The swamp was no longer frightening, the colored vines and glowing trees parting as I walked. I could have used magic—forest magic—to part the trees, to give us a path as Sagam and Joxii had done earlier, but I didn’t have to. The elder tree had left its mark on my soul, and the trees around us responded.
It wasn’t exactly the sort of tattoo I had been looking for, but it did mean we reached the house without being eaten by any native flora, which was a considerably better outcome than we deserved, having trekked into a strange swamp with carnivorous plants.
The house was lit up brightly when we arrived, General Saxu’s men posted at the doors and windows, a few watching us from the edge of the forest as we approached. Their eyes were wide, and they didn’t try and stop us.
When we walked up the steps, I caught sight of myself in areflection in the nearest window. I was glowing, my skin just as luminescent as the vines in the forest, my braids hanging over my back, their color a pale purple that shifted to blue and teal.
Inside, Lord Chaliko waited, General Saxu standing next to him.
“Wuli?” Lord Chaliko asked, both of his hands resting on his cane. His eyes searched his daughter’s face.
“It is done,” Lady Chaliko said, her face splitting open in a broad smile.
“Well, then, the emperor’s task has become that much easier.” Lord Chaliko turned to General Saxu. “Tomorrow, you will meet the only person in Tavornai waters who can find Namati.”
“Consort Airón, what did you do in the forest?” Saxu asked. Nohe stepped out of my rooms, freezing on the stairs as she stared at me.
“I believe I should tell the emperor first.” I nodded to both Saxu and Lord Chaliko, aware that Naî had disappeared and Riini was trailing behind me like a ghost.
“Prince Airón—” General Saxu turned to me, his hand dropping to his sword. “Did you endanger the Dragon Chosen Emperor?”
“Saxu, I can promise you this: the only thing I have ever done is try to save Tallu. We can speak in the morning.” I trudged up the stairs, Nohe stepping back as I approached. I passed by her, walking straight to Tallu’s rooms.
A servant opened the door, and Sagam turned from the window quickly, his knives out, but he faltered when he saw Riini. He looked between us, clearly uncertain.
“Sagam, I believe you and Joxii should have a conversation with your sister while I speak with the emperor.” I stepped to the side, nudging her forward.
She still glowed, but it was fading quickly, and the tendrils growing from her back shrank when Sagam strode forward. Shetook a step back, and he froze, looking down at his hands where he still held his knives tight.
In two quick motions he had sheathed them and then he reached out, before hesitating. He gazed back into the shadows of the room.
“Go. Leave us to our privacy,” Tallu ordered. He hesitated only a breath. “Send a servant with water to clean my consort.”
Sagam bowed, his fingers forming a triangle. He still hadn’t spoken but motioned with his hand and the other two guards inside the room followed him out.
Then it was just me and Tallu. I paused, holding myself back, but he was faster, striding across the room and running his hand over my cheek.
“What have you done?” he asked, and it was only in the reflection of his eyes that I realized how terrifying I must look to an imperial, trained since birth to fear all foreign magic.
“An elder tree grows in Tavornai,” I said.
Tallu drew in a shocked breath. His eyes went wide. “You found anelder tree?”
“If I was going to lie about something, it wouldn’t be this exciting. Sagam’s youngest sister and I regrew an elder tree. She said that if I did that, Spider would come find us.” I tried to take a step forward, but one of my knees gave out, and Tallu caught me easily, tugging me against him.
“You put yourself in danger again,” Tallu said, his voice sharp.
But he raised his hand, sliding one of my glowing braids through his fingers, delicately twining it around his forefinger.
“I am going to save you, Tallu.” I gripped his face between my hands. “Do you hear me?”
“You regrew an elder tree for me?” He let my braid slip from his fingers, lifting another.
“I learned forest magic for you,” I said.
Tallu was taking more of my weight, and I could feel him begin totremble. There was a soft knock at the door and Tallu gently perched me on the edge of the bed before striding to the door and grabbing a basin of clean water and washcloths from a startled servant. He shut the door in their face, and then was back, kneeling in front of me.
He stripped me himself, gasping as his fingers uncovered more glowing flesh, and I wished the elder tree’s imprint had not been quite so obvious. Tenderly, he cleansed the night’s activities from my skin: washing away the muck and dirt, leaving behind only the glowing evidence of forest magic.
