“Bayn. Your wolf. He’s an evolved spirit.”
“And now he’s dead because your spirits drove him into the untamed lands. Do you have any other proof? Anylivingproof?”
“Call back a spirit or two,” Merecot said. “Ask them to tell you their story. Ask them about their lost destiny. Ask about who or what they were supposed to be. In truth, I’m only planning to do what the spirits themselves want.”
Daleina shook her head. “But they—”
“Just listen to them. Please, Daleina. And then give me your answer, whether you want to save the world or...” Merecot trailed off.
“Or?” Daleina prompted.
“Or die, so I can.”
Chapter29
There was a child in the untamed lands.
Notherchild, but as Naelin stared at the space where the ragged child had stood, she felt hope stir within her, so hot and fierce that it felt as if her veins were filled with boiling water. “Ven, was that—”
“Yes, I saw him too.” Ven bounded across the rocks as they undulated beneath his feet, rising and falling in response to an earth spirit burrowing beneath them. Naelin felt it slither past, deep within the ground, a massive bulbous worm with sluggish thoughts of destruction. She called to one of her own spirits, an earth spirit that looked like a horse made of smooth black stone, and climbed onto its back.
Follow the child, she ordered her spirits.Do no harm.
Swarming around her, the spirits changed course. They poured in a river over the rocks and into the crevasses. She rode with them, the horse’s stone hooves striking the backs of other spirits and then they in turn clawing past the horse spirit, a writhing stream of bodies.
“You’ll scare him, Naelin! Hold back!” Ven called.
“You’re the one with the sword!” Naelin called to him. But she reined in her spirits, letting them swirl around her. Absently, she stroked the back of a winged ermine spirit who flew beside her. It hissed through its fangs.Shh, I will stay with you, she soothed the spirits.
She felt their agitation through her bond with them, vibrating like a plucked string, and she blanketed them with calming thoughts. It only partially worked. Her own thoughts were nowhere near calm.If a child could survive here, then maybemychildren could have.
It was common knowledge that no one survived the untamed lands.
But common knowledge could be wrong.
She pushed her mind toward the spirits on the edges of her swarm, watching Ven through their eyes. He climbed over the rocks, batting away an ice spirit that tried to sink its icicle claws into his arm. His mouth was moving—he was calling to the child. Naelin pushed herself deeper into the spirits, listening.
“We swear we won’t hurt you!” Ven called. “Come back! We’re looking for someone! We need help. Please!” He was aware he didn’t present the least-threatening sight, with his green leather armor, scarred and bearded face, sword in his hand, and bow and arrows on his back. He also had spare knives in his boots and an extra in his front pocket. But he had to be less alarming than Naelin, with her spirits.
Frankly, he found her intimidating like this.
Not that he’d admit that.
He scrambled over the rocks, which would not stay still.Gah! This place is a nightmare!As he climbed a boulder, the rocks rumbled again, split, and a spurt of fire shot up from the crevasse. “Naelin, can you do something about this?”
Two ice spirits, laughing, shot past him. He rubbed his ear as the cold stung and watched as they dove into the fiery crevasse, filling it with ice crystals that crinkled and crackled until they solidified into a solid blue sheet. The ice spirits danced beneath the ice, spreading flowerlike patterns from below. Ven jumped off the boulder and, crouching, slid down the new ice river.
“Boy! We need your help! Come back!”
Seeing the end of the ice river, Ven leapt to the side. He held still, listening. The mist coiled and curled around him, and he heard a crack of thunder. Rain began to fall, smacking his cheeks and seeping beneath his armor, soaking his shirt underneath.
Just as suddenly, the rain stopped. Sun beamed down for a moment and then was swallowed.I lost him.Straightening, he turned to trudge back to Naelin.
And there before him was the boy.
Ven did not move. “We’re looking for someone. Two someones, a boy and a girl named Llor and Erian.” He thought about asking about Bayn as well.It’s too much to hope for that he’s survived. Protector of Queens or not.Bayn had been in the untamed lands for far longer than Erian and Llor.Then again... this boy survives here...“Can you help us find them? And a wolf? We call him Bayn.” He kept his voice soft and gentle, sheathed his sword, and spread his hands in front of him to show he meant no harm.
The boy did not speak.
