“Why?” Kalynn followed, knowing full well there was no use in protesting.
“Still no idea of where we need to go?” Wolfe asked.
“No,” Kalynn sighed. “I’ve tried to focus, but—”
“Hard to do with an unwanted guest,” Wolfe continued down the steps.
“Why is it?” Kalynn smiled at the back of his head as she dodged the clutter along the stairs. “Why is it that the stairs are crowded with your books and collections, but your workroom is—”
“Hush,” Wolfe opened the door to his workroom, and sure enough the room was empty, without a trace of dust. Mage lights shown above them, glimmering on the stone walls, ceiling, and floor.
“Stand here,” He pulled her into the center. “I have an idea.”
He closed the door, then stood against it. She watched as he dimmed the mage lights with a slow stoke of his hand through the air. Wolfe had his eyes closed, his fingers spread out, and the hint of a smile on his lips. It warmed her heart to see him so. She loved these moments when he worked the power, his face so intent and serious, yet she could sense the joy within him.
“Watch,” Wolfe said, and the floor beneath her feet glowed, and images formed. It was there, their world, all laid out on the floor. Continents, islands, oceans wide and sparkling.
“So many places we have yet to see,” Wolfe said softly. “So many places we have yet to go.”
“What are you—” she asked, but Wolfe shook his head and the pictures at her feet changed, and grew. Tiny horses raced beneath her feet, through tall grass.
“The Plains,” she breathed. And the images around her solidified, of rolling open grasslands. The images tilted slightly, and then grew.
Kalynn sucked in her breath, pressing her hand to her chest. She was standing on the Heart of the Plains.
All around her, the grasses stirred in a breeze she could not feel. They were browning slightly, under the heat of a summer sun she could not feel. Beyond, toward the south, she saw the lake, the waves lapping at the rocky shore. Yet for all the lack of her senses, her heart soared at the sight of home.
“Wolfe,” she whispered, not wanting to break the spell. “Have you sent my spirit wandering?”
“No,” his voice was soft. “I brought the spirit of the lands to you.” Part of her knew that he was standing by the door, but to her it appeared he stood just off the edge of the Heart.
Her tears welled at the sight, with grief and joy and a deep longing. Kalynn tore her gaze away, looking toward Wolfe.
“I know,” Wolfe’s eyes were warm, his voice was the barest whisper. “But we need answers.”
Kalynn nodded, not trusting her voice at that moment.
“Power first,” Wolfe said, raising his hand. “Show me,” he commanded.
Over the grasslands small bits of light appeared, some dim, some strong, scattered in no particular pattern around the Heart.
“So few,” he said. “There’s little power left on the Plains, and even less between the Heart and Xy. Not enough to trust to portals. We will take airions.”
Kalynn studied the Heart below her feet. No life, no magic pulsed under her feet; the Heart was cold and silent. She’d known that would be the case, but she hadn’t been prepared for the reality.
“Flying will be hard on both of us.” Wolfe continued. “Been a long time since I have spent much time in the saddle. We could use portals, cut off some travel time, if we—”
Kalynn cut him off, “I’m looking south.”
“Well, yes,” Wolfe cleared his throat. “But, beloved—”
She ignored the warning tone in his voice, and looked over her shoulder, due north.
“Xy,” she said.
There, bright against the mountain at the high end of the valley glowed a blue spark, bright and clear and blue as the morning sky.
“Kalynn,” Wolfe warned again. “She will not welcome us.”
