The daughter of our Goddess.
But so many of her actions and words are veiled, hiding their real meaning. Like she’s teasing us, manoeuvring us in her giant game.
And she knows more about Ever, maybe about everything, than she’s letting on. I’ve always felt that. But with Ever, it’s been clearer.
“I’m going to find her. I don’t know who took her, or where she is, but that doesn’t matter. I will find her. With or without your help.”
“You think I can help?”
“I think you know what Ever is, who her parents are, and what secrets my father is hiding.”
“You presume a great deal, boy. And, for your boldness, I will remind you of one more thing that you already know.She is a Fifth, and will bear all of Aslendrix’s power, as is her role.”
And with that, she turns and vanishes into the night.
“Wait, no.” I chase after her with a pang of regret that I’ve squandered my opportunity for better information. But she’s gone.
The chirp of birds waking before dawn rouses me from my heavy sleep, and as I awaken, I recognise the gentle hum of power back in my veins.
The second it tingles through, I pull on it and shout as loudly as I can to Ever.
“Ever!”I call her name over and over, but each time, it goes unanswered.
I don’t want to consider what that means and settle on the naive thought that she’s just travelling in the opposite direction—that the distance between us is too great for our magic to work. But my stomach rolls at that thought. It twists from more than just hunger.
The birds soon fly off to start their day, and the peace of this place descends. It’s always felt imbued with something more—an essence, perhaps—of Aslendrix herself. Maybe because of the significance of what occurs in this place. The ceremony of it. The importance for every Kirrian.
I wait for the sting of grief to grip my chest or the sour taste of disappointment to form over what happened to me here, but it doesn’t come. Instead, I see Ever. I remember the look of pain and fear on her face during her Transference. And the haunted look she carried when I showed her this spot for the first time.
This place might be sacred to Kirrians, but it’s something different for Ever. Something fearful.
A snap of a twig draws my attention, and I crouch and reach for the knife at the base of my back.
“Relax. It’s just me. I brought you these.” Crimson edges into view, and my legs relax, my grip of the hilt easing. She offers a weak smile and hands me a satchel of supplies.
“How’s Calix?” I ask before opening the bag and pulling out the spoils, my hand going for the food and waterskin first. I drop the bag and devour the fresh sandwich, thick with meat and tomato, where I stand, my mouth salivating with every bite.
“He’s better. Perrin worked on him through the night.” Her eyes mist, and she turns away to hide her vulnerability. “He was up when I left. He’ll be along later.” She ventures to the edge of the clearing, near some foliage that would serve as initial cover against anyone taking a walk through here.
Crimson is always loud, opinionated, and direct. The fact that there’s nothing but a shadow of that around her now makes me nervous to see him. Her priority is always family. And maybe me, until recently.
I give her some space as the chill of her emotions radiates towards me. They’re so strong, I pull on my power to shield against them.
After the sandwich is nothing but crumbs at my feet, I pick up the bag and go to join her. Rooting through it, I drain the water and then set about changing out of the clothes and cloak that have been on me for days.
“Ten, Zuns, you could really use a bath.” She scrunches her nose up at me.
I snigger, relieved that the timid Crimson paid only a fleeting visit.
“Thanks for the support. But last time I looked, there weren’t any baths near here.”
“The others won’t be here for at least an hour, if not more. Go to the lake. I’ll make sure nobody comes looking.” She runs her eyes over me. In another time, perhaps, I would have expectedher to come out with some sassy comment. Instead, she goes back to picking at the leaf debris on the ground.
“You’re not going to fill me in first?”
“Calix is on his way. Clean up.” She turns away, hiding, if I didn’t know better.
“Okay. I’ll… do that.”
