“Oh, go shuck a shell, Thy,” Siphonie speaks up. “By the way, while you’re doing that, step down from whatever high seahorse you’re on and put your problems aside. Look, I’m not gonna let you sulk around here until you get yourself killed. If Carnaxa believes she knows a way to save us —” She makes a circle motion with her finger. “ — all of us. Then let her.”
I have to hide a smile. Siphonie would have been a better ambassador than Thylas. Thylas relies on his heart and emotions to lead him, and mostly, he’s done alright. However, she would have been determined to make a change.
Carnaxa walks up to Thylas, her fingers graze along his tattooed wrist that has her nickname sprawled across it in ink. Her gentle fingers trail up his corded arms and he tries to look away from her. She refuses to allow it. She puts her hand under his chin, directing his attention back to her. “I know things are hard right now, and I’m sorry. I am sorry that I didn’t fight harder to trust in you when I didn’t have my memories. But I promise you, we will fix it. Together. I will always be here for you, just as you have been there for me. Let me be your safety for a while.” She leans up and plants a soft kiss on his lips that he barely returns. She smiles at him anyway, before turning to us.
“Where water runs, water can carry,” Carnaxa speaks loudly. “It’s something I was told. And here” — she points to a passage in the book she holds — “it states the same.” The words are unreadable to me, written in Antihana.
“Since when you can read Antihana?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes at me. “Later. For now, I think this means we can travel through the sources of our power. Do you know anything about this, Anara?”
Anara walks around and looks over. “It’s been a while since I’ve translated the language, but I think you are right.”
“What about the Minasians?” I ask her, “What do they know about traveling?”
She looks up at me. “I don’t remember traveling, but we never had a need to. It’s completely possible that the ancestors would have kept that out of our memories, so it was slowly forgotten.”
“I don’t know how it will work for those who don’t have magic.” Carnaxa’s eyes glance to Thylas. She won’t leave him, and I won’t ask her to. Then she looks to Siphonie and Rhenor. She is the reason they are here in the first place, and I know it would kill her if something happened to them or their unborn child.
“I keep reading but all that is written is ‘from the source can you be carried to the destination.’ Nothing about how ... I’m hoping that perhaps it’s like the magic. It’ll come naturally.”
“My queen,” I interrupt. She blushes at the sentiment and I know I need to call her by the honorific more. “You control water, but we are surrounded by ice. Where do you think we can find a source? I don’t think I can fit into a jug of water.”
She places her hand in mine. “I guess it’s good we know someone who has ice in their blood.”
All eyes turn to me, and for the first time in my life, I’m not confident. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean I know how to do what you’re asking … I’m learning this as I go.”
“But you are favored by the Goddess. You were blessed with a twin drop and powers not of your father’s,” Rhenor speaks as he walks up to me, clasping me on the shoulder. “I think you were meant for this, Prince. You are the only one who has such power by that which we are surrounded.”
My gaze sweeps across the tent, taking in the presences of those who have become important to me in different ways. I’ve never had a circle of friends who believed in me and stood by my side. Except for my mother and Anara, I’ve never understood the heaviness that comes with hoping I’ve made the right decision.
“Tell me what to do.”
fifty
Carnaxa
We walk amongst the men who are gathering their weapons once again. While I love Ereon’s belief in our ability to tackle another attack ofkukhe, I’m worried we won’t be ready. While the magic that flows through my veins is simple to use now, I do not yet know its limits or how quickly I will drain, especially without being near a large body of water.
The sun is hidden behind the dark gray clouds, the colors around it can barely be seen, and the air is tense as we walk along. Ereon holds his head held high, trying not to show the doubtI can sense beneath his confident expression. Concern fills my mind as I ponder if this will work. Upon reaching the frozen lake we all pause at its edge, taking in the breathtaking sight of the glistening ice beneath our feet.
“Where will we go?” I ask. We should have discussed our destination, but right now we are fleeing and it doesn’t matter as long as we are away from here.
He grabs my hand and squeezes, his voice caressing me like velvet. “I’m taking you home ... that’s what I said I would do. That’s where we are going. ” I try not to flinch at his words, and my thigh aches at the thought of Shaston. I know it is my home now, but I’m not ready to return. I’m not ready to be around Atlas again either.
“How will your father react if we show up unannounced?” I ask.
“I said I’m taking you home. I’m taking you to Antalis. You need to be back at your father’s side. If I can, I will plan to end up there,” Ereon says.
“Not all of us should return to Antalis.” Thylas steps up beside Ereon. “Someone needs to be in Shaston, to at least try to throw off King Atlas’ suspicion.”
Rhenor shuffles behind us. “He’s right. We can say we left days ago to return to Shaston, but if he receives reports that we are all in Antalis, then he will know something has happened. Especially if none of us are wearing our bracelets.”
With a hand pressed against his face, Ereon paces in front of us, his muttered curses barely audible. Coming to a halt, he pivots and directs his attention to us. “I’ll travel back to Shaston myself, then.Anara can take the rest of you to Antalis. Build a fire large enough to carry everyone.”
Ereon changes his focus, looking directly at me, his voice barely above a whisper so only I can hear. “I’ll come find you when I can,Ryehro. Until then, I’ll make sure my father doesn’t bother you or Antalis.”
My eyes widen at his words. I don’t want to be separated from him. My heartbeat picks up and begins to race. “No.” I grab at his waist, pulling him by the belt loops to me. “I can’t do that. I won’t let you return there with no one to help you. Your father — he’ll punish you. He’ll think we left Shaston, or you released us from the bracelets, Ereon ... No, I refuse to leave you.” Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as he wraps his arms around me — his fingers dig into my back as he does.
