AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Just—why?” I shake my head. “I feel like I’m still drowning in boiling water, waiting for the blisters to appear… But the only thing that keeps appearing is new information. It’s difficult to be stunned by any news now.”
“Spiran didn’t explain this when you spoke to her?”
“Not in so many words, no.”
Isolde sighs. “That’s why you’re so much more powerful than the rest of us. You and Madigan. The other two women that came to replace the Howler and Dweller queens… I don’t know if they’re aware of this yet, but I know your friend isn’t.”
“Huh. That might have stunned me,” I mumble, then distract myself before I can think through the panic. “Madigan doesn’t know she’s a goddess? What do you want me to do? Tell her?”
“That’s not your job,” she tells me with a grin. “I want you to train, Ada. You must master control of your element before you come face-to-face with Nesta. We don’t have your level of power, but we have so much more experience wielding our elements. That means you must become so attuned with your elemental power that you can pull water from the very fire she throws at you.”
I nod, though her request feels as impossible as moving mountains. But maybe it’s not… There’s water in the earth and the air. Heat creates moisture, so there’s bound to be water somewhere. I shelve it for now because I have more important questions flooding my mind.
“What about Poko?”
She waves her hand to bat my concern away. “Don’t worry about Poko. You’re not in any sort of trouble for defending yourself. I’ll address his death with the village. They don’t need to know all the details, and neither do I. Talodus explained enough.”
“Okay,” I drawl. “What happened to my power earlier? I don’t understand what hold I had over anyone, and I don’t want to accidentally—”
“You won’t,” she cuts in. “Everyone who has control of an element can do that to an extent. The weaker your connection, the weaker your hold. That creates a hierarchy, allowing those with control to show they aren’t the people to mess with. It’s similar to bugs.”
“What?”
Isolde tilts her head, and her lips purse as she squints at me. “You know… How some bugs are brightly colored to warn predators away? They’re still like that on Earth, yes?”
“That’s not at all similar,” I inform her. “We’re not warning predators away.”
“No, but it does help keep the peace,” she admits. “When my authority is being challenged, I can flex my connection to water, showing I’m more powerful, more connected, than the one opposing me.”
I snort. “So it’s a pissing contest.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Sorry, Earth thing. What you’re saying is I flexed—”
“So much power I couldn’t move from my position,” she finishes for me. “Neither could Ecaeris. I’m actually surprised Talodus moved at all.”
“Why is that surprising?” I blurt. “Out of everything that’s happened today, why that?”
Isolde wobbles her head, searching for the right words. “He dropped to one knee, Ada. That, to me, shows how much he respects your power and your judgment. I believe Ecaeris would have knelt as well if he hadn’t been so shocked. I keep telling him he’s not paying enough attention; that was the moment he realized I was right.”
I frown, feeling sea sick over my interpretation of her statement. “I don’t want them kneeling before me, Isolde. Respect is one thing, but I’d rather earn it. Especially from someone I’m supposed to be in a relationship with.”
“This is a different respect,” she corrects. “It’s not respect for your feelings shown to you by your lover; it’s the people sensing your power is not to be toyed with. You’re in two positions of importance, and occasionally, you will have to remind them of that. Even your lovers. Because to have them show you disrespect in front of others is to welcome challenges from people who think they can do your job better than you can.”
“They challenge you?” I quietly inquire.
Isolde tucks her arm in mine, steering us out of the throne room. “Not anymore, sweet girl. They know what I’m capable of now. That’s why the few who stray do so in the dark.”
ADELAIDE
DAY FIFTY
More than an hour has passed since Isolde left me alone in her sewing room. And though we didn’t speak while we worked on our projects, the room was as loud as thunder clapping in my ears.
My mind still whirls a mile a minute with no signs of slowing down, no matter how busy I keep my hands.
Today, Isolde answered my questions.
