His words hit me like a punch in the core: The moon grants magic. “That’swhy he kills the moonborn babies,” I whisper. “Because they hold magic.”
Llyr nods, his face solemn. “The minister wants to eliminate every threat to his own power.” He spits. “Pointless, as far as I can tell, when elen is not accessible to wield on his side of the pass.”
“But whatisthis moon?”
“Oh, Laïna,” he says with a small smile, clearly endeared by my lack of knowledge. “A moon is... a shining ball of light in the night sky. You will see them tonight.”
“Right,” I say. “Shining ball of light that hangs in the sky...” Did he hit himself harder than I thought? I shake my head at his nonsense; it’s simply too much to take in.
He laughs again. “If it weren’t for the constant cloud cover in Bronich, you would have seen them too.”
I feel sick. What if the cloud cover in Bronich is there for protection? Will these moons affectme? If going back to Bronich weren’t a guaranteed death sentence... I sigh. The minister was right all along: Witches and magic await on the other side of the pass.
Lost in my own worries, I don’t notice Llyr’s worsening state until he collapses onto a flat stone at the crest of a small hill, his face pale and his breathing heavy. “Sorry,” he breathes. “Just give me a moment.”
I glance back down the short slope. “Are you all right to go on?” I ask.
He nods. “I would like to reach Rea. That will allow me to heal.” He stares down at his bloody pair of pants. “And perhaps find a river to clean up in,” he adds with a crooked smile.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” I say, rummaging through my worn leather satchel. “I’ve got some elwia flowers. Would you like a root to chew on now that you’re awake?” I offer one, its earthy aroma strong.
“That should do the trick for now.” He accepts it gratefully. “Here I was thinking I was saving you, but as it turns out, you are the real savior here. Providing both food and healing.” He winks at me.
Warmth surges through me at the unexpected compliment. “I learned a long time ago that the only one looking out for me is me,” I admit.
Llyr pushes himself to his feet with a grimace, testing his weight on his injured leg. After a moment, he nods. “We should get moving.”
As we move forward, the quiet is only disrupted by the sound of our footsteps. Once again, we find ourselves enveloped in the mist, yet this time, it lacks its previous hostility. The mist dances and twirls, its energy brimming with curiosity and a playful nature, and Llyr assures me we need not fear it.
Staring into the white blanket, my mind wanders to the mysterious veilstones. Llyr claims to have no knowledge of how they work, but how else could we have traveled from one side of the pass to the other while we slept? It’s evident that he lacks awareness of what he has done, but I also have a hunch that he’s intentionally keeping certain things from me.
I squint toward his broad back, grateful that the mist on this side is transparent enough for me to see him where he walks the narrow path in front of me. It’s barely wide enough to move through at this point, Llyr’s shoulders inches from brushing the walls on each side.
Is it wise for me to blindly follow him like this? Granted, I’ve known him my entire life, but I keep coming back to the same question: What do I really know about him? That he’s skilled in weapon making? With each layer I peel off, a million more appear. Somehow, he has managed to be around me my whole life without sharing a single thing of importance. Now that I think about it, I don’t even know his age. And up until yesterday, I wasn’t even aware that he isn’t human.
Not human.There’s a tightening in my chest.Oh, Father, what have you gotten yourself into this time, Laïna?
What if he orchestrated this entire situation? If Emma could betray me, who’s saying Llyr is any different? Am I locked in a death trap with the minister on one side and Llyr on the other? The uncertainty of it all makes me want to stay right where we are, but besides the wolves, I haven’t seen a living creature in here, so hunger would force me out eventually.
“Are you doing all right back there?” Llyr’s call makes me realize I must’ve been standing still for some time.
“Sure,” I lie. “But it’s, uh, getting warmer.” I wipe my forehead for emphasis.
Moving back toward me, he hands me the waterskin. “It will be even warmer when we enter Rea,” he says. “It should be latespring, if I’m not mistaken.” He stares back in the direction of Bronich. “Hard to tell the seasons apart where we were. Light-forsaken place.” He spits.
I study his face. Despite the cursing, he seems... lighter. Was living in Bronich such a burden on him? I always assumed it to be his home as much as mine.
“So... how did you end up in Bronich, anyway?” I ask. “If you are from Rea, I mean.”
“Oh, it is much too long a story. I was sent as a sort of guardsman, if you will, but I grew quite fond of being a weaponsmith, and the rest is history, as they say.” With a wave of his hand, he dismisses the matter. “I am eager to be back. There is nothing quite like spring in Tierra.”
“What’s it like?” I ask.
With his eyes closed, he turns his face upward, disregarding the thick mist that hangs above.
“It is beautiful. The light, the smells, the colors...” He turns toward me. “It is a time of renewal and enchantment.” A smile splits his face. “You can look forward to it.”
“I’ll be happy if it’s even half as magnificent as you describe,” I say, handing him back the waterskin.
