“I haven’t run yet. I’m beginning to regret that.”
“You’re doing just fine, my elfling. Truly.”
“I am...trying.”
Father wraps an arm around Cerian and draws him close. “I’m proud of you. I hope you know that.”
“Arisannamakes it easy. And I can’t seem to stop thinking about her.”
“Or talking about her.” Father lets him go with a wink. “It’s good to hear you speak, Cerian. You have worthwhile thoughts to share with the world. Now, let’s get this cleaned up so you can return to making her blush in front of everyone.”
“I didn’t know what she wanted from me!”
“I doubt she minded what she got.” Father’s swirling air currents begin lifting vines from the floor and carrying them toward the hearth, and Cerian sends more vines after them. Memories of how it felt to catch Arisanna with his magic warm him, but he pushes them away.
What is she doing now? Sitting beside Rominy still, probably.
“Cer.”
Cerian looks up. “What?”
“Perhaps you should avoid using your plant magic right now.”
Whistling wind. The vines are longer than when they started.
“Or we’ll be here all night,” Father adds. “Why don’t you burn everything down while I worry about moving it to the hearth?”
Cerian nods as he wills his ears not to flame. Hopefully, he won’t catch the whole room on fire.
Immortal Flame
Episode 104
“Willyouspeaktome?” Tharios asks quietly as Viala stares straight ahead on their walk along the outskirts of Feressa. “Please.”
She says nothing, and he turns her toward him, lifting her chin until those blue eyes of hers meet his gaze.
“Not for a moment do I regret the promises I made to you,” he says softly. “Not the day we met. Not the day of our Lothlesi binding. And not the day of our elven one. I regret nothing.”
Her lip quivers, and she slides her eyes closed. “You have enough to deal with right now. You should be in there with Elowyn. Not out here trying to comfort me because I did something stupid with my magic. The last thing you need right now is me lighting the hotel on fire. If Cerian hadn’t been there—”
“But he was there. And I am exactly where I wish to be right now. By your side.”
She blinks a few times as she looks up at him before glancing away. She’s attempting to hold back tears. He knows her well enough to tell after three years of being bound.
“When we return to New Valderi”—she lets out a slow breath before meeting his eyes again—“I plan to ask my father to bind my magic completely.”
He frowns. “What?”
“Perhaps Peravyn was right. It’s not...safe...for me to have this much power so young. And without the proper training—”
“No, Viala. No. Your brother is wrong. We just need to focus more on your training. And we will. As soon as—”
“I am terrified, Tharios. Terrified that one stray thought will burn down Windhaven. Or hurt you or someone we love. We still can’t even”—she glances around and lowers her voice—“we can’t be together without you extinguishing my magic first. I am dangerous.”
“You just need more practice, and I need to guard your magic better. And we’ll get through this together with your magic intact. Forget Celesta. As soon as Elowyn is well, I’ll take you home. Spend a decade in New Valderi if that’s what it takes. But don’t sacrifice your magic, Viala. Please.”
They stare at each other, both their chests heaving, until Viala looks away.
