward on safe ground in a tangle of limbs. Arms and wings held her securely to his chest. His heart raced from the horror of what almost happened.
Dyna shook against him. At first, he thought she was crying until she burst into a fit of giggles. She sat back on her heels and laughed until tears collected in the corner of her lashes.
He eyed her warily, fearing she had gone mad. “What is so amusing?”
She shook her head, grinning. “To think, all this time you were the answer to my problem. You were a mere forty miles from my village in a kingdom of divine beings no one knew still existed. Even so, it changes nothing.”
He finally drew her meaning. “For you still would have crossed Urn on your impossible quest to find an impossible place.”
“Corron didn’t change who you are, Cassiel. You are the same, ornery Celestial who saved me from a cliff. Twice.”
“Stupid human.” He smirked and curled a loose lock of her scarlet hair behind an ear. Realizing what he did, he immediately pulled away, but she took up his hand again and held i
t on her lap.
Dyna gave him a soft smile. “I’m sorry for throwing stones at you.”
“I suppose I deserved it.” Cassiel looked down at their entwined fingers, liking how well they fit together. He grazed her knuckles with his thumb. “I’m sorry for what happened at the inn.”
A lovely blush rose to her cheeks. “It’s all right. I understand.”
“I meant everything I said that night,” he murmured. “I truly wanted to slay the Shadow for you but …”
He couldn’t. Not anymore.
“It doesn’t matter, Cassiel. I wouldn’t have let you risk your life for me. This is something I must do alone. Whether you had told me about your ability or not, my path leads me to Mount Ida.”
“You say this because of the Seer’s divination?”
Dyna nodded. “Perhaps even Azeran’s creation of the map was all playing toward my future. I believe it. None of this is pure chance. So, please don’t feel as though you have failed me. The Raiders—”
She cut off abruptly as a sharp pang went through him. He let their hands break apart.
“Why do you want to go to Mount Ida?” she asked, surprising him with the unexpected question. He looked out to the western horizon, wondering if he would ever find what he sought. “Is it related to that?”
Her gaze flickered to his mother’s sapphire ring. He’d been mindlessly twisting the chain from which it hung around his fingers.
He tucked the ring away. “Do not ask me for I will not answer.”
“Why?”
He sighed. “It has nothing to do with you.”
“It does. You were angry that I was going to Mount Ida. I saw your face when your father brought out those books. That island means something to you. I feel it. Why is that?”
Damn. She could feel his emotions as he felt hers. He couldn’t hide it any longer.
“You’re nervous.” Dyna tilted her head. “Now you are anxious,” she added at his inner jolt. “Why do I know that? Why do I feel you?”
Cassiel dropped his head. The weight of the truth bore down on him. “You were also unexpected. I did not know saving your life would bring me here. By all rights, we never should have met, but I see now that you are the key to everything. The key to this entire journey. The key to the map. And … the key that changed my life.”
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