Page 45 of A War of Ruin and Reckoning

A single, tiny lantern lazily drifted upward. It seemed to come from over the Lodge’s roof. Perhaps tonight’s ceremony for the wake was in that direction. Didn’t Storm say they could attend some of the rituals?

Making a split decision, Nova found a woolen cape and tossed it around her shoulders. Her clothing was more for indoors, and the booties she’d been wearing around the room were simple and unsuitable for snow, but the thought of staying locked in this room while Leaf was out there, potentially scratching his itches, made her feel ill.

“Don’t wait up,” she said to the sprites.

As Nova walked through the wide hallways of the Lodge, she noticed small architectural details that accommodated creatures with wings. Things like wide doors, and windows that led to balconies from which one could take flight. The seats rarely had high backrests. She supposed they would constrict.

Outside the Lodge, an enormous, pale, glowing tree dwarfed the circular wood-and-stone village at its epicenter. By enormous, she meant skyscraper height. Wow. Her jaw dropped. She almost got a crick in her neck from craning to look up. Maybe it was even the height of the Empire State Building. Okay, maybe not that high, but it felt like it from where she stood. The bark was pale, almost white, and branches supported drooping foliage that belonged on a Weeping Willow, except for the part where tiny turquoise leaves glowed and lazily drifted like anemones in water. The thick boughs provided a canopy over much of the ground buildings, and when she squinted, she noticed the limbs also functioned as rooms. The tree was a village in its own right—or a bustling community center.

Many owl shifters and other fae traveled between the tree by wing or via walkways radiating from the trunk like spokes on a wheel. Situated at three levels up, these platforms led to another walkway surrounding the circular village’s boundary. Guards patrolled that one like a battlement, but Nova wasn’t sure what they were watching for. As far as Leaf had suggested, this place was remote and rarely visited by outsiders.

Some pale branches were so thick she thought you could easily drive two vehicles across them. Beneath the tree, the market was closed. Most tents, huts, and carts had been cleared. A few straggling merchants tidied up the last of their wares.

Her eyes widened at the thought of a little exploration. This was the perfect—

A wing bumped her as a shifter hurried past and flew up to where more gathered on a bough. Soon, her path forward was filled with fae, and she became caught in the wave as they traveled. It took a concerted effort to extricate herself from the flow and stand back to watch them all wait for an opening to fly up into the tree where more lanterns were lit.

“The view is better from up there,” a deep voice said beside her.

Nova glanced to her right, surprised to see Storm. This evening, he wasn’t dressed in the white leather battle uniform. His fitted cream shirt was unlaced at the collar, revealing a smooth, muscular chest. His gray trousers were also fitted. She had to admire the fashion, as it accentuated his lithe, athletic body. His feet were bare. Interesting.

Her wide eyes darted back up to his amused gray gaze. Those long white lashes were so striking against his dusky skin.

“We don’t feel the cold as other fae do,” he explained.

“I didn’t mean to stare.”

His eyes crinkled. “Your curiosity is understandable. Outsiders are uncommon here, so I’m sure you have questions. Nova, is it?”

She smiled and nodded. “And your name is Storm, right?”

“Yes. It is good to see you looking well.”

“It’s good to see you out of uniform.” At his flirtatious smirk, a wave of embarrassment washed over her. “I mean… not working. Relaxing. It’s good to see you’re not always working.”

He glanced about. “Where is your mate?”

“He’s… running an errand.”

His brows flicked up. “He left you alone on this glorious night to fumble through foreign customs? Please, if you have questions, it’s my pleasure to answer.”

“Forgive me if this is rude, but are the lanterns part of the wake?”

“Yes. It’s called The Offering of Light. The ritual signifies the beginning of the soul’s journey back to the eternal Well.”

“Like manabeeze.” She smiled, remembering how little balls of energy popped at the time of death and floated into the sky.

“Precisely.”

Nova watched avidly, loving how this community smiled as they worked. It was nice to see them coming together to celebrate life, and in a way that respected nature… or did it? What went up must come down. “What happens to the lanterns afterward? Does someone clean them up?”

She certainly hoped so. Balloons and other waste from human recreational activities were a huge problem in the ocean. Storm gave her a quizzical look and said, “I don’t think anyone has ever asked me that.”

A blush heated her cheeks. That was a stupid thing to say, but she guessed old habits died hard.

“My job used to revolve around the environment,” she explained.

“Right. Well, the paper lanterns disintegrate at a certain height. No waste. I could take you up to watch the release?”

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