“Yes.” She eyes him with curiosity, maybe perplexed to find her father after believing he had died, and maybe too exhausted from fighting to be able to say much.
“I…” He’s clearly struggling with his words. “The queen is dead. My son… other son, has been imprisoned, as he believes you both are a threat to his crown. I hope he’s right, and that one of you will be my successor.” He looks at Ferer and Lidiane. “You’re… incredible. But I have to leave. I… I have to…”
“It’s fine,” Lidiane says. “Thank you for coming.”
“I wish… I had done more. Once things are calmer, please come and find me. I have to go.”
“We’ll talk later,” Ferer says, then adds, “Father.”
The Sea King hugs him and Lidiane, then gets up. “I’ll be back soon. My guards are here.”
He turns around and leaves while his guards retreat and form a perimeter around the house. I think he would rather talk to them on a better occasion, when they’re not so drained that they can barely breathe, and I’m assuming the Sea Court is still in turmoil after the death of the queen, so he can’t linger.
I look for my brother and find him on the back of the kitchen, sitting on the floor, hugging Tarlia. Nelsin, who has a wound on his hand, sits by Ferer and Lidiane, who check on it. I then check on Mirella. Her wings are bloodied, but she looks nothing like the monster bird who attacked Ziven and I on that strange island. Her feathers are black, brilliant, and beautiful, and her eyes are not hateful and empty, but instead remind me of my sister’s eyes. I lean my face on her, and she screeches.
“Can you shift back?” I ask.
She screeches and points up with her beak, as if trying to tell me something.
“You want to fly?” I ask.
She keeps pointing.
“Is that a yes?”
Her screech is so loud that it hurts my ears. At the same time, I feel a horrific pain in my arm, and I fall.
Astra. Something’s wrong with Astra.
ASTRA
I’m dying, my body dissolving in black smoke. Dying, reuniting with the stars. The Almighty Mother extends a hand to me. I reach out to her, but she gives me a shove, and then I fall.
My arm hurts, pain radiating through my entire body. My belly hurts, something bony and hard under it. I see the ground of a forest with moss, vegetation, and some fallen leaves.
And then I’m flying, ready for my revenge, watching as my creatures are about to defeat my enemies. Then getting weaker as the creatures are defeated.
My unicorn still flies around the house, bound by the circle of magic, high enough that they’ll never reach me even if I’m weakened. My anchors are gone, and the tethers that tie me to this world are ripping. It’s time for me to rest.
“No!” I yell, and the vision fades.
Strong hands pull me, and change my position. I’m in Azur’s arms, just like I was when we walked to the Witch King’s throne.
“What?” he asks.
“You’re awake!” Ziven smiles, his expression full of relief.
“The Witch King, he’s flying over the house.” I point at Azur. “Your house. Can you put me down?”
He crouches and places me on the dirt, and I sit.
Ziven crouches in front of me. “We need to keep moving.”
“Where are we?”
“Going to the River of Tears,” Ziven says. “Then Azur will be able to transcend.”
Azur’s expression is troubled. “What do you mean he’s flying over my house? Is that a dream? A vision?”
