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“Could it be... ill?” Macey asked, still getting used to thinking of this bridge between worlds as sentient.
“Not sure that is the right term, but yes. I think something bad is happening to it.” Cam shot Muahwa an annoyed glance. “And I still think that Malan will be able to help us.”
Go to him if you wish, but I believe you are wasting your time. If you manage to get to him in the first place.
That was true of course. If it hadn’t let them travel to Earth earlier... wait a moment.
“We’re on Earth now, right?” she asked, the wheels in her head turning.
Yes. We’re on the Earthen Plane.
She ignored the weird way Muahwa described her home and turned to the guys.
“Flint, you said the Staran didn’t let us travel to Earth, but they did. Just not to the destination you had in mind. So it’s not completely broken. Maybe it knew we were needed here. Maybe it wanted us to meet the na fir ghorma. If it’s sentient, then it knows something that we don’t. Maybe it’s trying to send us a message. Maybe it wants us to investigate the Sìth just like Muahwa says.”
“Or maybe it just wanted us to see how other races are affected,” Cam pondered. “I bet that when we next travel on the Staran, they will bring us to where we need to be and not where we want to go.”
“Goodbye waffles,” Jared sighed and inside, Macey did the same. The food at the feast had not been satisfactory in the least. She could do with some sugary, fatty goodness. Like waffles. Or something fried. The Scots loved to fry their food, even sweets. Deep-fried Mars bars... heavenly.
But she was itching to find out if Cam’s theory was correct. Not knowing where you’d end up was exciting, in a way. Also a little scary, but as long as she wasn’t travelling alone it should be fine. If she’d had her powers, it would be different, but without them, she was as helpless as a human.
“Maybe we could stop at my father’s palace to get my powers unlocked?” she said to nobody in particular.
I think I can help with that.
She looked at Muahwa in surprise. So far, she hadn’t seen any of the na fir ghorma display magical abilities. With the exception of them talking in their heads, if that counted as magic.
He laughed at her surprised expression.
Not me personally, but our fearsaidh, our tribe’s wise man. He will know what to do.
“Then let’s go to him. I want to leave as soon as possible.” Macey noticed how impolite that sounded. “To find help for you, of course. Your hospitality has been much appreciated.”
The fearsaidh was the ugliest storm kelpie she’d seen to date. His scales looked grey and brittle as if they’d fall off any second. Half of his teeth were missing and the others were yellowed with age. His eyes were milky white and Macey assumed that he was blind.
Welcome, daughter of the lake. Welcome, men of the wind, fire and earth.
“Pleased to meet you,” Macey replied, proud of her diplomatic training. She didn’t think her expression gave away the slight disgust she felt for the old man’s appearance. “Muahwa says you can help me with my magic? My father locked it but I have need of it now.” She skipped the small talk this time. She’d had enough of that. All she wanted was her powers back so that they could leave this strange place and people. She loved being underwater, but she preferred to actually be in the water. This weird in-between state was giving her the creeps.
Your father had good reason to lock them. For some reason, you are stronger on earth than you are on the water. You could have unknowingly destroyed yourself and others, had you tried to use it. But now things have changed. You are no longer alone. You are part of the Seven, and with each Warden you bind to, your powers will become more controlled. Stronger, too.
“Wait a second. I need to bind to the other Wardens to get my powers back? What does that mean?”
You should know. You’re already bound to one.
Waves. The strange tattoo. Did she unknowingly bind herself to Jared? To an incubus?
Fuck.
12
She couldn’t believe she was about to go through the Staran again. To feel the nothingness. But this was the only way they had to get to Malan apparently. She felt the waves singing in her blood, a sure sign that the fearsaidh was right, her magic had already started unlocking. All she needed to do to finish unlocking it was to bind with the other Wardens. Well, that wasn’t happening. Not if her life depended on it. But even so, she was pleased that she knew it was possible to get access to her powers again. It made her feel a lot more in control of herself.
“I still say we should stop off and get some waffles,” Jared murmured under his breath. Macey threw him a dirty look over her shoulder. And not the kind of dirty look he’d want either. No. He lost the right to any of those the moment he claimed her and made a fucking tattoo appear on her back. Sure, he claimed he had no idea how it happened, but somehow, she didn’t believe him. Or didn’t want to believe him. If she did, she’d likely have to accept the stupid Warden thing too. And she wasn’t prepared to do that yet. Not until she’d heard it from Flint’s prophet.
“We don’t have time to stop for waffles,” Cam reasoned. She was surprised by how calm he sounded, and not at all like they were responsible for some serious saving. Actually, she kind of liked how assured he was. There was no doubt he’d do what needed to be done. There was something about the voice that heated her up in places she really shouldn’t be thinking about right now.
“Maybe Malan will have some,” Jared added. Macey rolled her eyes, thankful that none of them could see her from where they were stood behind.
