Page 62 of The Goddesses' Gifts

“That’s the thing, I’ve never seen anything like it before.” Imryll shrugged and looked at her mate.

“Nor have I. Thankfully it wasn’t much larger than a hunting dog.” Tamnaeth shook his head and set down his fork. “It’s possible the creature was driven from the northern continent. No one person knows all the wild beasts that dwell there.”

“It was feline in nature if its movement was any indication.” Imryll frowned. “No doubt the first of many strange beasts you’ll see.”

“But Imryll and Ozanna are excellent archers.” Tamnaeth smiled down at Imryll, obviously proud of her. “Their arrows struck true and hard.” Then he frowned and turned toward the nearby window. I followed his gaze and felt a tiny tug in that direction as well.

“Excuse me for a moment.” Tamnaeth stood up from the table and walked over to the window. He opened it and allowed a large white butterfly into the room. It circled around him until he held out his hand, palm up. The butterfly landed there and relaxed. Tamnaeth breathed across its wings, and it unfolded into a letter.

“The Elders council?” Imryll’s brows knitted together and she clutched her napkin in a fist.

Tamnaeth nodded with a heavy sigh as he returned to the table. He undid the wax seal then sat and read.

I felt the air in the room grow heavier the farther he read down the page. His frown deepened when he looked up from the letter. “They’re having to evacuate parts of the woodlands. They’re overrun with wild, lesser fae. The northernmost region has been flattened by the high fae.”

Imryll’s face fell.

I couldn’t fathom what kind of beings could destroy an entire portion of forest where the trees so strong and old that they’ve existed for thousands of years. Trees so large they could carry the weight of an entire community in its branches. That the damage to the forest and its occupants was entirely collateral left a chilly pit in my stomach.

“How many regions are there?” Nicolas asked.

“Five,” Imryll said, her voice low and eyes distant.

“They’re starting to evacuate the people living near the fallen border.” Tamnaeth reached out and took Imryll’s hand.

“It sounds as though I need to pressure my brother to visit sooner than he’s planning.” Nicolas nodded. “Can you send messages as one of our mages would? We don’t have one currently.”

“Of course, your grace,” Tamnaeth agreed absently. He stared down solemnly at the letter.

Nicolas cocked his head in thought then looked at the elder elf. “Master Pernala. Would you be interested in filling the position of mage permanently?”

Tamnaeth looked at Nicolas with furrowed brows.

“Hear me out, please.” Nicolas put his hands down on the table in front of him. “It doesn’t sound as though things are going well for your people. I do not know if your personal home is in jeopardy, but if it were, we’d be happy to offer you a home and position here. A salary as well.”

Tamnaeth tipped his head in thanks. “It is a tempting offer, but I have a duty to my people back home.”

Nicolas nodded and rubbed his stubbled jaw while he thought. “Perhaps you could still serve them. You could act as an ambassador. I did not want to bring this up before speaking with my King, but if your people are driven out of their lands, where would they go? Would establishing a haven here provide them with at least a sense of hope?”

Tamnaeth stared down at the letter again and sighed. “What you propose makes sense, your Grace. I must speak to my contemporaries about this, as well as you do your king.” He folded the letter and placed it in the pocket of his robes.

“I also need a magic tutor.” I suggested, all but certain the old elf would take our offer. Surely they’d want to be near their grandchildren more than anything else me and Nicolas could dangle before them. I looked back and forth between my guests.

Tamnaeth’s eyebrows climbed up his forehead in astonishment. “I’m afraid the powers of a demi-god are well beyond me.” He paused, though, and eyed me thoughtfully. “Lhoris says he has given you much helpful instruction without skill of his own.”

“Yes, he has,” I confirmed. “He kept me on the right track up to my Becoming.”

He pursed his lips and nodded. “I suppose it's possible I could help you. Mortals aren’t often given power like that without purpose,” he muttered the last.

I exchanged glances with Nicolas.

“I don’t know what my purpose is,” I shook my head. Of course, the whisper was silent then.

“It will likely reveal itself in due time.” Tamnaeth gave me a reassuring smile.

“I’d need you to live in the chateau for your duties, but if you do manage to instruct Emma, you needn’t take on all the work yourself. In fact, you might only have to be the face of magic here if she comes to understand her capabilities.” Nicolas reached over and took my hand, giving it an affectionate squeeze. “I refuse to expose her talents beyond what’s already common knowledge. But my visions tell me she’s capable of much more.”

I lowered my eyes, cleared my throat, and poked at the fish on my plate with a fork. “I have a suspicion that if I don’t come to understand how magic works for me, I might end up bending reality to the point it would … break.” I looked up when Nicolas’ fork clattered against his plate to meet the wide eyes of my husband and guests. I sighed. “Besides, you’d be here for your grandchild.”

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