Page 52 of Ties of Death

That sounds fitting. “Daenn will be pleased to see you.”

Eskil’s brow pulls together. “What happened? How long have I been out?”

“I happened. And then a lot of time passed. And then I fixed it.” I wave a hand toward Healer Annika. “She can fill you inon the details. I’ve others to tend to.” I stand but pause before turning away. “I’m glad you’re all right, my friend.”

He must notice the depth of relief in my voice, because he studies me. No surprise; it’s a stark difference from how I acted before he fell under our magic, which felt like moments ago to him. “Thank you, Emana.”

I nod, but then I’m moving. I can’t stand here all day. I’ve figured out how to fix the chaos I wrought, and I won’t leave until I’ve woken up every single person I can.

It takes me most of the day. Sigrid is summoned at some point, and she hovers, shooing away anyone else who tries to linger and watch me. But she lets me work, so I ignore her and continue my delving to wake the comatose clansfolk. I pause briefly for water, but I can’t eat, despite Sigrid’s cajoling that I need my strength.

Pulling my magic away from these minds feels a great deal like eating too much at a feast. My entire being, soul and body, is heavy and bloated, the magic weighing down my limbs the longer I go. It’s a strange sensation, because I get the sense I won’t be able to use this magic. It’sbeenused. It just doesn’t have anywhere to go. I can only hope it will dissipate on its own. If it doesn’t, I’ll have to figure out somewhere to put it that won’t hurt anyone else.

But first, I wake the sleeping.

When I pull back from the final person, I struggle to open my eyes. I feel unsteady, in body and mind, and it takes me a moment to register the murmuring behind me.

A small crowd has gathered despite Sigrid’s best efforts. I was vaguely aware of others coming into the infirmary,because when I began on the South Peak clansmen, Sigrid sent for guards to escort them to holding cells. But it’s more than just warriors who crowd near the doorway. Healers, servants, a mother and her children. They all watch me like I’m a goddess—with awe and maybe a touch of wariness.

I rise to my feet, but a wave of dizziness washes over me. I sway, struggling to stay upright. This seems to help humanize me again—the wariness is replaced with concern amongst my watchers.

Sigrid bustles to my side and steadies me.

“You need rest.” It’s a command, not an observation.

I’m more than happy to oblige her. She shoos everyone out of our path. I avoid their eyes as we pass. I don’t like how awestruck they all are. All I did was fix my mistake.

The longer we walk, the better I feel. My head clears, and slowly, even the heaviness from the overflow of magic I’ve pulled into myself starts to recede. Not leave, but it’s no longer crowding my every breath.

“Where’s Daenn?” Eskil managed to escape from Healer Annika’s clutches sometime while I worked, so I assumed he went straight to find Daenn, but Daenn never came to the infirmary himself. I’ve been carefully ignoring that. It doesn’t matter that I haven’t seen him. I can sense him over our bond, faintly, though it’s hard to find him amongst the deluge I’ve dragged into myself—but it’s enough to know he’s alive, and that’s good enough for me at the moment.

Sigrid clucks. “He’s been tending to matters of state. Some of the elders of South Peak flew in around midday.”

Ah. I imagine explaining why all their clansmen were imprisoned was an adventure, if the elders did not already tie their loyalties to Viggo like his men did. Thinking about the political tangle of that situation makes my head spin again.

We reach Daenn’s and my quarters, and I brace myself against the doorframe.

“Do you need anything, dearest?”

“I think I could use some supper after all,” I admit.

Sigrid’s eyes gleam smugly. “Of course you do. I’ll fetch you something right now.”

“Thank you, Sigrid.”

She pats my arm before she turns with purpose in the direction of the kitchens. I let my head rest against the cool stone. I’ll have to brave crossing the room alone. I think I can make it, but one more moment to steady myself can’t hurt.

But maybe Daenn has already retired for the day. If he’s here, I’m certain he’ll help. He’d be warm and steady. I let myself imagine how his arm around my waist would feel, and longing lights in my core.

I fixed the comatose clansfolk today. I haven’t given voice to the thought, but it’s growing with every breath. If I ask him to take off the bracers, would he do it?

They served their purpose—I suspect it’s only because of how they pulled our magics apart that allowed me to wake everyone, because it was my magic that I was controlling to do so. Not our combined magics, butmine. That wouldn’t have been possible without the bracers separating them.

But he doesn’t need to get rid of his magic entirely if I can wield mine to undo the effects of it when it’s blended with mine. We can control it. If our magics end up blending too much for me to use mine alone again, he can just wear the bracers for a short time, long enough to separate our magics again. They can be a tool, but not one Daenn has to use for so very long. His original instinct to find me had been right. No more of our people have to die.

The truth of it grows in me, unfurling into a brilliant ray of hope. If I stay with him, he will be free of the cursed life he’s been burdened by for years. He doesn’t have to struggle alone any longer.

If I stay…

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