Page 37 of Lady of Ashes

“I know that,” Talwyn snapped before collecting herself once more. “I know you are not a Seer, but you are knowledgeable. And I need that knowledge to build the best defenses against Avonleya.”

“I already told you the winds no longer speak of there,” Ashtine replied. “Likely because they know of your plans.”

“Are you saying the winds side with Avonleya?”

“I am saying the winds answer to what lies within Avonleya, and you plotting against them is not wise,”Ashtine replied.

Talwyn stepped back as if Ashtine had hit her. “This is what we have been working towards from the beginning, since I took the throne. Since we were children. Are you saying you will no longer aid me in getting revenge against the people who led to our parents being slaughtered?”

“I am saying things may not be as we remember them,” Ashtine returned.

“As werememberthem?” Talwyn spat. “I do notrememberthem,Ashtine. I was barely walking when my mother went to ?ght Esmeray. You were not even a month out of your mother’s womb when your own parents were—”

“Enough, Talwyn.” Ashtine’s voice was a vicious whisper. “You asked of my knowledge of Avonleya, and I have told you what I know.”

“You have told me nothing,” Talwyn hissed.

Ashtine’s eyes narrowed, her lips tilting up slightly. “I suggest going to see Stellan, your Majesty,” she said coldly, stepping back from her.

“You will tell me what you know, Ashtine,” Talwyn retorted.

Ashtine shook her head slightly. “I cannot aid you in this any more, Talwyn. It is no longer the best path.”

“That is not your decision to make,” Talwyn said, stepping toward her once more.

Nasima let out a cry, ?apping from Ashtine’s shoulder to circle around her, the wind picking up with each beat of her wings.

“I cannot be separated from the winds, Talwyn,” Ashtine replied, her tone almost desperate. “I cannot go against them.”

“No, Ashtine. You cannot go againstme,” Talwyn countered, the earth stirring beneath her feet.

Ashtine’s eyes widened. Nasima let out another cry, disappearing in a ?ash of light, as a vortex of wind appeared at Ashtine’s ?ngertips. “This is why you are alone, Talwyn,” she said softly.

Talwyn scoffed. “I am alone because the Fates stopped giving a fuck long ago.”

“That is not true,” Ashtine replied, shaking her head. “The Fates set things in motion, but they cannot interfere once it is done.”

“This is not done until Avonleya has paid for the lives they stole from us,” Talwyn cried. “If it were not for them, I would not be alone.”

“This is bigger than you and your revenge, Talwyn,” Ashtine replied. “You must understand that.”

“Myrevenge? Not a month ago, this was our revenge.”

The wolves had scattered at the earth magic that Talwyn was struggling to keep under control. Yet Ashtine stood before her, perfectly composed, watching her carefully.

“You have nothing to say to that?” Talwyn demanded.

“Much changed when you sent the Fire Prince to ?nd his twin?ame,” she ?nally answered, her feet coming off the path as she used her wind magic to lift herself from the shuttering ground. “In a way, Talwyn,youset this in motion.”

Wind gusts radiated from Talwyn as she lost control completely. The magic was sucked into Ashtine’s vortex, now swirling violently above her palm, reaching to the sky. She had risen higher, hovering several feet off the ground.

Before Talwyn could say anything else on the matter, a water portal appeared, the Water Prince stepping through with Nasima on his shoulder.

“What are you doing here uninvited?” Talwyn demanded.

“Nasima went for him,” Ashtine replied from the air, her hair whipping out around her while she continued to work to contain the winds Talwyn had unleashed.

“Why would she do that?” Talwyn sneered.

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