The two stalked into the forest, their crunching through the snow the only sound.It was eerie how still everything had become.There was no snow falling, no wind blowing, and no animal sounds.The hairs on the nape of Emmeric’s neck stood.He needed to find Iyana.Now.
“Iyana!”Altair boomed, making Emmeric jump.
They wove through snow-covered pines as Emmeric followed the bond in his chest.The part of his soul that always called to Iyana’s would lead him to her; he was sure of it.Just in case, he continued to reach towards her mind as well, hoping she’d answer him.
Please, Mouse, tell me where you are.
After the longest ten minutes of his life, they finally found her in a clearing.The pines broke apart to form a perfect circle.In the center stood a massive, gnarled tree.Its limbs were bare, no leaves or needles to speak of.The trunk was at least as wide as a castle turret, and it was warped around itself.Branches twisted and turned as they reached towards an empty sky.Emmeric could feel the magic humming within it.
Iyana stood in the snow, gazing at the tree, her eyes glossed over.Emmeric approached her carefully, not knowing what was happening.There was some powerful magic at work here and interrupting it could be catastrophic.
“Iyana?”he asked softly as he placed his hand on her shoulder.“Mouse?”
She glanced at him, her normally caramel-brown irises now a swirling gray, the same color as the fog.Raising her hand, Emmeric could see the silver threads of her magic weaving through her fingers.
“I can feel them, Em,” she said.Her voice sounded distant, empty.
“Feel who, love?”He kept his voice gentle, and he glanced back at Altair, who was wisely standing outside of Iyana’s sight.The star shrugged.
“The gods,” she said.“The trees.They’re calling to me.”
Iyana’s magic twined up her arm, caressing her skin and flowing over his hand.The tingle of warmth that touch brought made Emmeric gasp, as he, too, could hear gentle voices calling to them.She reached towards the tree.
“Mouse,” he said, a warning to his tone.“We’ve talked about not touching magical things until we know more about them.”
But it seemed she couldn’t hear him, and she continued to reach out to the tree.Her silver magic drifted off her fingers like flowing water.Emmeric began to panic, and he grabbed Iyana’s hand, trying to wrench it away.She didn’t budge.No matter how much strength he used, even when he was beyond caring if he hurt her or not, she could not be moved.
Strands of silver wrapped around the tree, winding its way up to the top branches.When it burst free from the tree in a shower of sparks, Iyana disappeared.
Emmeric stumbled forward.“Mouse!” he cried, running around the tree to try to find her.
But she was gone, the bond within his chest disappearing with her.
Chapter 46
Iyana
Someoneharshlywhisperinghername had woken her up.Iyana disentangled herself from Emmeric’s embrace and followed those whispers outside of the cave.Walking barefoot through a dense fog, she passed by Kaz, Okab, and Altair, all asleep.Worry passed through her briefly, but then her name was whispered on the breeze again, and she forgot her concerns.
She didn’t feel the bite of cold on her toes as she trekked through the snow.The night was dark, but she didn’t need to see to know where she was headed.Birds flew away when she entered their space.Crickets stopped chirping.The trees swayed towards her, urging her onward.Murmuring promises of answers to questions long forgotten.
As she entered the clearing and saw the giant, mangled tree in front of her, a sensation of awe and rightness filled her.This was where she was always meant to be.
Iyana vaguely noticed when Emmeric entered the clearing and tried to talk to her.He didn’t understand.He couldn’t hear them.Wrapping her magic around his skin, she made him listen.She wanted him to hear the same things she did and know that this was the right thing for her to do.
The trees encouraged her in this quest.The ancient one standing tall above all the rest demanded her magic.And she willingly fed it a piece of that silver light living inside her.
Then the clearing, the trees, and Emmeric were all gone—along with her bond, leaving an ache in her chest.She stood inside a cavern, and for a moment, Iyana thought it had all been a vivid dream and she’d never actually left the cave.But the ceilings were taller here, and it was warmer.Sweltering, almost.Iyana removed her cloak to let her skin breathe.
Now she understood how people could be lost so easily once they wandered off the path.That fog had been completely disorienting.
Amber light suffused the cavern with a soft glow that appeared to be brighter down a long corridor.There was nothing but darkness behind her, so Iyana shrugged and walked towards the light.She made sure to bring her cloak with her, though.The last time she forgot it, she’d ended up in a dungeon, cold and naked.Iyana shivered at the memory, then shoved it aside.There was a heavy presence of magic here, and she needed to keep her wits about her.
Iyana followed that light for much longer than she thought it should have taken, and yet, the light never seemed to come any closer.There was nothing else for her to do, though, so she continued on her way.Her breaths became labored the farther she went, and when she felt on the verge of collapse, she finally broke free of the tunnel she’d been following.
She stood in a large chamber.Small, crystal outcroppings lined the walls, and that was where the soft, amber glow was originating from.The air was slightly cooler here, a light breeze winding its way through the space.Iyana gasped at what she saw lined up against the walls.
Glass coffins—fourteen of them, each an identical size and shape—were spaced equidistant from each other.To her left and right, Iyana saw people lying within those enclosures, their arms crossed over their chests and faces slack in sleep.
