We spent the rest of the afternoon with her, practicing this new type of warding, although Griff drew the line at her testing my wards with daggers again. When I could pull it up almost instantly, she declared that we were finished. Which was good, because I was exhausted. As we prepared to go, she covered my hand with her weathered one, soil deep under her fingernails. “Remember, child, for when it’s your turn. Erde protects her own. But beware what runs in your veins. The earth can hide you, but only if you learn to ask it properly.”
And with that cryptic statement, we took our leave.
As we strolled away from Deirdre’s cottage, my limbs felt heavy, as though I had run for several miles. I remembered what Deirdre had said and thought about the power underneath my feet. I sank down into it, and felt it rejuvenate me. This was a different type of tired than the normal exhaustion of using my powers. This felt moresorethan anything else. Like when you exercised a muscle you hadn’t worked in a long time.
I looked up at Griff, question poised, but he shook his head before I could speak. “I don’t know if she’s a dotty old lady or wiser than us all,” he said in response to my unasked question. “But when she pulled that dagger on you…” He trailed off, his face tightening with the memory.
“I’m fine,” I said. “But you have no idea what that was back there?”
“None whatsoever.” He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
I touched his arm gently, feeling it tense under my hand. “I’m fine,” I repeated. “And she taught me something useful. Confusing as hell, but useful.”
His hand extended, slowly and hesitantly, smoothing my hair back. When he pulled away, he reached into his pocket, withdrawingthe rose that I had caused to bloom. He tucked the blossom behind my ear, his hand lingering on my cheek, before walking on, adjusting his pace to mine. My heart pounded, but I said nothing, just walked alongside him.
When we reached the center of the town, Griff directed me to a bench while he paused at a stall and came back with meat and vegetables on a stick. Sitting beside me, he handed it over, my stomach growling as I devoured it. It was either one of the best things I’d ever eaten or I was simply hungry enough that anything would have tasted good. He smiled at the pace in which I destroyed the food and offered me the half that was leftover from his. I shook my head as I blushed.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” he said gently.
I thought, not for the first time, that maybe his mind channel gave him access to mind-reading like Finn’s did.
“It’s normal to be starving after wielding, especially when you’re doing delicate work like she was having you do.”
I thought back over the wards Deirdre had helped me create. They felt different than the ones that Finn had taught me. Deeper, or older perhaps. As if it was an ancient warding method.
“I wonder if that’s why Nana took me outside the Veil,” I said softly. “Because earth magic was the only channel out there, and Erde protects her own.”
Griff gave me an assessing look, leaning back and crossing his legs at his ankles. “It’s a good enough theory. I was shocked when I discovered you outside the Veil. I never would have guessed… but maybe that was the idea. There must have been a reason why she did it. She wouldn’t have risked your life, gambling that the dark one’s attention would turn from the Veil to the surrounding areas. She must have figured out a way to ward you, and ward you well.”
“How long did you search for me?”
There was something unreadable in his face and I wasn’t sure he was going to answer. But eventually he did, with one quiet word.
“Years.”
We continued on, pausing whenever something in the market caught my fancy. I was browsing textiles when I felt his touch on my back. Looking over my shoulder, I saw him grin. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him smile this much before.
“I want to show you something.” He led me over to one of the towers and gestured for me to precede him.
Feeling rejuvenated, I scampered up the spiral staircase, Griff following closely behind, and emerged on the top of the wall that surrounded the city. I took a few steps to let Griff exit the staircase and we walked along the wall. The stone was similar to that of Valdris and just as weathered, but that was where the similarities ended. The ramparts of Valdris were massive, built for the population of a capital city. This wall was barely large enough for us to walk side by side, and we constantly brushed into one another. He didn’t move, though, and neither did I. The wall widened slightly, opening into a small platform. Spread out in front of us was the forest we had been in earlier that morning, although the waterfall was hidden from our view. As the angle of the sun shifted, the trees glowed. The beauty of it captured something in my soul.
As we watched the golden light, it started darkening—fast. I glanced up at the sky to confirm the sun was still there. But across that golden forest, it was like night had fallen instantly.
Griff swore behind me, and then his arms wrapped around my waist, carrying me backward.
“What is it?”
“The dorchas—shadows formed from the darkness,” he spat out as he pulled me back.
“Wait!” I stretched out a hand toward it. “Shouldn’t I try to stop it?”
He smacked my hand down. Somewhere in the back of my mind, it registered that he was still carrying me, but with one arm. How strongwashe?
“No,” he whispered in my ear. “It’s searching. We need to get to cover now.”
“But the people!”
“They know what to do.”
