Normally, after nightmares, I wake up nauseous, and Teo rubs my back until I drift back into sleep. Tonight, there was a voice that whispered in my waning consciousness.
Drathorinna.
I eased out of my mate’s arms, and replaced my body with a pillow and placed a chunk of amethyst next to his head to prevent him from waking. Then I’d placed some moonstoon onour nightstand, just to be sure he’d sleep soundly after a long day of endless work.
Now, I follow the tunnel down to theglacialmarastables where my mentor had brought me a handful of times. When I find the right spot, Rahda bangs against her stall, insisting to be set free.
She is restless, as if she, too, heard the whispered word that gives me purpose.
Once atop her smooth back, I don’t need to guide her through the tunnels as she carries me along to that sacred place deep in Enduvida.
The air turns stale and ancient, and then streaks of light cut through the pitch-black cave.
I hold my breath and see her form in the distance, filling the space. Her crystal scales gleam in the low light, and her long tail stretches out behind her, curling around her body as she rests.
She is a mountain of luminous beauty. I dismount Rahda who has already started to shift and squirm beneath me.
Waves of power radiate through the room, each hitting me in the chest.
This time, I anticipate my Fuegorra’s pulsing heat. It accompanies my god-touched glow, in recognition of her power. I let the song fill the space, hitting every enormous crystal that juts out toward me. Step after step, I cross the space toward her. Her eyeless head swivels toward me, and I stand under her scrutiny.
Fearless.
With Rholker killing slaves, we need to march on Zlosa soon. Liana will be joining us in battle against the giants in Zlosa, butdrathorinnahas been slotted to stay home so as not to cause too much damage.
Something about that doesn’t feel right.
Perhaps that’s why the voice called me here. Now I’mstanding before her, actively pushing away every thought that tells me to wait for Liana.
There isn’t any time left.
The weavers have made under armor for everyone, and the armor that existed before has been mended or remade. Twenty of the underwater Enduares have been brought back to Enduvida, and Teo spends his days training them with Lothar and Vann.
Training is long. Tensions are high.
Everyone is spread thin, and we need to leave within the next two weeks.
I take a deep breath and step forward in my nightgown, feet bare against the stone. My unbound hair hangs down my back, and I wait.
You heard my call,the old creature’s voice slides along my mind.
“I did,” I call back.
Then approach, wise woman.
At last, I move forward. It feels like it takes a small eternity to cross the way.
When I arrive, I reach up to touch one scale.
I feel the mother of crystal wraith’s continue to take in my power, my elastic strength flexing and bowing as the vibrations around me pick up in speed.
When my fingers connect with her crystal, light blasts out of my arms. Energy dances across the walls of jagged rock and lightless moss, lighting up the entire cave. My back muscles tense as I arch with the sheer force of power.
Evendrathorinnalets out a long symphony of twisting melodies and harmonies, waking up the entire cave. Crystals glint, and smallruc’radesscurry away.
Gathering every inch of my courage, I reach up, grabbing onto one scale. And then another.
I climb, slowly at first, until I reach her back. I pause, still standing and waiting for her to react. The dizzying height makes me sway as I peer at the stony ground.
