A frantic fear coated my desperation as the snake stretched its lips, and long fangs raised like blades in the final blow. Helmar’s robes billowed as he turned toward us once more, the snake’s distraction enough to refocus him.
Ezrich’s form slumped over Tempest’s thick neck, and he began to tip. My arms barely reached around his broad frame to grip Tempest’s mane and hold him upright. I snaked my hands through her thick hair and succumbed to the safe pulse I felt all those months ago before I harnessed the Advetis power for the first time.
Friendship.
Lyvia.
I threw my focus into the building pressure, latching myself onto that safety. The snake lurched forward as I held Tempest and Ezrich in an iron grip. My power exploded, the view of the forest spinning in my vision as the pressure locked me in its grip, and everything went dark.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
DRYSTAN
I’ve found a boy. Street urchin, and deaf, but shows the signs.
– Correspondence from Father Fontein to King Saros, 3rdof Summer, 053.3E. Krestwood, Sultira.
Drystan – Between Threads
The twisting pressure of the jump eased as rays of sunshine exploded before my eyes. My consciousness ebbed as the expenditure of power hit me…from transporting two humans and a massive horse.I’d done it…
Where had I taken us?
Water sparkled in the distance, and the loamy scent of fresh-caught fish and decaying bait surged into my nostrils. My head lolled, and I leaned forward against Ezrich’s bleeding form as my vision receded.
Tempest stiffened. Her head jerked upright as a shadow formed overhead, and the reverberating beats of somethinglarge thudded against the ground. A heaviness fell on me, and darkness beckoned as my weight shifted to the side. My legs slid around Tempest’s waist as I began to fall.
Hands gripped my shoulders on the way down, and a fog clouded my vision before I yielded to the darkness.
A poundingheadache drew me from sleep, and I blinked my eyes open to a dim room. I jerked upright. My heart hammered as I pulled my spectacles off the bedside stand and shoved them up my nose.
I scanned the unfamiliar room, slipping my legs off the edge of the downy bed, draped in a softly knit, navy blue quilt. When was the last time I slept in a room this nice? My pack and blade rested next to the black armoire in the corner. My feet slipped into their boots, and I snatched my things before inching to the window, slowly drawing the curtain back.
Vivid green hills dotted with towering, cedar and willow trees rolled in the distance. A large lake sat at the bottom of two, and a pasture of horses and goats connected to the stables in the rear. I closed the curtain and quietly moved to the tall, mahogany door, a spike of fear coursing through me at the possibility it might be locked.
The golden metal handle twisted, and I blew out a breath. I slowly pulled the door open, its creak enough to whine through the handle I held. I paused, watching for shadows, before opening it enough to slip through.
I stepped into the brightly lit hall and jumped as three small forms barreled into me. My hand flew to my dagger, but I paused as my eyes landed on children. They shouted some words at me,smiles stretching across their clean faces, before racing down the hall.
Where the hell am I?
A shadow appeared at the end of the hall, and I flattened against the side of the wall, hidden behind the edge of an open door. Movement followed, and I heaved a sigh as Raek and Vulcan rounded the corner.
Vulcan snapped his scarred face in my direction before going still.
Nothing gets past him. I chuckled as I stepped into the light.
Vulcan’s shoulders relaxed, and I clocked the hand he dropped from Raek’s chest. The elf’s lips kicked up just enough to qualify as a small smile on the ex-War Slayer.
“Welcome to Votruvia,” he signed, striding forward. “Ezrich is in the healing quarters. You’re at Eghan House, Lord Astraeus’s home.”
Tempest stoodramrod straight in the pasture, the early summer sunshine highlighting the dappled gray spots on her flank. I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to check on her before finding Lyvia, but once I’d seen Ezrich alive and healing in the infirmary, I made my way to the stables.
Tiberius stood across from her in some apparent staring contest. Their ears were pinned back and heads high. She tracked me as I neared, and Tiberius finally turned a big head toward me.
I reached a hand forward and patted Tempest’s side, her demeanor softening just slightly.
Tiberius backed up a step, and I caught shadowed movement beyond the stables. Lyvia’s caeluma clomped through the grass,and I followed until a valley dotted with lacey flowers spread behind the building.
