I rub the hilt of my sword before I drop my hand. “No more talk of future wars, Erevan. We’re still trying to end this one.”
He steps to the side, causing the rising sun to illuminate half his face in a fiery glow. “Everything I do is out of my love for you,” he declares, then nudges his head toward the door.
My feet remain firm, and a bead of sweat slowly rolls down my spine. For the first time, I don’t turn my back on him. I stand still and wait, my eyes looking down at his arms, where he hides his hands behind his back.
“It is time,” he urges as he takes the first step. “You need to open the portal. The army is waiting.” His hands swing out, revealing nothing as he walks through the door.
When a god opens a portal to a new world, it subdues their magic for a few months, trapping the god in the world until their magic is recharged and they can open a portal again. Erevan opened the original portal to this world. During that time, we all worked to understand these lands and their people; then, when his magic was back, he started to create.
However, the others decided that I would open the portal ushering us back home. Putting me in a state with no magic to forge is a small price to pay. After all, it was my fault we had to flee in the first place.
Now I see the other side of the coin. I’ll be defenseless against them… and Erevan.
I square my shoulders to the door. Was Erevan okay with this plan because I would have no magic, solely relying on him to defend me? I can fight, and I plan to, but I will be lesser until my power appears.
I shake the thought from my mind, steeling myself. Above all, I trust Erevan with my life.
I make my way outside, and Erevan holds his hand out for mine. His smile is warm and welcoming but also strained, like a pretty jacket that is slightly too tight.
“I’ll be fine,” I promise him as I take his hand.
“I know,” he replies in a deeper tone.
Lord Thalis leaps down from the roof where his dragon is perched. Thalis is a fortress, tall and intimidating. Even I take caution and study him. His body bears scars equal in number to his dragon's scales. He refuses to use magic to remove them, as each is a memory of surviving death. His dark skin conceals his paleness about our leaving. A quick glance reveals the grief he hides.
He bows, greeting us, “Erevan and Amariel. Silas wishes to see you both before you leave.”
My spine goes taut. Silas should be with the army of demigods; he is commanding them. Erevan and I are overseeing the dragons while the others command the rest.
“He is waiting for you in your office.”
“Ouroffice?” Erevan clarifies.
Thalis nods with a stiff glare. “I found it out of place. Evangeline wishes to stay close to you.” He looks up at his dragon, who flares her wings.
Erevan waves his hand. “No, it’s okay. I don’t want him to see this as a threat. Silas always lets his suspicions control him. Amariel and I will speak with him. Make sure the dragons are ready. They will need to be fast.”
Thalis nods and jumps up to the roof with ease. Riders can jump massive heights in order to reach their dragons’ saddles.
I flex my fingers, pumping blood into the joints. It will drain me dry to keep the portal open long enough for an entire army to pass through. I will need to hold it open longer than any god has. We’re sending the dragons first since they’re the largest; over time, my portal will grow smaller and smaller until it closes.
“What do you think Silas wishes to discuss?” I ask Erevan as we make our way down the stone stairs to our office.
As we descend, the clouds begin to clear. Erevan and I pause, finally glimpsing the armies below.
“Silas is like the wind; his thoughts blow in every direction,” Erevan grunts as his eyes roam the warriors.
We expect Silas to be waiting outside, but he’s entered uninvited. A glance at Erevan tells me he’s pissed, but he’s letting it slide since we must all stand united.
Silas has his back to us when we enter; his brown hair is pulled into a small braided bun. His armor is made of leather crafted by the fae. It stands no chance against the elves, but Silasis always the reckless one; his defense magic helps him create shields and veils that can deflect blows unless the attack is made with a God Sword.
“Making yourself at home,” Erevan jabs, rolling his eyes.
“This was never our home,” Silas fires back with a sneer. His palms are flattened on my desk as he looms over something of great interest.
Is he going over the maps again? None of us have forgotten our lands, but we continually drew maps to ensure the newcomers would not be lost to the great wonders of our world.
“I always had doubts,” Silas adds with a measured calm.
