That seemed to cheer Elena up, though really, I was surprised Mistral had offered. In the city, those without much human blood tended to keep to their own kind. Mistral was a full-blooded goblin, and Elena a full-blooded elf, and a princess of her own realm at that. Maybe the alliances we had formed would actually carry forward once everything was done, and things would change.
I hoped so. Nothing wrong with a little more togetherness.
We reached the grove where the celestial symbol was carved into a tree, marking the end of the old pathway. Crispin slid down from the buck behind me, then helped me off, Ringo hopping onto my shoulder as we hit the ground. This mission was definitely a different vibe from our trip to the goblin realm, and I found myself wishing it was just me and the guys. And Ringo, I internally added as his tail swished against the back of my neck.
It wasn’t hard to find the symbol carved into the tree. I remembered the raven above us last time, watching until we found it like a not so silent sentinel. Gabriel, Sebastian, andMistral joined us as I knelt before the tree. It was certainly going to be interesting trying to bring along the guards King Francis provided, all of them ready in shiny armor with bows and swords slung across shoulders or around their hips.
King Francis remained on his buck, head held high and vibrant red hair gleaming in the sun. Elena stayed on her buck beside him, head in the opposite direction as she pouted about being left behind.
I brushed my fingers briefly across the symbol, but it didn’t glow, nor was there any magic tingling. Observing the symbol for a moment longer, I stood and drew the Realm Breaker. Imighthave practiced a few times after getting dressed so I wouldn’t embarrass myself in front of the elves. They surely knew how to properly draw a sword.
“The symbol doesn’t seem to be working,” I muttered to Crispin, keeping my voice as low as I could since elves had excellent hearing.
He put his hand at the small of my back, stepping closer. “Do you think you can remember the pocket realm well enough to cut a new path? We really should take care of the darkness there before moving on.”
He was right. We didn’t want shadows in this realm, but we also didn’t want to accidentally allow them into the elven realm. I might be giving my great grandfather his pathways, but I wasn’t going to let the darkness restore whatever crazy balance he’d been going on about.
“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I can try, but wasn’t the whole point to find the shadows before they can make it through to earth? If we just cut a pathway now, they could come to Emerald Heights.”
He glanced over at King Francis, now eyeing us impatiently. “We might not have a choice.”
I glanced back at the other guys, then jumped when King Francis’ voice sounded right beside me. Damn graceful elves. Even in their older years it was hard to keep track of them. “Perhaps it will be for the best.” He eyed the symbol, then the waiting guards.
“Um, what?” I asked.
“To carve a pathway now.”
I winced. They really did have insane hearing. Maybe even better than werewolves. Or maybe King Francis was just special.
“With a pathway just to that smaller realm,” he continued, his gaze sweeping across his warriors, “we can stand at the ready. We will not let the shadows escape beyond our gates, and this way none will risk getting trapped like Princess Silvana.”
I actually didn’t hate it. Me being responsible for making sure no one else got trapped was a tall order. “We could ask Charla to send over some angelics and gargoyles as backup. You’d have to allow them in, but I’m sure she’d be willing.” Charla was a big picture thinker. She knew the pathways were coming back one way or another, and her aim was to preserve earth and keep everyone safe.
Francis looked at me like I was being childish for even mentioning that he invite angelics and gargoyles into his realm. Maybe it was only Mistral growing more lenient after all.
“Well if it’s what you want to try…” I hesitated. I lifted the Realm Breaker from where I’d rested its tip against the ground.
“Elena,” the king ordered. “Spread the word, and send any ravens you find. We’ll want everyone at the ready.”
I looked over at Elena, who’d hopped down from her buck to approach us. “I thought you said you couldn’t send messages through ravens!” I balked at her. The first time I’d come to Emerald Heights, I could have sworn a beady-eyed raven had been keeping an eye on me, and Elena had met with me shortly after.
Elena gave me a playful wink, then hurried off to obey her father’s orders.
I watched as she instructed a few of the other elves, presumably to find ravens in the forest.
Sebastian came to stand at my shoulder as King Francis retreated. “It does mean less risk to us. Not the worst plan.”
“Unless we unintentionally release a bunch of darkness into the city,” Crispin countered.
Mistral nodded in acknowledgment, but said, “That is going to be a risk in this process either way.”
He was right, but it didn’t mean I had to like it.
Once everyone was ready,we gathered back around the tree. The guys all stood close, offering me their magic. I didn’t even need to touch them anymore. As long as they were close, I could pull on those golden cords, and I seemed to be rapidly improving at actually channeling the magic. Maybe it was the presence of the Realm Breaker, or maybe of the vortex. I was starting not to care, as long as it worked.
Elena supported Ringo in her palms in front of her chest with a promise to get him to safety if anything came through. She gave me another wink as I lifted the Realm Breaker to cut the pathway to the pocket realm.
I tried to envision that place, hoping I could remember it clearly enough. I thought of the little settlement Silvana and her people had built—the cottages, the small dining hall, and the strange trees. I was only there a night though, and it was a tense time. My thoughts wandered to how Crispin had been so worried about me, and blaming himself for bringing us there. I started tolose focus and chastised myself, turning my attention to pulling equally from each of the guys.
