Dyna slid to Zev’s side and checked for a pulse. She sucked in a breath when she found his steady pulse. The glow of her Essence seeped into him and revealed a few broken ribs but nothing fatal. “He’s alive. Stay with him.”
She ran to search for the others, with Cassiel on her heels. A sobbing cry led them to Lucenna. She appeared within the smoke, holding Klyde on herlap. Dyna ran over to them and quickly examined him. He was unconscious but bore no burns or wounds. Only a little blood leaked from his ears.
Repercussion from the blast.
Dyna cast out her Essence and searched for any internal damage, but found none that should have been there. Only burst eardrums.
“Lucenna, he’s all right.” Dyna told her once she healed them. “It’s a miracle he’s alive. His mercenary coat must have protected him.”
“It wasn’t only his coat.” She opened the lapels, revealing the small glass vial containing a four-leaf clover hanging from his neck.
Nature’s charm that repelled attack magic.
“What happened?” Cassiel asked, inspecting the charred stumps in the ground. It was all that was left of the Elder Tree.
“They destroyed it so we couldn’t follow,” Dyna said as she got to her feet. But she paused, looking around the field. “Where is Von? I don’t see him.”
“He was right here when it blew. Do you think they…?”
She gripped her shaking hands, her breath catching with a wave of sorrow for her lost Guardians. But her assumption of the worst quickly faded because there was no sign of Von’s body in the field. Not even his horse.
“No, they’re alive.” Dyna smiled with relief. “Von made it through—and Keena is with him.”
EPILOGUE
Lucenna
Lucenna’s magic moved through theEssentiaDimensio. The glowing purple net spread into the darkness far and wide, but for the third time, it faltered and faded away.
It was no use.
Sighing, she opened her eyes. “I can’t find him. He’s been veiled.”
Klyde stood with his arms crossed at the edge of the cascades flowing over the cliff. He was quiet, simply staring out at the sun setting on the horizon. The ends of his blue tunic rippled in the wind. Without his mercenary coat, he seemed vulnerable, like his armor had been removed.
It was neatly folded with her satchel beside her. Along with his weapons. The emblem of a bird’s skull stood out on the dark blue fabric. It was once a symbol of what united his family.
“I’m sorry, Klyde.”
“It’s not your fault, love.” He rubbed his face. “I am the only one to blame. Tavin’s right. I am a liar. I should have told him the truth a long time ago.”
Everyone lied at some point, but she couldn’t fault him for lying to protect his nephew. The one thing Klyde had always been honest about was how much he loved his family.
His clenched fists trembled. “I fear what he will do to him…”
“We will get him back, Klyde.” Lucenna brushed his cheek, his tired eyes meeting hers. “We know where Tarn is headed, and the gatewaycould only take them so far. It’s a long road from here to Harromog Modos. The Elder Tree is gone, but if we take the train, there is a chance we’ll stop him before he ever reaches the Lost Well.” She sighed.
Klyde’s eyes lightened with a sudden awareness. “There is an Elder Tree at the heart of Naiads Mere.”
Lucenna gasped excitedly. “Gods, are you sure?”
“Aye, it’s deep below in those waters. I’ve seen it. Well, I’m certain I did. I was a little distracted by the beautiful half-naked nymphs attempting to drown me.”
She arched her eyebrow. “Are you trying to make me jealous?”
He grinned. “Is it working?”
She swatted his arm. “If we reach it, we could use that Elder Tree to jump to the Lost Well rather than trekking across the desert.”
