Page 58 of The Court of Truth

Fuckers.

“Honestly, though. You should go,” North offers, and I frown.

“I would, but you won’t let me use my magic to speed this up so I’m here until I’m done,” I declare, my voice firm in the hope that he stops arguing with me, and to my surprise… he does.

“Do it.”

Two words, a breath as heavy as a confession, and I frown at him.

“Do what?”

He rolls his eyes at me before waving his hands around. “Whatever it is you want to do with that magic of yours.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, desperate to confirm his words, even though my magic is already tingling at the tips of my fingers, ready to be unleashed.

“Sure? No, definitely not. Intrigued? Absolutely.”

Running my tongue over my bottom lip, I turn, assessing the entire space as my magic continues to thread through my body. Calculating the most central point, I take measured steps until I’m satisfied with my position.

“What is she doing?” North asks, but I don’t bother to answer. Thankfully, Kryll does it for me.

“She’s doing her thing.”

“Which is what, exactly?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. You’re the one who just agreed to let her do it,” Kryll says teasingly, but any response is drowned out by the sound of rubble moving.

Vibrations tremble at my feet as my air magic swirls from my fingertips to the far reaches of the village. My eyelids fall closed, blocking out the world around me as I just let myself… feel.

I sense myself turning on the spot, my magic taking over as the wind picks up around me. I have no idea what I’m actually replicating, but I try my best, connecting with the foundations that lay in place as I piece everything back together, brick by brick.

I have no idea how long I stand here, rearranging the entire village with my eyes closed, but I soon grow tired, my limbs aching as a migraine threatens to cripple my mind.

Attempting to catch my breath, my hands fall back to my sides as I drop to my knees. Breath after breath, I try to turn my short panting wheezes into full puffs, but I’ve drained myself more than I anticipated.

“Addi!” Kryll hollers, his hand on my back a moment later drawing soft circles over my spine, and I pry my eyes open.

“I’m okay, just…” My words fall off, my mind unable to find the right phrase, and my dragon smiles down at me.

“You’re spectacular, Princess. You better fucking know that,” he mumbles, tucking his arm under me and hauling me to my feet. I lean into his side, basking in his warmth and strength for a moment before I manage to stand steady on my own.

Glancing around the town, I don’t recognize where I am. The remnants of the damage that was caused still lingers, but I’m suddenly surrounded by small buildings and a school playground sits in the distance. A swing set blows in the wind, and a sense of pride washes over me.

“I’ve never seen anything like that in my life,” Commander North blurts, approaching slowly as he gapes at the town. “I, well, uh, I, thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’m sorry if something is out of place or I’ve used the wrong materials for anything, my magic just kind of took over and I went with it,” I admit, and he smiles. “And it looks like we might have a few more hands to help with righting anything I may have missed.”

I nod my head to the small gathering of wagons gathered at the edge of town behind him. My heart clenches in my chest at the sight of the handful of people standing in the road with various supplies, nervously glancing around at one another. A vampire with a single horse piled high with clothes, a pair of wolves I don’t recognize pulling a handcart filled with what I can only assume to be food, a lone shifter with a single toolbox in one hand and an ax over his other shoulder, and half a dozen fae, empty handed but clearly prepared to help in any way they can.

It might not look like much, but seeing the origins come together, by choice and not force, to offer assistance to those who have always been seen as the least important? Something inside of me breaks loose and settles in my stomach, warming me in a way I’ve never felt before.

“This is your space, Commander. Whether or not you accept the assistance is your decision to make.

He stares off at them for a few long moments, clearly unsure about what to do, but I see the moment he makes up his mind. His shoulders square and a smile plays at the corner of his mouth before he gently nods his head at them, welcoming the group into his town and, perhaps unknowingly paving the road to a unity I’ve only ever dreamed about.

He watches them for a moment as they unload their burdens and quickly make their way to the nearest soldiers, taking their orders and getting to work, before he turns back to me, his expression all business once again.

“What’s this?” he asks, pointing to a white statue in the middle of the cobbled road.

---