“It doesn’t matter why she shares my powers,” Theo said. “We will have enough time to figure out what it means once we have avoided the war that’s coming. For now, we must focus on helping her get control over her heka.”
“I’m all for that,” Caelan said, grinning. “I have no interest in being slain by a low-flying tree.”
“If you ever do get hit because of me,” I shot back, leaning forward, “it won’t be an accident.”
He raised an eyebrow. “For that to be true, you’d have to be able to control your heka… which, clearly, you cannot.”
I smirked, picking up a nearby book. “Maybe I should start practicing right away, then. Can’t let you accuse me of accidental tree strikes forever.”
Malek snorted. “Just… maybe leave the river swims and impromptu stripping out of your training sessions this time. Some of us aren’t ready to witness that in front of a pure God.”
I was going to kill Caelan.
He held up his hands in surrender. “I said nothing! Absolutely nothing!”
The Abbot slammed his glass down on the table.
“I’m glad everyone finds this amusing,” the Abbot said, his voice calm but edged with steel. “But a war is coming, and our only weapon isn’t ready. I’ll give her another fortnight to master her magic. After that, we do it my way.”
He strode to the door, pausing just long enough to look back. “And Caelan,” he added, pointing at him, “keep her away from Auretheos.”
The door slammed shut behind him. Silence settled over the room, heavier this time.
“Well, that was unpleasant,” Lydia said dryly and filled up her glass of wine again.
“Don’t take it so hard, Maelis, it’s nothing personal. Abbot is a snob and a terrible pessimist. We believe in you,” Lythandra said, but the uncertainty in her voice was audible. “Thank you, Lythandra, but even though I find the Abbot to be a rude asshole, I think he has a point. What if I can’t get my powers under control in time? What was the other option he was talking about, Theo? About you harnessing my power?”
Theo pushed himself off the table and stalked towards the decanter.
“It is not an option, there is no point in talking about it. It’s an ancient, cruel ritual and has been outlawed for centuries now. Nobody’s power is being harnessed. We will get you ready in time,” he said with so much conviction that I almost believed him.
He stood there, solid and unyielding, calm as if nothing in the world could touch him. And I couldn’t help it, I wanted to lean into that certainty, to hear him say it would all be all right. My brain knew it was impossible, but my stupid heart wasn’t listening.
* * *
It turned out that we had even less time to prepare for what lay ahead than we had anticipated. Only a few hours after we had said good night at the library and had returned to the Lodge, all hell broke loose.
I woke up to shouts from outside my door and a few seconds later Caelan stormed in. “Maelis, you need to wake up. The Heralds have attacked Rivermond, and your mother’s house was hit. She is unhurt, but we need to get her out now.”
My stomach sank, this had been my worst fear all along. And it was all my fault. I should have made sure she wasprotected, I should have brought her with me. But she had insisted on staying in Rivermond, saying she was too old to travel and that the sentinels kept her safe. She loved her garden, her neighbors, the rhythm of the town. It was her home, and she wouldn’t abandon it for the world.
Still, guilt slammed into me, an all too familiar feeling. I had failed my family once again. When would I ever learn? Tears stung behind my eyes, but there would be time to cry later. I rushed out of bed and got dressed, meeting with Theo and the others downstairs minutes later.
“There is nothing I can do in Rivermond. The laws forbid me to engage in the mortal realm.” Theo gulped and looked apologetic. “I will send some of my men with you to protect you, but it’s important that no one knows who we are and where we are coming from, do you understand?”
I only nodded, fighting back the tears. “Please, take me back to my mother.”
He nodded and with that, me, Caelan and three other sentinels left. The ride back through the Pathways was a blur of emotions. What would be waiting for me on the other side?
When we reached the abandoned temple outside the town, I could already smell the thick smoke rising from the city. The dark night sky was alive with an eerie orange tint from the skill burning buildings, the shouts of the fire brigade piercing through the air. I practically ran back all the way to our small house and was relieved to see it was still standing. A guard was posted outside the door, looking banged up and tired. When he spotted us, relief washed over his features.
“Your mother is inside and resting, it has been an eventful few days.” He gulped.
As I walked through the door, the familiar smell of lavender and cleaning soap hit me. Being here felt so familiar and yet everything had changed. My mother sat in her chair, her eyes closed, looking so much smaller than I remembered her. I walked over to her and sat at her feet and wept, all of my fear and relief spilling over, running down my cheeks.
I felt Caelan’s comforting hand on my back.
“I talked to the guard. It seems like the Heralds infiltrated the city a few days ago, warning the people to leave. Apparently, nobody paid them any attention at first, but the Heralds started telling them stories about how some of the Gods were back to take what was theirs. Panic spread and the Heralds used the confusion to take over the town hall. They came here for you, but your mother kept sending them away. It seems like that’s when they started their path of destruction. I believe it was their goal to draw you out. So this here might very well be a trap.”
