I face-planted into my pillow.
Just friends?
That couldn’t be all he felt, could it?
Was I truly just another responsibility?
I let out a groan, wondering if I could just stay here all day.
But of course I couldn’t. I’d never been able to lounge in bed after I’d woken up.
I got dressed, lingering as long as I could before making my way downstairs. After quickly breaking our fast and hurrying Finn, who was complaining of a headache, we made our way into town. As we left, I briefly examined the wards around the house. They were so intricately done that I wasn’t sure I could do anything to enhance them. I told the twins as much when they joined me, but other than sharing a look, they accepted my answer.
Finn led the way back to the center of town, Griff following me. I was struck yet again by the vibrant colors of the houses—sunset oranges and soft corals, lavender and deep teal. A rainbow of colored plaster. We took a different path than Griff and I had taken yesterday, and I was glad I had a guide, because the maze of bridges had me lost within minutes.
Crossing over a large bridge made of marble, I paused to take in the view. The houses reflected in the crystal-clear waters, a mirror image of perfection. Flowerpots overflowed on several of the houses, adding splashes of green against the coastal colors. Fishermen in small boats navigated the waterways, a few of them pausing to wave at me as they crossed under the bridge. Griff stopped with me, and after a moment, Finn realized we weren’t following and doubledback. It was so serene here, so perfect, I didn’t know how either of them ever found the strength to leave.
As we approached the center of the town, Finn explained, “The temple is the largest building in the town. People most often gather on the water, each family bringing their individual boats, so there aren’t a lot of large, sheltered places.” Finn held open one of the double doors to let me precede him.
This certainly was a temple dedicated to water. Small canals ran through the length, following the four main paths that met in the center with a statue of Voda, a fountain of water spilling from her hands. Small bridges crossed the canals. The building had been made of white marble, but with the amount of blue stained glass, the entire place glowed blue as though we were underwater.
On either side of the double doors, small waterfalls ran down the walls. Griff reached into the water, wetting his fingers before touching his head, lips, and heart—a silent gesture asking Voda for her blessing. I followed suit. With the first touch of my fingertips to the water, a bolt of power shot through me. It only intensified with each touch to my forehead, lips, and heart. My water channel struggled inside me, begging for release.
Soon, I promised it as I moved into the precise center of the temple.
I stood next to the statue and closed my eyes. My hands at my side, I opened my channels. My water channel joyously rushed up and almost overflowed before I got it under control, the waterfalls at the door falling faster and more vigorously.
As I’d done at Terraleth, I pulled the various parts needed to create a shield that couldn’t be penetrated by the eyes of darkness, and spun it into a net. Casting that net high, I forced it to stretch through and around the building. I found places for it to anchor and lock into place, begging the earth to accept and strengthen it. I struggled for a moment with releasing it as it tried to convince me to join it, to stay forever as part of the ward. I snapped the net off from the rest of my power, and it settled reluctantly, causing me to staggerwith the forcefulness of the release. Ever dutiful, Griff was at my side instantly to support me.
I gave the twins a quick nod of success before they ushered me out into the blinding sunlight, so different from the cool blue light of the temple. We started walking through the main square, and the farther I got from the temple, the more energy I had. It was as if the power in my water channel had been straining for me to go back there, feed more of my energy into the temple, but walking away broke its hold.
There was a loud squeal from behind me. A frenetic ball of red and green barreled past me and collided with Griff.
“You’re here!”
The force of her launch caused Griff to stumble back for a moment before lifting her, and the woman curled herself around his body in a bear hug.
I stiffened.
What the fuck? There wasanotherwoman?
Maybe his words last night were true. Maybe I was just a responsibility.
“What the hell? You’re just going to ignore me?” Finn asked from the side.
The woman let out another screech and flung herself at Finn, giving him the same treatment. Finn staggered backward several steps, but managed to stay upright.
Griff had an open smile on his face. “You never change, do you? I would have thought studying at the House of Mending would sober you up a bit.”
She disengaged herself from Finn and turned her attention to me. She finally stayed still long enough for me to get a good look at her. She appeared to be my age, but then again so did the twins. Her auburn hair had a decent bit of curl to it, the highlights glinting bright copper in the sun.
“I can’t believe you’re here too!” she said directly to me.
“Well, since you apparently already know who Lexa is, Lexa, this is—” Griff started.
“I can introduce myself, dingus.” She elbowed Griff. I had never seen anyone treat him like that. My opinion of who she was to him rapidly changed and I decided I liked her already. “I’m Freya Abgrall. Have these two told you anything about me?”
Finn elbowed her arm. “You haven’t given us a chance, you little tagalong.”
