He grinned, his black eyes shining. “Very well, then let us begin.”
CHAPTER 21
I’d naïvely thought Master Fistideeous would simply give me a list of directions on how to twist fate, and I would be on my way. But it wasn’t that easy. He insisted that I learn much more than just my magic.
Days passed on the Isle of Song. Days and days that eventually turned into weeks.
Master Fistideeous made me read scroll after scroll and tome after tome. He refused to just tell me what to do. Instead, he insisted that to wield the power of a goddess required more than mere skill.
I needed to learn. To understand. To respect all of the magic that I’d been given.
And the only way to do that was through knowledge, which required endless days of studying.
My mind felt as though it would burst from all that he was teaching me. He taught me everything...theories about the Veiled Between, history about the mighty semelees, knowledge about a goddess’s lineage, and instruction about my magic.
More than once, I was tempted to flee to the Veiled Between and attempt to twist fate on my own, but the university’s magic didn’t let me. I would know. I’d tried.
On one desperate night, when I’d received word through the daily news castings from the continent that Jax was going to trial, I’d fled to my quarters and dove my magic inward, willing it to take me to the Veiled Between so I could try to twist fate before my teacher said I was ready.
But my magic didn’t work. The island’s magic had trapped my power inside me. After I’d realized that and returned to Master Fistideeous’s work area, he’d patted my hand and told me everything would comein good time.
So I’d gone back to work as instructed, even though life carried on outside of these ancient walls as though my fate wasn’t hanging in the balance.
Andso manythings were occurring. The Final Match selection had ended. The official Centennial Matches had begun, yet I had no idea how far King Paevin was coming along in his plans to enslave more half-breeds and build his army. Of course, that wasn’t covered in the daily updates we received from the continent.
The only solace I took was knowing that as a lorafin with the ability to twist fate, I could also alter time—something I’d learned in my studies.
But the only question my teacher couldn’t answer for me was what would happen if Jax was executed before I twisted fate. Even Master Fistideeous didn’t know if my mate could still be saved if his soul had crossed to the afterlife.
Six weeksafter venturing to the Isle of Song, Master Fistideeous finally declared me ready to leave and gave me his blessing to fully use my magic.
I was an anxious mess by the time we said our goodbyes. Word had arrived that both Lars and Phillen had been found guilty during their trials. It’d been proved that neither of them had been on hunting exhibitions with the prince during the times they’d been away from court, and their executions were set to take place next week.
The others’ trials were still ongoing, Jax’s included, yet it’d also been proved none of them had been hunting either. Their excuse for being away from court when they’d been conducting raids, that they’d used for full seasons, had failed.
The Centennial Matches were also drawing to a close, only a few days remaining, and the continent’s excitement had turned away from Faewood and to the upcoming Ironcrest Ball. I still had no idea what was going on with my court date to secure my freedom. A dillemsill had never arrived, but perhaps it hadn’t been able to find me, considering where I was.
Yet all I cared about was finally returning to Stonewild and using what I’d learned to save my mate and our friends, and to stop the king. My freedom from a guardian could come after that.
Bending down, I wrapped the small gargoyle in a hug. “Thank you, Master Fistideeous, for all that you’ve done for me. I’ll never forget it.”
He patted me on the back. “It’s been an honor, Elowen, truly. Now, don’t forget what’s required. We still need you to return and share what you learn after you twist fate. And I would be lying if I said I also wasn’t looking forward to seeing you again.”
I straightened and secured my bag to my back. “I won’t forget. I give you my word that I’ll return, and I look forward to seeing you again too.”
He smiled up at me, his face no longer terrifying even though it truly looked like a nightmare. “I’ll see you soon.”
I stoodon the island’s shores, portal key in hand, not bothering to retrieve the enchanted carpet I’d left outside all those weeks ago. The sun shone above me, but time moved so strangely on the island that I didn’t know if it would be day or night, morning or evening, when I materialized back on the mainland. Locked within the island’s magic, time had taken on no meaning. The only way I’d been able to keep track of it at all was through the daily news castings from the continent.
But I’d accomplished what I set out to do. Master Fistideeous had taught me what was needed to twist fate. Now, all that was left was to actually do it.
Taking a deep breath, I gripped the key and whispered the words to activate it. I thought of Jaggedston, of where I wanted to go.
The realm swirled around me, dropping out from beneath me as the portal key transported me back to Stonewild’s capital.
Only moments later, I landed on solid ground, swaying slightly. My pack was still secured to my back, and in my hand, the portal key fizzled out of existence. Above, the night sky shone, yet I had no idea what time it was.
Materialized once more, I surveyed where I’d been dropped. The palace’s black towers soared in the distance, only blocks away, and an inn stood just behind me. Master Fistideeous had told me it was the closest inn to the palace, and I quickly rushed inside to secure a room.
