Avlyn’seyes were kind. “Itwas a long shot anyway,Princess.Idon’t blame you.”
“Youdidn’t make it seem like a long shot when we were planning.”
“Nota great idea to tell your troops the odds aren’t in theirfavor.Itdoesn’t build morale.Besides,Ithink you weren’t the only one to blame for the situation.”
Mylips pulled tight, andIsaid nothing, not wanting to think aboutCiara.Avlynseemed of the same mind.
“It’salways the beautiful ones you need to watch out for.”Theireyes darted over toPallas.
“It’stoo much.Ican’t carry this all on my own.Idon’t know how to save him, and ifIreally am…”Wedidn’t speak of it, like saying it would make it true. “…ifIreally am theWorldBreaker, maybe it’s best ifIdon’t.MaybeIshould just stay here with him until the end.”
Theyfurrowed their eyebrows. “Noway in hellI’mletting that happen.Asfar asI’mconcerned, what that old crone said changes nothing.Shesaid it herself.Propheciesaren’t straightforward things, so let’s not try to pretend we understand something greater than ourselves.Allwe can do now is move forward.”
Theirhoney-colored eyes were strong, andIfelt that tiny spark of hope in my chest. “Howcan you be so sure this is the right thing,Avlyn?”
“Oh,I’mnot, butIpromisedAbraxasthatIwould keep you safe, so that’s whatI’mgoing to do.”
Myfingers shook, but my anxiety seemed to ebb a small amount.
Inthe cave,my sense of time was distorted, but the last rays of the sun could be seen through an opening in the rock ceiling.AvlynandIdecided that at first light, they would try tohunt for some more breakfast, and we would start our journey out of this place.
“Bestget some more rest while you can,Princess.Wedon’t know what we will find,”Avlynsaid, and with that, they rolled over and went straight to sleep.Beingable to sleep anywhere was an old soldier’s trick, one thatIwas often jealous of.
Iwalked over toJun.Pallashad dozed off, but as my footsteps approached, she snapped awake.Itseemed she had a soldier’s habits as well.Shewrapped her hand defensively overJun’sforehead and the other over his chest.
“MayIsit with him for a bit?”Ihated to ask, the words tasting like ash on my mouth.Whowas she to keep me from my brother?Butmaybe after all of this,Ireally was tired of fighting.
Onceagain, for several moments, we stood at an impasse, her eyes set in stony resolve.Butthen she slowly shifted her legs out from underneathJunand held his head soIcould slide my thigh underneath.Shewalked away, andIdidn’t really care where she went.
IstrokedJun’ssweaty forehead, pulling his long bangs out of his face.Ihad known him with long hair for over two hundred years, so it still felt so foreign to me.Infact, everything about him felt foreign to me, as if the person sleeping on my lap wasn’t the brotherIknew but a stranger with a familiar face.
“Jun, do you remember that songIused to make you sing to me?Yousaid it was too dramatic, but you knewIloved it.Iwish you would sing it to me now.”Hekept sleeping, but his heartbeat was strong, and his breathing was deep.Icould be happy about that.Iran my fingers through his hair.
InNiata, physical affection between family members was rare.Thelight squeeze of my arm was allIremembered from my mother, and my father’s touch was never kind.ButJunandIhad always been drawn together.Myparents had expresslyforbidden our touching even as young children.Iknew the reason.QueenSorayaand her brother-husbandKingSoracteshad been in front of everyone’s minds.Myparents wanted to keep any unsightly rumors aboutJunand me at bay, but it had been no use.
Whenwe grew older, our nighttime excursions always centered on causing some mischief, but they had started just as a way for us to lie in each other’s arms and talk about every single thought on our mind.Ihad always known it hadn’t been something sordid but something precious that existed between us.Andhere he was, laying with me just like when we were younglings, but everything had changed.
Iwasn’t a talented singer, butItried my best.
In a land of sun’s embrace, where warmth ignites the sky,
A land of ancient stories, where legends never die.
Beneath the blazing constellations, dreams take flight,
Guided by the flames burning through the night.
Mypitch was off, but that had never botheredJun.Istroked his head again whenIsaw his eyelids shift like he was in a deep dream, and his lips opened.Thevoice that emerged was weak, hoarse.
In the realm of icy whispers, where frost paints the scene,
A land of hidden secrets, where mysteries convene.
Witheach word he sang, the surrounding land shimmered.Thewisps that danced over the spring leaped across the grass and danced around us.Beneathme, the warm earth and plants seemed to grip me in a soft embrace.AsJunkept singing,Icalmed my breath.Ifelt it then, the same feelingIhad always had with him, but through a new lens.Hisvoice spilled over melike warm honey, andIfollowed that sensation deep into the earth.
Itwasn’t hard to find.Themagic of the earth was writhing to get free here, and it latched to me immediately.Ipressed onJun’sforehead and felt the power spilling into him.Hismind felt like it hid in a deep shadow, butIcould feel him trying to get out.Ilet the magic burn away those shadows.Theyfought me and clung to him, but as every small piece burnt away, his voice became clearer, and the song soared.
Underneath the shimmering tapestry of night's embrace,
