Page 68 of Lady for Embers

Ashtine whipped her head to her, a gust of wind blasting sand against their legs. “No,” she answered shortly. “They have not spoken to my soul since Nasima left me.”

“Abrax comes to you, but not Nasima?”

“Abrax comes to me for various reasons,” Ashtine replied, her lilt returning and her gaze going back to the sea. “He came todeliver a message. He stays to protect what his bonded cherishes without his knowledge.”

“You continue to communicate with them,” Talwyn said.

“No. Not since the invasion of the Courts.”

“Did anyone else... ” Talwyn ground her molars together, trying to ?gure out the best way to word her question. Because Azrael was with them, and she had to know. “Was Nakoa the only loss?”

“Many died in that battle,” Ashtine replied.

“Any Royals?” she ground out.

“Are their lives more important than the others who travel with them?”

Again with these damn questions.

“No, but... ” She sighed heavily. “Briar is well? Azrael?”

“The princes live,” Ashtine answered, and Talwyn sucked down a breath, her chest expanding some at knowing Azrael was still on this side of the Veil.

“Ashtine, I need to access the Underwater Prison,” she said, turning to fully face the princess.

“You need the water element to gain entry to the prison.” Ashtine didn’t look at her though, continuing to stare out across the sea.

“I am aware.”

“You need Water Royalty,” Ashtine continued as if Talwyn had not spoken.

“I know I need Briar, but I am hoping that since you are currently ruling in his stead, you will be able to access it,” Talwyn said, knowing Ashtine heard the hint of desperation that made her voice falter slightly.

The princess turned to look at her again, studying Talwyn for a long moment before she said, “Briar has not died nor has he abdicated his throne, therefore only he or his royal line can access the prison for you.”

“I know this,” Talwyn insisted. “Can you at least try?”

“What do you seek there?”

“That is not information I wish to burden you with.”

Ashtine seemed to look straight into her soul, her eyes narrowing slightly. It took everything in Talwyn not to shift under that gaze. Finally, Ashtine turned and used her wind gifts to lift herself gracefully onto Abrax’s back, her gown bunching around her thighs.

“Ashtine, what are you doing?” Talwyn asked, shock rippling through her at the princess so casually mounting a spirit animal.

“I will not help you get into the prison until you tell me why,” Ashtine said, Abrax moving towards the water.

Talwyn’s hand shot out, latching onto Ashtine’s ankle. Abrax immediately stopped, a hoof stomping in warning. “You know of another way in?”

“No. I told you who is required to gain entry to the prison.” “You did, but Briar is across the sea.”

“And his bloodline is not.”

Talwyn’s hand slipped from Ashtine’s ankle at her words as Abrax moved towards the sea again. His hooves stayed on the surface of the water, and she could only watch as the horse went from a walk to a run atop the waves. Taking the Wind Princess and the Heir of the Water Court with him.

She should have known. She should have seen the changes in Ashtine. She should have scented it on her the moment she’d stepped onto that beach.

Yes, water magic often smelled like the sea, so one could argue that the oversight was understandable, but she knew that wasn’t it.

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