Page 104 of The Warlock's Trial

The cats led the way down the tunnel. Everyone remained quiet on the way back. I must’ve been walking slowly, because Grant, Talia, and Chloe went on ahead of us.

Nadine nudged me lightly. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Seeing the Abyss got me thinking,” I admitted. “The night of your Evoking Ceremony, Mother Miriam asked you to go to the Abyss for me. She told you later it was a demonstration, didn’t she? To show her where your heart lies. When you told me that, I thought maybe she never intended to send either of us to the Abyss at all, but maybe she had intended to send us there, knowing we wouldn’t be there long. Because the thing is, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway, because we could’ve gotten ourselves out.”

Nadine pressed her lips together thoughtfully. “Do you think we could’ve gotten out at the time? We’ve learned so much since then, about ourselves and how this all works. Could we have learned those lessons in the Abyss?”

“I think so,” I said. “I think that’s why Mother Miriam asked you to take my place—because she knew you’d get out.”

“I think you would’ve, too,” she argued. “It may have taken you time to learn the lessons, but you’re strong, Lucas. You would’ve figured it out.”

Nadine had faith in me I couldn’t always understand, but I was starting to.

The trek didn’t seem so long on the way out, and soon we emerged into daylight. I inhaled a deep breath of fresh air. We climbed the rocky slope of the cave entrance to find our fae allies waiting for us. Verla sat on the back of the wagon, leaning against Professor Warren. Her arm was in a sling, and her skin appeared ashen, but she was alive—thank Alora. A bundle of crushed herbs lay beside her, and Siona looked to be cleaning up from brewing an antidote. Kiara had returned and was helping Siona, but I didn’t see Alexei anywhere.

Verla’s eyes lit up when she saw us, and Warren sat up straighter.

“Did you get the Wands?” Professor Warren asked.

“One of them,” Chloe said.

Verla glanced between us, looking worried. “And the other?”

“Not yet,” I admitted.

“But we need that Wand!” Verla rasped. She tried to sit up, but Professor Warren insisted she lay back down.

“We still have a chance to obtain it,” I said. “We’ll tell you everything once we return home.”

“Wait!” a voice called through the trees, and we turned to find Alexei racing in our direction. He slowed to catch his breath and survey the scene. His somber gaze roamed over Verla, settling on her injured arm. “Thank the gods you’re all alive, though I see you haven’t all made it out unharmed.”

“We ran across the questing beast in the cave, and it harmed Clarice before we injured it and ran off,” Nadine explained. “I suggest your people continue to keep an eye out for the monster, because it’s bound to return to protect its lair.”

I wanted to thank Alexei, Kiara, and Siona for their help, but I knew better than to thank the fae. It was a good way to get yourself into a bad bargain. Instead, I said, “It’s time for us to portal home now.”

“You can’t,” Alexei warned. “That is why I’ve come so quickly—to advise you to heed caution. I have received word that your last portal raised alarms. The enemy monarch knows that there are witches in the country. Her people are looking for you so they can kill you.”

“The one who seized the city of Pruska a few months ago?” Grant asked.

“Yes,” Alexei confirmed. “She’s opposing Ethan and Emma in the revolution, and she’s not kind to our people, let alone to any other supernaturals. Any witches found within her territory are immediately made an example of, and we are farther away from the protection of Dolinska than I would like. Her own army isn’t stationed too far from here. She’s been hanging any witches she finds, and leaving their bodies in the woods as a threat to any witches that might stray into the country.”

“That explains the bodies we ran across earlier,” Chloe mumbled.

“Then we should portal out of here as soon as we can,” I insisted.

“If any one of us make a portal and a witch crosses through, her forces will be alerted, and they’ll be here before all of you can portal out,” Alexei said. “They won’t hesitate. Our enemies are looking to recruit followers, and the rival queen knows the more witches she hangs, the more fae will join her. It’s best we all avoid portals altogether, because they’re already looking for you.”

“How are we getting out of here?” Nadine asked.

The sound of flapping wings came from overhead, and a large shadow passed over us. I looked up to see a group of massive reptiles with large wings descending upon us. Talia screamed, and I grabbed Nadine as we scrambled backward. Branches snapped, and the trees groaned as the creatures landed in the forest around us.

“It’s okay!” Alexei quickly assured us. “They’re windfarers—friendly faekin.”

Only when the creatures landed did I get a good look at them. The windfarers were over a dozen feet tall, with long necks, round heads, and colorful bodies covered in both fur and feathers. Their tails were skinny and long, and their wings appeared delicate and transparent, like those of a butterfly’s. Five of them stood before us, all in different pastel colors.

“I thought faekin were supposed to be small,” Nadine remarked, staring up at the marvelous creatures.

“There are many species of faekin, all related to our kind,” Alexei explained. “The windfarers are friends with the fae, and they will take care of you as well. Take the windfarers to Malovia’s border. You can portal back home once you’re out of the country.”

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