“Do you understand the severity of what’s at stake now?” Vi studied his face. His frown caused the crescent-shaped scar that ran along his cheek to shift. His eyes were serious, tired, more tired than she had last seen him. “Will you help me find the apexes without question? I need your visions to know what path we’re on, and what the future will hold, so I can prevent the elfin’ra from achieving their dark goals.”
“The deal still stands,” Vi whispered softly. “Help me learn how to control my magic, and I’ll find your apexes.” She didn’t want a place in all of this. She just wanted to be reunited with her family.
“Yes, you have your deal.” He gave a small nod. “Because you will need the full power of Yargen as her champion when the end of the world comes.”
Chapter Nineteen
It was almostas if the Mother herself had conspired with Ellene the night before, for Vi couldn’t imagine a more perfect day for preliminary noru races leading up to the winter solstice. The weather was good enough that Vi didn’t even feel exhausted waking early with very little sleep.
The North was always so warm that, even in winter, the trees never lost their evergreen leafy boughs. But the heat did relent, some. The nearly perpetual stickiness of the air vanished, and there was almost something that Vi would dare call cool on the front end of every breeze.
The changing seasons—fall to winter—brought out new smells and animals. Birds that migrated up from the south flitted between the railings of the walkways Vi traversed as she headed down to the stables. There was the usual fresh scent of greenery, mingling with the earthy aromas of wood, but as new flowers bloomed, so too did they give up their perfumes to the bouquet of the atmosphere.
Vi worked to put her lessons and magic behind her. She’d promised Ellene she’d be present in the moment during their final weeks together, and Vi would do her best to honor that promise despite all that was going on. She also, admittedly, needed a break after the night she’d had. While there had been no issue sneaking back into the fortress, her vision and encounter with Taavin had left its mental mark on her already exhausted mind.
“Why are you following me?” Vi asked dryly. Andru hastily caught up with her.
“It is my job to observe you.”
“In my lessons.”
“In general.”
Vi sighed heavily. “I am too tired to argue with you today.”
“Are we arguing?”
“Banter, then.” Stupid semantics.
“That’s what Romulin would’ve called it,” he said mostly to himself with a soft chuckle. “I hear you are going to partake in noru races this afternoon.” Andru took a step behind her, allowing Vi to lead them down one of the spiraling wooden stairwells as she made her way to the stables.
“Where did you hear that from?” Vi glanced over her shoulder.
“I have my ways.” He looked out the windows as they strolled.
She was too tired to pry. Even though she’d made haste after her lessons, she was still the last one to arrive at the stables.
“Sorry, I tried to get out as fast as I could,” Vi called over to her friends the moment her feet met the packed earth.
“Apparently you still have yet to escape.” Ellene shot Andru a look.
Vi fought a smirk and failed. But she made sure it was off her cheeks when he could see her face.
“Escape? Am I truly so terrible?” He looked to each of them.
“Of course not. We’d merely planned this to be a girls’ outing.”
“Oh, like last time.” He smiled, once again ignorant of the dismissal.
“How are you feeling?” Vi asked Jayme quickly, eager to change the topic. Her friend looked as she always did—brown hair tied back in a bun, straight posture, sword on her hip, usual Eastern golden-tan skin, nothing betraying any cause for concern on her face.
“Much better.” Jayme gave a small nod, recognizing the source of Vi’s concerns. “I don’t know what did me in, but I’m pleased to report that it will not keep me from performing my duty as your guard today.”
The formality brought laughter to Vi’s lips, amusement that was mirrored by a quirk of Jayme’s own. “I am lucky to have one so loyal in my service.”
“Now, ladies, you both know the plan for today.” Ellene clapped her hands and brought them to task.
They both gave a nod, leaving Andru in the dark.
