He lets out a bitter chuckle. “In my hand, it’s destructive, untamed.”
I’m impressed with his power, with the amount of fire he’s producing without even trying, but I’m also happy that he finally connected with his main magic. “That’s what you’ll need.”
His eyes are focused on his fire, an eyebrow raised, an eerie expression of curiosity mixed with disbelief and some disgust. “I know.”
At least he used his fire, and I try to think about it as a victory. “Marlak, whenever you need to use your fire magic again, I hope you’ll remember us, remember this moment.”
He looks at me and smirks, still holding that gigantic fire. “Frankly, I’d rather remember how you got that magic.”
“That works too, you know?” I smile, happy to see him relaxed and back in his teasing mood even when using his fire.
The height of his flame increases all of a sudden, getting as tall as the tallest trees in the island, then Marlak shoots a fire blast into the air, over the river where it won’t burn anything.
“I did it,” he says. “Did you see it?” His chuckle is relieved and happy and warms my heart.
“Yes! It was amazing. Do you want to try it again?”
He puts his hand over mine, quenching my flame, and shakes his head. “Destructive fire is easy. I can manage it.” He closes his eyes. “I won’t say… I won’t say it doesn’t bring some memories, but all I’ll need is a second.”
I feel a heavy weight in my stomach and whisper, “Thirty, actually.”
He sets his dark eyes on me, confidence written on them. “No more than a minute, and then it’s done. A minute to let my magic be as destructive as it wants to be. Let it consume the Witch King and all his ghouls. I can do it, Astra. There’s no reason to fear.”
“I trust you.”
He pulls me close, nuzzling my hair with his nose. “Then it will be fine. The tough part will be getting there on time to return before the sun sets, but with the help of the giants, we’ll manage it. It will be fine, Astra.”
My chest feels tight, so tight, squeezing my heart. I want to trust him, I want to hope, and yet I hate that he has to do something so dangerous.
“What if I came with you?” I suggest. It’s a thought that has been in my mind for a while. “We could double your fire.”
The corners of his eyes tighten. “I know you’re powerful, but you’re also the Witch King’s descendant, and we don’t know what he could do with you. Even if we ignore this fact, there’s another problem. If you’re there, I’ll be too careful. I’ll want to make sure the fire doesn’t hurt you, that nobody hurts you. I’ll want to make sure you’re safe. I won’t…” His voice is strangled. “I’ll be careful, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to…”
“I understand.” And indeed I do. “It was just an idea. I’ll stay here, and Iwill stay. I won’t go anywhere.”
He frowns. “Are you even capable of doing that?”
“I’m a fast learner.”
His relaxed chuckle lights my heart. “You’re anincrediblelearner, wife. From zero to master in a matter of minutes.” He pinches my nose. “So use your incredible learning skills, and stay put. Just once, so I can focus on what I have to do.”
“You need to give me more credit. You went to the castle and I waited even when you didn’t return with Azur.” True that fora moment I wanted to transcend to the castle, but it was just a moment and I don’t need to mention it.
“I knew you’d feel me through your bond and you’d know I was safe. Didn’t you feel it?”
“I guess,” I mumble.
He takes my hand and kisses it. “I’m glad you waited, and it’s one more reason I love you, among a million others. Tomorrow is the beginning of the end. Then we’ll deal with Zorwal—and rescue your sister.Oursisters. I still trust that I can… get her… That once he’s gone, he won’t poison her mind anymore, and...” He’s struggling for words, perhaps struggling to find an answer, a justification. I don’t think he fully accepted what happened to his sister.
“You’ll figure it out.”
He holds me close and takes a long, deep breath. “We will.”
I rest my face against his chest and he leans his chin on top of my head. For a second, it’s like in the dream we shared, when he mentioned the Pit of Death. We still don’t know if such a place exists, or what it means. What I know is that I want to hold on to this moment, to the feel of his arms around me.
More than anything, I want to trust that tomorrow will indeed be the beginning of the end.
TARLIA
