“She’s right; the plan remains,” Erich said. There was a disturbing finality to his tone. As if he were resigned to death. Liane wanted to reach out and comfort him, but held back. He’d drawn the line on their relationship. She wasn’t going to cross it now.
They retreated a few steps and strategized a plan.
“We’ll lure them away from the ruins and send them on a chase. The longer we can keep them away, the more time Liane can use to get in and get out. Fritz, can you use any of your magic at all?”
“Yes, enough for illusions,” he said, gesturing toward his face and rounded ears. She hadn’t even considered he was maintaining a facade. Was that for her comfort? She’d never been close to elves. Three months ago, she wouldn’t have even considered it. But in her few brief interactions with Fritz, she’d realized he was nothing like the elves she’d been warned about her entire life.
“Can you turn into Liane? If they think they see her, then maybe we can lead them away.”
Fritz’s face turned bright crimson. “I don’t know if that’s appropriate.”
“I don’t mind,” Liane said.
He cleared his throat. “But still. It’s frowned upon to take the visage of another person...”
“We need them to chase after me and Liane. I need you to do this,” Erich emphasized as he met Fritz’s gaze.
Fritz wouldn’t look back at Liane as he wrestled with his own ethics. She didn’t want him to break his rules of magic, but they were left with little choice.
She assured him once again, “Make yourself as close to me, without copying me exactly. It’s dark and you’ll be on the move.”
Fritz looked up at her, gratitude in his gaze. “I like the way you think.”
He placed his hand over his face, and like a sculptor working with clay, he reformed his features, softening his cheekbones, rounding his face. A more delicate nose and chin, fuller lips, and longer lashes. It was a surreal experience watching him change from a dark-haired elf to an auburn-haired woman, who shared a striking resemblance to her, though not identical. It was uncanny and made Liane feel a bit strange. It explained why the elves frowned upon exact copying.
“We’ll draw them away, and you two run toward the vein,” Erich said.
He turned to walk away, prepared to thrust himself into danger once again, for her sake. And this time, he might not make it back.
She could have let him go without a word, but even as angry as she was, she didn’t want him to die.
“Take care,” Liane said.
His gaze lingered on her for a moment. “I will make sure you escape unharmed. No matter what.”
His words sent a shiver down her spine. “I’ll hold you to that promise.”
They stared at one another for a few beats, her heart in her throat. She hated herself for wanting more from him, but knew she had to let him go.
“Keep her safe,” he said to the oracle.
“I will,” the oracle replied.
And that was it. He turned and rushed toward the oncoming guards. The guards saw them and sounded the alarm before turning to chase after Erich and Fritz across a nearby field, leaving her behind with a sinking feeling and a dangerous destiny ahead of her.
The oracle placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Come. We should be ready.”
They waited in the bushes as Erich and Fritz, masquerading as her, drew away the guards, then darted out from the undergrowth and into the crumbled ruins beyond.
They took a serpentine route through the ancient city, stepping carefully over vine-covered, crumbling walls and moss-covered cobbled streets, which had been almost entirely consumed by the encroaching forest. Liane felt the pool before they reached it. It seemed to call out to her, drawing her toward its center and making the scar on her back throb.
Then she got her first glimpse of it, filled to the stone brim with a shimmering void, which seemed to pulse through her, the same way that the other pool had called out to her. Liane stared at it as if mesmerized. Her eyes filled with stars.
“Careful stepping in. It’s quite the drop,” the oracle said.
“What if I’m not strong enough?” Liane asked, feeling less certain than ever before.
“You’ve got iron in your spine. Literally.” The oracle cackled at her joke. “You were chosen for a reason. Don’t doubt yourself now.”
