CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
It must be organic. I cannot funnel power into that which holds no life.
—Correspondence from Lelyth to Enya. Date preceding Sultiran Calendrical System.
Nerissa’s dark silhouette stood out against the deep blue of the sea in the early hours of the morning. The salty breeze pulled away the whisper of lilac wind still lingering in my nostrils. Carina had sworn the air oath the night before, Astraeus performing the spell while Kresida watched carefully.
I paused at the top of the stairs, catching sight of Nerissa and Aquila at the prow of theHydra. I held my hand out to halt Vulcan, who came up behind me. Nerissa’s face didn’t leave Aquila’s as I approached the two, who seemed to be truly communicating, speaking mind-to-mind, for the first time in the hundred-plus years she’d been alive.
I stepped up to the two, sending a wave of warmth to them both. Aquila ruffled his large feathers in return but kept his eyes on Nerissa. I glanced at the elf and stifled a gasp, noting the long streaks of silver sliding down her cheeks.
I reached a tentative hand to hers and clasped it within my own. She didn’t look up, but she gripped it back, squeezing tightly. I let her hold it, silently waiting for her to drop it when she was ready. After several minutes, her hand slackened, and she turned to me.
“Aquila was there,” she said, her voice soft against the lapping surf. “He was Kyson’s caeluma over a thousand years ago.”
My jaw slackened as I turned to the great bird and I opened my mouth.
Nerissa shook her head. “He doesn’t remember most of it. The blast that broke the Vael… It changed him, shattered most of his memories. He’s known enough to stay close to our bloodline. It’s all he’s needed, really.”
She turned back to Aquila, a softness appearing on her features I’d never seen before.
“Well then,” I said, smiling up at the giant hawk, “welcome back, Aquila.” A surge of joy washed over me, and I bowed deeply before backing away to join Vulcan at the stern.
Vienah’s armwrapped around my shoulder as we stood at the prow of the ship, a broad smile plastered on my face as a black form took shape in the clear skies in the distance.
“They made it,” she said, giving my shoulder a squeeze.
My heart sang in response.
Three months. Far, far too long. Never again would I let it go this long. And Bayne… There was so much we needed to discuss. I needed to see him.
Took you long enough,I teased Tiberius as his massive wings became visible. The agrippa scoffed into my mind.
If you were carrying two on your back, you wouldn’t be moving as fast as usual, either.
My grin widened as butterflies flapped in my stomach. My heart squeezed, the anticipation of seeing any of my friends enough for a burning sensation to form in the corners of my eyes.
Aquila’s massive form rose into the skies as he flew to greet Tiberius. An elated whinny filled the air as Tiberius took in Aquila’s changed form, and the massive hawk soared in circles around him.
Tiberius banked, circling around the back of theHydra, and slowed his flight as he came in for a running landing. I sprinted around the foremast and skidded to a stop as Tiberius thundered down the deck.
Ti’s velvety wings stretched high above his head as he gained his footing and finally stopped. They flapped as they fell to his sides. Drystan’s weary blue eyes met mine as he slid off Ti with shaky legs and reached a hand up to help Marian off his back.
A lump formed in my throat as I took a step toward the three newcomers. Safe. Marian and Drystan were now safe. A wave of relief at seeing my friends warred with a surge of shock at not finding Bayne among them. I stared at Ti’s dark eyes for a moment before I noticed the long, recently healed slice down the center of his chest.
What’s happened?
We need to talk.
The winter wineRaek procured from Astraeus’s private stash did little to quell the unease crawling over my body.
“So, the dark king has begun his conquest,” Lord Astraeus mused, swirling the dark wine in a silver goblet. He reclined in his chair, ankles crossed, and black leather boots propped on the edge of the table.
“His forces must be stretched thin if he’s dispatched three legions of Nivis soldiers and multiple hordes of ashen. Death Dunes, Sultira, Lotrennia…” Carina’s brows furrowed as she studied the large map draped across the table in the room below deck.
“We don’t really know much about his forces, other than the ashen you saw on Kayj,” Ronan interjected, nodding toward the crew members of theEvecta.
Marian looked toward me with hesitant eyes, but I couldn’t meet them.
