I rose and stuffed the book into the pocket of my cloak. “I’ll take her legs.”
Our group walked for miles through the overgrown woods until we came across a trickling stream. We lowered her onto a bit of earth that looked softer than the rest, and Hatter laid the old fae’s head down on a mound of moss before standing and wiping the sweat from his face.
I did the same, although it seemed pointless. It was probably around noon, and the sun had gone from warm to blazing. Sweat drenched my clothes, but I tried my best to ignore it.
There had been no deodorant in the market, so other than bathing, an activity I planned on bringing up after we dug a grave, there was nothing I could do about the smell or the revolting way my clothes clung to my skin.
“We didn’t see or hear anyone around,” Dee said after briefly scouting for whoever started the fire. “Specifically, no cats.”
“Good,” Henri looked relieved not to have to hike through the thick vegetation any longer. “This place seems nice, and it’s not so far from her cottage. She might have actually come out here and liked it. What do you think about burying her there?” Hatter tipped his head at a plant-free area behind a large tree.
“Looks perfect.” I wiped the sweat and grime from my hands. “Together?”
“Together,” Henri confirmed, pressing his palms out.
I rarely used earth magic, preferring air and fire, but as it flowed from me, a sense of relief overcame me.
Earth, more than any of the other elements, was grounding, calming. And after the events of last night and this morning, I needed that right now.
As our power flowed from us, digging a hole in the ground bit by bit, it became clear that using earth magic calmed Hatter too. His face, which had been previously lined and hard, loosened, and his shoulders lowered.
“So, is earth your primary element? You were strong with it when we sparred, too,” I commented when the grave was about three feet deep.
“Water and earth are about equal,” Hatter replied. “You?”
“Air, followed closely by fire. Earth is my weakest.”
“Doesn’t seem weak at all to me.” He gestured to the piles we were moving. Mine were equal to his, and our paces matched.
“Guess I’m competitive.”
He chuckled. “You don’t say?”
Once the grave was deep enough, I used a bed of air to lower Coleti into it. The pixies placed a bouquet of wildflowers on the old fae’s chest, and then we covered her up. When a mound of unsettled dirt concealed the body, I turned to Hatter.
“Should we say a few words?”
“I suppose so. I’ll do the honors,” Henri stepped forward to stand at the base of the grave. “Coleti, I knew of you only from the lips of others, but by all accounts, you were an astounding fae. Strong with each element, and willing to help a traveler should they be in need.”
Hatter gulped. “I worry that it was our need for your knowledge that caused your demise.”
I bit my lip. The same anxiety had been resonating through me, and although it didn’t make things better, it felt good to know I wasn’t alone in that fear.
“And if that is the case, I’m sorry. I hope you’ll forgive us.” He bowed his head. “May the aether light your way.”
“May the aether light your way,” everyone else murmured, their heads bowed in reverence.
Chapter 13
After the funeral, Hatter and the pixies went to scout the surrounding area. Less familiar with Faerie woods, I stayed at our temporary camp with the book and supplies.
No one wanted to be asleep if the Cheshire cat returned and brought enemies with him, so we decided to remain by the stream and rest for the afternoon. When night fell, we’d leave.
I couldn’t say I minded the break or the alone time. The past four days had been a whirlwind of change and people and revelations. No matter how thoroughly Xavier had trained me to take in new information and assimilate it quickly, when it was personal, it took longer to digest. I still hadn’t completely managed it.
Not to mention that, while the others explored, I was able to sneak in a bath without worry that Hatter would see. My clothes still stank to high heaven, but at least I was clean.
Now that I was refreshed, and no pixies were around to chat my ears off, I leaned up against the trunk of a tree to examineProperties of the Aether. My fingers brushed the green leather, dipping into the embossed runes on the cover. But even though I was ignorant to their meaning, I had no doubt that these symbols denoted power.
