“Okay, you’re right, it’s been about a year.” Deneya laughed, pulling away. Her face suddenly became somber. She scanned the otherwise empty hall. “Where’s Taavin?”
“His consciousness returned to the watch. Why? I do not know. It was his will I believe. The watch is within Vhalla’s possession and the essence of Yargen that his body was constructed from is within me now.”
“Okay… that was a lot.” Deneya clasped her shoulder, giving her a light shake. “I’m not ashamed to admit that I only followed half of that. And that’s okay but, Vi, what really happened?”
“I have told you what has happened.”
“No, I mean, with you.”
“I have told you what has happened,” Vi repeated, slightly more curt. She couldn’t blame the mortal for not fully understanding, but it would be tiring to say the same explanation over and over.
“No, you’re…” Deneya trailed off again. Confusion furrowed her brow. “You’re different now.”
“I know.”
“It’s all the crystal magic, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Deneya stared at her expectantly. Vi suspected she was waiting for her to explain further. But Vi didn’t make even a remote effort to do so. It was clearly too much for Deneya to understand.
“How are you holding up?” Deneya asked delicately.
“I’m fine. Do you have it?” Vi shifted the topic of conversation.
“What? Oh. Yes.”
“Show me.”
Deneya led Vi back into the cabin. It was the same as last time—two bunks on either side of a small window. Beneath the window was a table and on the table was a golden box.
Vi opened it and, with her new eyes, saw the glyphs of a thousand divine words swirling around every speck of ash.
“When they find out the flame is gone, they’ll likely kill the Voice for it,” Deneya said gravely.
“She served her duty to this world.” Vi hoped the words would cheer Deneya, though they didn’t look like they did. “She was meant to die.” Still, no change in her expression. Vi sighed. “You see, because she died, I will be able to become—”
“I understand what you’re saying,” Deneya interrupted. “What I don’t understand is how you can say it that way.”
“What way?” She’d merely been stating fact.
“As if someone’s death means nothing.” Deneya approached her. “When I last saw you… you negotiated with a pirate for a single boy’s life who was nothing more to you than a friend’s lover—a friend from another world, even. You enlisted in the army just to save the daughter of a woman you’d once called ‘friend.’ You fought fate to save a man whom you, in fact, had no relationship with, because he shared the same face as the man who’d raised you.” Her purple-ringed eyes searched Vi’s. “What happened to that woman?”
“She’s gone,” Vi said, lightly touching Deneya’s forearm. “But it’s all right, because I am here now. I will protect this world.”
“I don’t know whoyouare. And I don’t even know if I want you here.” Deneya shook her head and stepped away. “What Champion sees the lives of those they’re sworn to protect as forfeit? What world is worth protecting if everyone in it is just a piece on some game board for higher powers?” Deneya waited for a response, but Vi kept her mouth closed. She could see the woman didn’t really want to hear anything she had to say. With a sigh, Deneya opened the door. “If you need me, I’ll be on deck.”
Deneya was in pain. The idea of people dying still hurt her. Vi looked to the ashes for solace. Deneya couldn’t see the lines of magic that connected everything and everyone to keep the world in balance, like Vi could. She didn’t know how life continued on within those unseen connections.
She was oblivious to the meaning in everything.
That was all right. A slight smile crossed her lips. Mortals could be like that, couldn’t they? And their shortsightedness made them endearing.
She sat on the lower bunk that did not look like it had been slept in. She took the open box, placed it in her lap, and remained transfixed on its contents.
“But you understand, don’t you?” Vi whispered.
I do.
