The fountain is legible now, at least for our purposes. I rinse my hands in the water and take the moment to run my fingertips along the bottom of the pool. The stone is just as smooth as the fountain in Blackwood, so I mentally check off that area to search.
“Any ideas as to what we should look for?” I ask. I can use him for all his knowledge while I can. He’s been the Guardian for twenty years. He knows more about Dawnlin than I do, despite never being able to find the waters.
Please don’t let him figure it out now.
“Lennox,” Dane says, but I ignore him.
“Any sort of symbol or unexplained shape you’ve seen on the island that could have something to do with the dust?”
“Lennox,” he says again.
“Because I don’t recall anything spec?—”
“Lennox, will you talk to me, please?”
“What?” I say, irritation slicing through the word as I glare at him.
“I want to find answers, but you’re angry because I made a decision that was supposed to help you. I don’t know why you’re blaming me for doing something because I care about you.”
My blood begins to boil. He doesn’t understand the gravity of what he did, and he’s blaming me for being upset? My mouth falls open, ready to shout my first words, but Edmond’s voice pops into my head, reminding me to focus on my goals and find the path that will get me what I want.
Dane may believe he was doing the right thing, and maybe he was. We’ve still yet to determine if we actually wasted the dust, so we need to get looking. I can’t let him believe there is anythingwrong, and getting on his bad side or raising suspicion right now won’t get me any closer to an answer.
I let out a breath. “You’re right,” I say. “I’m sorry. I’m just really trying to find anything that can help us.”
“I forgive you,” he says with a smile, and I do everything I can to keep my fists from clenching.
His face falls slightly, and he takes a half step closer. “You’re really that focused on getting home?”
“I told you I can’t stay,” I say, meeting his gaze.
“I know, I just...” He takes my hands in his and squeezes them. “I guess I just hoped you had considered staying if you don’t find it.”
I shake my head. “I have to go back, whether or not I find it, but I’m not done looking. I’ll be here for a while longer. I just don’t want to lose the chance to go home, for me, or for anyone else, if they find it first.”
“I understand,” he murmurs. He leans forward, closing the gap between us, but I turn toward the fountain, leaning close and examining the carvings.
“Any ideas? Any symbols on the island you noticed?” I say, ignoring the way he shifts uncomfortably after my obvious denial of his kiss.
He clears his throat, his tone dropping lower. “None that I have noticed. Besides the island shifting at any moment, there aren’t really any symbols or carvings I’ve seen. There’s definitely nothing that looks like any of this.” He gestures to the intricacies of the stone.
Walking around it slowly, my eyes scan every carved detail. I pause when I get to the chalice; the exact replica of the mountain falls.
He can’t see it…and this is why he won’t find the waters.
Not a single symbol on the fountain points to the dust, not even a suggestion. No pouch, no Guardian figure, no plateau.There’s nothing showing how to get on or off the island carved into the gate.
We’ve spent hours pouring over the details, and my fears have been realized.
We wasted the dust.
The fountain doesn’t hold any answers about the Guardian, it is only the way to call him. Tears pool in my eyes as I step away, looking around us, and finally remembering that anyone could have seen us at any time.
We’re alone, thank the gods, and the blue sky above is starting to change color, resembling Dawnlin’s pinks and oranges.
“Where are we?” I ask.
“Berrendahr,” Dane says, stepping up alongside me.
