Page 242 of The War and Deceit Series omnibus

Voices mix as my mates object, but I turn to them with pleading eyes. I need them to support me in this. I know what I’m asking of them and how hard this will be—the idea of them marching into battle without me tears at my heart—but if I can do this, Iknowthis will help us. Meeting their eyes, I can tell they’re torn. Grayson seems to be struggling the most, and I know that’s because he’s needed to lead one of the groups of mages. Eldrin and Tor also have their own groups to lead, but the former doesn’t seem to care. I know Eldrin would find a replacement and come with me in a heartbeat, his protective fae instincts not allowing him to let me go alone. Vaeril seems to sense this, his own instincts screaming the same.

“At least take one of us,” Vaeril suggests. “I’m not leading a group. Someone needs to protect you in case anything happens. I can also run you back if it doesn’t work so we get there in time.”

Could that work? Can I deprive the army of a capable fighter to help me in my task?If all goes to plan, you will meet back with the army outside of Galandell before the fighting begins,I remind myself, going over the plan in my mind. His comment does make sense, and I won’t deny that knowing he will be there in case anything goes wrong does help ease some of the panic that is wrapped around my chest. Biting my lip with indecision, I glance at the others, sensing their discomfort over the situation. Vaeril coming with me will help soothe all of us. Finally, I nod in agreement, seeing the relief in their expressions before turning to face the chiefs once more.

“You mark my words, she’s abandoning us to die,” Ragnar snarls before storming off towards his tribe, which is waiting in a huddled group.

Silence follows his prediction, and I sigh in frustration, rubbing a hand over my face, trying to ease some of the tension that’s built up there. Hearing footsteps approaching me, I open my eyes and lower my hand to see my aunt wearing a concerned expression.

“I ask this as your relative, not your chief—do you have to do this?” Revna asks, her voice low, keeping the conversation between us. Despite our disagreement and the slight rift between us, she still cares for me. She’s already done her job as high chief, but now she’s asking out of concern for me as her niece. It means a lot, and I wish I knew how to express that to her.

Instead, I give her a tiny smile and nod my head firmly. Now is not the time for hugs and declarations of love. Sighing as if hoping I might change my mind, she nods sadly and turns back to address the others.

“Are we in agreement?” Reluctantly, the chiefs, high mages, and speakers agree. “Then we continue to Galandell. Clarissa and Vaeril will do what they need to and meet us there.”

She immediately walks away, not meeting my gaze as everyone else breaks away into their groups and prepares to move on. Wincing, I rub my chest to rid myself of the sting at her blatant attempt to evade my attention. I know she’s disappointed that I’m leaving, but surely she doesn’t think I’m abandoning them? Why would she let me do it if she doesn’t think I’d come back? Doubt plagues me.

Turning to my mates, I automatically touch my left wrist as I trace my goddess mark, my nervous habit. “Am I doing the right thing?” Vaeril reaches out and pulls me into his chest as the others place their hands on me, grounding me.

“Excuse me, beloved?”

Pulling from Vaeril’s arms, I turn to face the voice and find Speaker Beck, the sea elf representative, standing nearby. “Sorry to intrude, but is it true you have a wayfinder?” At my surprised look, he chuckles and takes a step closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “We don’t give them to many, so the news travelled quickly within the sea elves. May I see it?”

Smiling at his tone, I dip my head in acknowledgment. “Of course.” Honestly, I hadn’t thought much about the gift since I got it, and I had only used it once when I was lost in this forest. I hadn’t understood it then and had packed it away for safe keeping.

Walking over to one of the wagons where I stored my pack, I fish out the wayfinder and gently unwrap it. As soon as the smooth wood touches my hands, the dials and arrows start to move. Cradling it, I carefully make my way over to the speaker and hold it out for him, but he smiles and shakes his head.

“It’s spelled. It will only work when you’re holding it, beloved.” His explanation makes sense, but that doesn’t help if I can’t use it.

Looking up from the dials, I raise my eyebrows. “But I don’t know how to use it.”

Chuckling again, he points at the symbols on the edge of the wayfinder. “We use them to navigate. The symbols all have meanings, but the true magic is behind the intention of the user.” He moves to stand just behind me, placing his hands on my arms as he directs me, lifting them up. “You want to know if you’re making the right decision. If you should go with the army to Galandell.” He gestures to the left, and I notice one of the arrows circles, reaches that point, pauses, and then does another circle of the device. “Or if you should leave to fulfil your bargain.” He gestures to the right, the second arrow doing the same. “Ask the wayfinder, and it will show you the way.”

He releases my arms and comes to stand in front of me, smiling softly. Awed, I meet his gaze as I realise the value of the gift they’ve given me. If this can truly do what he says…

With butterflies in my chest, I raise the wayfinder to my lips. “Please, show me what’s the right thing to do,” I plead in a whisper, and watch as the arrows both do two full circles of the dial. They slow, and both arrows hover over the symbol pointing to the right. For a second, I think they’re going to move on, but they merely pulse, then freeze.

I was right.

Hope blooms in my chest now that I know we’re doing the right thing, and as I turn to Vaeril, he must see something on my face, because his eyes soften.

He cups my cheek. “When do we leave?”

My steps falter as a wave of darkness rolls over me, threatening to drag me down. Vaeril grabs me just in time and steadies me, stopping my fall. Pulling me against his chest, he lets me rest, and I use the opportunity to catch my breath. We’ve been running since we left the army, and while I’m not as fast as a full-blooded elf, I’m faster than the average human. We’ve covered a huge distance in a matter of hours, and we are out of the forest and on the flatlands now, but it’s starting to take its toll on my half-human body.

Nausea rolls through me as another wave of the dark magic hits me. My back protests, and my scar twinges, reminding me I’m not back to normal yet. Taking deep breaths, I try to breathe through it until the sickness and pain passes. Thankfully, it seems to pass relatively quickly, and I pull away from Vaeril, pushing back the stray strands of hair that have escaped my braids. “Did you feel that?”

He nods, his brow pulled into a severe frown. The closer we get to Galandell, the worse it gets. Whatever the queen isplanning, she’s gathering a huge amount of power, and it fills me with dread.

Knowing we don’t have any time to waste, I start moving again. Although we’re on the ‘flatlands,’ we’re currently at the edge, jogging up a hill to reach the plains. Once there, we make our way to the river. We’re almost at the top, and I’m looking forward to being on flat ground that’s not covered in tree roots we constantly have to navigate.

Vaeril reaches the peak first, freezing in place. Frowning, I hurry to his side, fearing something has happened to him. “Vaeril…?” I trail off when I see what’s struck him dumb.

The plains run as far as the eye can see, the great river splitting the land looking like a silver, shimmering snake. To the right, towards Arhaven, the grass is lush and green. However, to the left, everything is black, like the life has been drained from it. Veins of darkness crawl across the land, much like the scar on my back. Everything the darkness has touched is dead, much like the flowers the queen had caressed in the gardens of Galandell when she was warning me. I knew back then her powers were deadly, but this is something different altogether. Is this the price of her magic?

“We have to stop her,” I whisper, horrified by what I’m seeing, the destruction one being could cause.

“And we will.” Threading his fingers through mine, he squeezes.

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