They held onto the rope tied to her wrists as they escorted her by foot through the streets of Rune.
Everythingwas different here.
Shops and restaurants lined the streets, the scent of spices she hadn’t ever smelled before filled the air, burning her nostrils. The town was clean, the buildings a light cream. The windows were just a circular opening in the buildings, not a single glass pane in sight. Layers of different colored curtains hung at the entrances of each building acting as a wall or a divider, as if these people did not need doors. The architecture was very open–and so was the fashion.
Men and women wore significantly less clothing than they did in Luciena. The females primarily wore wrapped tops with matching slitted skirts and flowing pants. Everyone wore sandals here, an odd shoe Airess had never seen before but heard of in her schooling years.
The men had similar flowing pants and hardly wore any shirts at all. Some wore loose tunics or sleeveless shirts that showed off their chest and arms muscles. The men wore armbands, the copper metal reflecting the sun. They also wore different colored threads in their hair, and all of them wore similar earrings to the one Taryn wore. The people here had darker skin of varying shades, and there was a certain lightness in the air here she hadn’t felt before in a community. It certainly was hot and humid, and Airess quickly gathered the reasoning for the lack of clothing.
She felt their stares as they passed by. Some looked at her with curiosity, others disdain. One Fae male stared at her greedily, his eyes traveling up and down her body, as if he was trying to assert some sort of possessiveness over her.
“Almost there,” said Ismene, breaking Airess from her thoughts.
They approached a dome-shaped building, much larger than the other buildings. It was the temple, Airess realized.
The temple was white on the outside, but as they walked through the front doors, she realized just how sacred this building truly was. Airess couldfeelan energy radiating from down the hallway that they currently were walking down. The hallways were painted with Runean text and elemental symbols, going down the corridor as far as Airess could see.
“What happened to him?” Ismene asked as they rushed down a hall of the temple.
“An Oathmark,” Airess started. “Taryn has an Oathmark on his right arm. The man he was Marked to used it before he was killed. Taryn’s fatigue slowly increased in the hours we escaped to get here.”
They rounded a corner, and two individuals opened twin doors for them as they barrelled forward. The energy Airess felt upon entering the temple hit her body in waves, and she was immediately drawn to the largest hearth she had ever seen in the middle of the room. In the center of the hearth were roseate-colored flames, so pink she thought she was looking at the sunset. If Airess wasn’t so focused on making sure Taryn was okay, she would have stopped to admire such an oddity.
Rows of benches surrounded the hearth, and a cluttered desk sat in the corner. Airess realized this must be the sanctuary.
The soldiers rested Taryn on the table and left the room. Ismene walked around Taryn and rested her hands on his chest with her eyes closed. “Hm.” She stood there for some time, analyzing him, resting her palm on his forehead, his temples, his heart.
“Which tattoo is the Oathmark?”
Airess pointed to the dragon tattoo that started on his bicep. Ismene gripped his arm and hissed, yanking her hand back. She muttered something in Runean before taking a step back. “This is forbidden Magick.”
Airess' heart pounded. “Will he live?”
Ismene looked from Taryn to the fyre with a contemplative look. Finally, she said. “His spirit isn’t too far gone, but we are running out of time. The Black Magick has seized his spirit and cast him into the void of his own mind. But, if my theory is correct, he will live if we sever him from the Oathmark.”
“Sever him from the Oathmark? The person he was Marked to isdead.”
Ismene shook her head, “It’s not that easy to dispel witchcraft. It lives on, as their soul does. Even in death, a spirit can control the Oathmark.”
Horror thrummed through her as Ismene walked to the hearth and swept her hands through the pink flames. When she returned to Taryn’s side, she held the flames in the palm of her hand with ease. “Can you conjure?” Ismene asked.
“Conjure what? My Light Magick?”
Ismene’s brows drew together in confusion at her retort, then realization dawned on her features. “My Gods, you Mrkynians reallyarein the dark. Your power is not called Light Magick, dear. You possessStarlight.”
“I don't know–”
Ismene held up her free hand to silence Airess. “I will teach you everything you need to know in due time. Right now, this male needs you more than ever. Can you conjure even the smallest amount?”
“I can’t wield it right now, I have Donestenyte poisoning in my system.”
Ismene looked at her speculatively. “You, of all people, should be able to fight through such a miniscule setback. Your power doesn’t compare. Draw on your Starlight.”
Airess didn’t have time to think about whatever the hell that meant. She swallowed and splayed out her fingers, closed her eyes and breathed. A buzz emanated from her chest and traveled down her arm.
Airess felt a tingling on her palm, and when she opened her eyes, her golden Magick had wrapped around her hand like a glove. For the first time ever, the Magick came to her with ease.
“Excellent! Carefully press your hand to his heart.”
