Dove jumps in before I can answer. “No, we just need to find another way, a safer way. Rivern was able to get up this mountain. He’ll be able to find his way down.”Lies. They all visibly relax, hearing that I’ve defeated the mountain once. The only thing they don’t know is that I went through it, not over it.
I am learning Dove is a secret keeper. The keeper of her own secrets—the ones I feel through the bond locked up tight—and the secret keeper of protection. She would rather shoulder the burden and spare the others’ hardship at every turn.
Not waiting for Solen’s return, I begin my scouting mission along the side of the steep drop. I find much of the same: dense foliage, a perilous fall and no end in sight.
It is looking more and more like I will need to resort to plan B.If I can just find them.
As I walk along the drop-off, I keep my eyes open for the small and inconspicuous hives, leaf-shaped in appearance as a form of camouflage. I saw them on my journey down from Terra; the closer I drew to Haven—especially around the reflective lake—the more frequently I found the tiny, green-woven hives.
It isn’t long before I see shimmering leaves on the tree ahead. “Got you.” My excitement is untethered.
When I first found these little hives rotations ago, I instantly knew what they were from the old stories, and now I have a way to wake them.
Retracing my steps, I soon find myself back in front of Dove, and request her assistance. I implore the villagers to continue their rest while we check out the viability of the new path. A few of the children choose not to listen and follow us anyway.
“Did Solen find a way down?” Dove huffs as I quickly pull her along.
He still hasn’t returned, but I’m betting he’s just being thorough in his scouting, especially with all the underbrush obscuring his sight. He knows we have to get these people out. They will not survive out here. Yes, the land will provide, but it takes a keen eye and someone familiar with the Goddesses ways to coax out one’s needs. Berries are not going to cover it.
“No, I found the wisps,” I say.
Dove’s eyes bug out. “You weren’t joking about that, then?”
Stopping before the tree, I turn on wide eyes and a small, scrunched-up nose, her expression too delectable to bear. “Why would I joke?”
She shrugs and turns to look up in wonder. “I’ve seen these before,” she exclaims. “Not quite so many in one tree, though. Just a few here and there. I thought they may house a type of bug inside, but I could never get close enough to study them.”
“Don’t tell the wisps you thought they were bugs,” I chuckle. “They can hold a grudge. I’ve heard stories of how they play tricks on unsuspecting fae.”
She smiles softly as she touches one of the smooth hives. “Please don’t play tricks on us, little friends.”
Watching her so enamoured by something so small—something many people walk by without a second thought—plucks against the invisible string connecting our hearts. She is beauty in every iteration of the word, both inside and out. She has so many sides to her, and the tugging within me begs to see them all. A hard intoxication to resist.
Our bond also shows me her insurmountable pain. My own does not compare.
I hate that I will have to cause her more pain once we make it to Terra. But this bond does not belong to us. The Goddess has made a mistake. Dove is human. Surely, this can be undone.
Sensing my inner turmoil, Dove turns to face me with a slight furrow in her brow. “What do we need to do?”
Taking a step closer, I inform her, “We don’t do anything. You must sing the Goddess’s song. Sing them awake.”
I can only hope that the stories I was told were true and that the Goddess’s song will be enough—a key in awakening the wisps.
Dove makes her way to the trunk of the tree and kneels before it. Placing her hands on the tree, she gently runs her fingertips down the curves of the bark and towards the soil underfoot.
Her face is cast skyward, and with her eyes closed, she starts to sing.
The bond purrs in unity with her song, and I cannot help but stand in worship at her altar. Never in my existence could I have contemplated that I would be here with a human, utterly enamoured by her.
Her voice softly weaves together lyrics that feel like truth.
My chest tugs to touch her, to gather the power she wields. A hot and heavy prickling sensation makes its way through my body.
Magic.
She is bringing the magic back to life.
It is true. It must be true. She is the Goddess Oona’s chosen.
