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Hùisdean practically floated back into the house, unbothered about the curse, their impending doom, or anything else—nothing could touch him.
Chapter Sixteen
Ayda followed Ásví into the woods, feeling positively alive with magic. Once they seized each other up and only found a shared love of magic, Ásví and Ayda had fallen into each other's company easily.
When Ásví said they needed to get spruce from Nangroth, Ayda didn't think twice about returning to the dark woods. She was sure even the forest itself obeyed Ásví.
Besides, while her mother had been kind, she'd never been overly maternal. Amidst all the chaos and confusion over the curse and Ayda's new magic, she leaned right into Ásví's maternal affections. Ásví looped their arms together and patted Ayda's hand as they walked.
“We need to fetch some of the kindling, and I think…” Ásví started to look up at the treetops. “Yes, a clearing right past those shrubs will do nicely.”
“Do nicely?” Ayda questioned. “For what?”
“We'll have our little seance in the woods after all. Don't worry. I told Hùisdean not to wait up. Ah, there it is!” Ásví released Ayda and practically skipped over to collect a series of branches off the ground.
Ayda knew it was futile to debate anything regarding magic with Ásví, but she was happy to take notes. Ásví set up a simple fire lined with rocks spinning out to each cardinal direction.
They worked in companionable silence, slowly building up a near-perfect makeshift altar in the clearing. Ásví directed Ayda toward which flowers, pinecones, and small rocks they should grab in tribute. The sun set as they finalized the altar, a perfect square shape, built out of twigs and decorated with offerings from the woods.
Ásví looked at it with a soft smile and a bit of pride, nodding enthusiastically.
“This will do nicely.” Ásví started rummaging in her jacket pockets, pulling out a pipe and a lighter.
Ayda raised a brow. “Is that a crucial part of the step, I'm assuming?”
Ásví started laughing, holding up a small bag from her breast pocket. “Yes, it absolutely is. How else do you expect to see long-dead monarchs? Not sober?” Ásví lit the pipe successfully on her first try, puffing away and blowing smoke rings that would've made other fictional wizards jealous.
Ásví held the pipe out towards Ayda, who hesitated. She was slightly intimidated, but Ásví didn't push her.
“If you'd prefer not to,” her voice was quieter, “I certainly won't force you to do anything. Margaret did appear to you earlier today too.”
Ayda smiled, accepting the pipe from Ásví. “I don't mind. Should I ask what this is?” Ásví only looked at her, and Ayda laughed. “Sorry, sorry, I forgot the cardinal rule of not asking ‘what's in the pipe’ when a wizard hands it to you.”
“Smart girl,” Ásví smirked.
Ayda grabbed the pipe and inhaled, pleasantly surprised by the sweet smoke. Ásví and Ayda said nothing else as they traded the pipe back and forth, watching the sunset. By the time the last of the light had faded, Ásví stood slowly, dusted her hands off on her knees, and walked towards the altar. She pulled a flint from another deep jacket pocket and successfully lit the kindling with one flick. Ayda got to her feet, sensing it was time to stand behind Ásví.
The entire altar became a roaring blaze within seconds, smoke curling up towards the star-flecked sky while the flame encompassed everything. A ripple of magic exploded from the altar, spreading through the clearing. Ayda was momentarily worried that the fire would spread, but it stayed within the tiny stone boundary they'd created even as it grew taller.
Ayda started swaying on her feet, grabbing Ásví's arm to stay upright. Ásví held Ayda's hand and wrapped an arm around her waist, helping to keep her on her feet. The magic in the clearing grew stronger and stronger, and Ayda started to feel like she was underwater. Her ears popped, and she felt lightheaded while tightening her grip on Ásví.
“Hold on, sweet child,” Ásví murmured in her ear. Ayda didn't know what she was waiting for but struggled to stay conscious. Magic flooded the clearing from all sides; Ayda felt stuck in a tsunami, gasping for breath.
“Ásví!” Ayda gasped, glancing down at the wizard’s white-knuckle grip on her. “What's happening?”
Ásví's hair was being pulled out of its braid as the magic whipped around them, the sharp wind cutting like knives. It was the only sign of distress that Ásví showed. Her expression remained neutral and almost pleased.
“A few more seconds,” Ásví commanded. Her tone held no room for argument, and Ayda tried to focus on her breathing.
In and out.
In and out.
The power was threatening to choke the breath out of her lungs while the fire started to grow even higher. Ayda struggled to find a single point to focus on; everything around them seemed to be breathing. The entire forest was now pulsing alongside the power they'd summoned. Finally, Ayda thought she could take no more, and her eyes started to flutter closed. Her knees buckled, and the very second she began to sink to the ground, Ásví cried out for her.
“Focus, earth mender!” Ásví snapped, her voice jolting Ayda back to reality. Whether it was the way she said it or the fact that she'd referred to Ayda as earth mender, she didn't know. As soon as she said it, something in Ayda surged with life as ice-cold magic licked at her fingertips. Ayda released Ásví and stood on two feet, the tremendous power trickling up her arms.
Ayda rolled her shoulders and straightened up, and the chaos stopped. The wind ceased its howling, and the dreadful, overwhelming sensations retreated. Ayda's mind seemed to snap like a rubber band, and now everything was clear as crystal.
