“Sweet maple syrup,” I whispered as I stared at him.
“Queen Amaranthine,” he said in a resonant voice, “I've been waiting for you.”
I jolted out of my shock and focused on his eyes—they were a brilliant amethyst and glowing with power.
“What does that mean?” Everan growled and stepped slightly in front of me.
“I've foreseen your arrival,” the man, Halvram, grinned and within the wide smile, there was a hint of menace.
“What's he saying?” Braxis asked me.
Halvram frowned at Braxis and murmured warily, “Now, you, I didn't see. Who are you? Why are you here?” He looked Braxis up and down.
Braxis ignored him even though Halvram had switched to English.
“He's had visions as I did,” I said to Braxis in Bleiten, hoping that Halvram wouldn't understand. “But you were not in them. That means that whatever he saw can be altered, likely by you. I need you to stay alert.”
Braxis grunted, never taking his eyes off Halvram.
“I'll need to step inside the cell to take his asha,” I switched to English.
Halvram grinned.
“That's what he wants.” Everan waved at the prisoner. “You can't go in there, Shalani.”
“There's no other way,” I insisted. “I can't draw the asha past the bars.”
“I'll attend you,” Braxis offered.
“No,” I said abruptly as I remembered my vision; Braxis had been outside the cell. “ You need to be out here, where he can't touch you. I think that may be important.”
Braxis exchanged a heavy look with Everan but they both finally nodded. Halvram frowned.
“Open the cell,” my grandfather ordered the guards as he removed a shiny rod from his robe.
I knew exactly what that rod could do and so did Halvram. His stare warily settled on the slim device that could incinerate his heart in seconds.
One of the four soldiers on duty stepped forward with a ring of keys and opened the cell door. “Step back,” he ordered Halvram.
Halvram smiled and stepped away from the door, back into a corner of the cell. The guard opened the door and I slipped inside. He locked the door behind me with an ominous click.
As soon as I was secured, I latched onto the massive asha that I had stepped into and pulled. I was prepared for a rush of overwhelming power but I wasn't prepared for Halvram's asha to pull back. Halvram smiled as he altered the flow before it had even started. I gasped and shuddered as my magic started to seep away.
It probably looked as if we were merely having a staring contest when in reality, Halvram and I were locked in a powerful tug-of-war of wills and magic. And no matter how strong my will was, my magic wasn't up to the challenge. I reached for my men and their power was immediately there, giving me strength. I used that fresh wave of power to yank back on the asha leaving me. It surged backward into my body, bringing some of Halvram's asha with it.
Halvram's grin turned into a grimace as he stepped forward, bright red anger blooming up through the elemental colors. He snarled, his hands clenching into fists, and I lurched forward as his power sank its claws deeper into my asha and tore it away. I dropped to my knees with a sharp gasp, nearly drained in a second, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Everan fall as well. My immortality and the strength of my men were all that kept me from dying. I could barely breathe much less cry for help, but my need was obvious.
Braxis grabbed the bars and shouted, “Release her!” Silver light seeped from his mouth and his eyes flared red. The bars creaked under his furious grip.
Halvram shuddered and turned to face Braxis. He cocked his head and narrowed his eyes at the Bleiten. The words hadn't been specific enough and that gave Halvram just enough leeway to slip free of the order but it had overtaken him momentarily. Halvram reached out a hand to take Braxis' aura but he couldn't, not behind the bars. He growled in frustration and turned back to me.
During his distraction, I'd been able to take a breath. I used it to urgently advise Braxis, “Tell him to give me all of his asha.”
Braxis grinned as Halvram's eyes widened in horror.
“Give Amaranthine all of your asha,” Braxis commanded.
My asha came pouring back into me with a breath-stealing rush and with it came Halvram's and, most importantly, the asha and magic of the Earth and Air hearts. Halvram crumpled to the floor without a sound as I fell onto my back and opened myself to the asha. Great, glittering streams—no,oceans—of power rushed into me. So much power that a mortal wouldn't have been able to hold it all. As it was, my immortality rushed to repair the damage that such an excess of energy was doing to my cells. It didn't hurt. Instead, it felt glorious and I recognized this particular glory. I had felt it once before.
