Page 12 of Of Withering Dreams
As we exited the trees, my hands came together to make a steeple in front of my lips. I wasn’t sure if I was praying or holding in another breath. The aqua-colored water appeared again, hugging the mossy land of the grove. However, this water was flowing, a broad river moving steadily. More of the enchanting, iridescent fish glided through the depths.
In the distance, our glassy footpath met three others, rooting into the edge of an overhang. They reminded me of dribbled lines of honey floating upon the water, the currents licking at their borders. The river vanished over the precipice, rushing around the edges of the burnished glass. At the brink, the four glass walkways melded together to form an enormous bridge, sinuous silver creating delicate guardrails on either side.
My examination followed the trails, curious about where they led. A wide field of grass met my perusal. A dense forest bordered the sprawling field, packed with domed, sunset-colored trees and splashes of vibrant but unfamiliar flora. Several long buildings stretched along the edge of the field, adjacent to the wooded expanse.
“That’s the mainland, with the barracks and training field. Beyond that is an expansive stretch of woodlands—the Reverie Weald,” Gavrel mentioned, noting where my line of sight had strayed.
Several people were milling about, working in a large garden, and sparring with weapons. Among them, a few auras sporadically flickered into view one moment and then disappeared the next like flames in the wind.
“Can you see their auras?” I asked.
“Not unless someone is using ember.”
“I keep seeing them, even when they aren’t. It started a while ago, back home. I’d see flashes of Kaden’s aura but didn’t realize it then. I … I think something is wrong with me.”
His lips pressed together as he shook his head, eyes softening. “On the contrary, it seems like a very useful ability. The Druiks I’ve met can’t do that. Perhaps it has something to do with your gift. Only time will tell.”
I nodded once, my attention drawn to a young woman throwing a ball back and forth with some children. A small child with unruly hair bent to catch the rolling ball, but it escaped through his fingers, bowling toward the edge of the field. The child wobbled after the tricky ball. His little feet were surprisingly swift but not quick enough as the plaything zipped under the wooden post-and-rail fence that skirted the edge of a sweeping bluff. The woman scooped up the toddler as he reached his arms out toward the steep precipice, crying for his lost toy.
My brows scrunched downward. “Gav, what happens to children in the Stygian Murk?” I asked him, my voice thick with unease.
He rested a warm palm on my shoulder, turning to me. “Fortunately, the younger you are, the closer you materialize near the portal. Those under twenty-one do not stay in limbo long. Very young children are maybe inside for a moment; older children usually no longer than fifteen minutes. The shades aren’t drawn to those without ember.” I bobbed my head in understanding, the pressure in my chest subsiding as we approached the bridge.
I gulped, my stomach clenching as I watched the aqua water rushing over the overhang in a curtained cascade. Through the translucent base, plummeting water smashed into a furious river far below. Its currents meandered around another imposing cliff, isolated from the mainland entirely. The sun reflected off the islet’s glassy black stone, dancing along the conchoidal fractures scattered over its surface.
My knees wobbled, and tingles raced from my belly to my toes. I pressed my heels and the balls of my feet more firmly into the glass with every step, ensuring I wouldn’t topple over the tenuous handrail.
We met the others waiting in the center of the bridge, their necks craning to take in the mesmerizing scene before us. Once more, I peeked at the faraway river below as it spilled into a churning turquoise sea. “Is … is that the Insomnis Sea?” I murmured, unsure if Gavrel heard me.
“It is—the one and only,” he said, a gentle smile tipping his lips.
I exhaled, my trembling breath floating toward the fabled waves.
Beyond the other end of the bridge, a palace made from moonstone towered above, its bottom half directly embedded within the cliff face. Various turrets pierced the sky, free from the obsidian crag. The luminescent walls of the fortress were captivating—splashed with shiny flecks and shimmering iridescent patches. Depending on the angle, the colorful spots looked lit internally, blue and gold shifting in the sunbeams.
My gaze dragged further upward, squinting against the sun. A copious number of spires lined the top of the palace and its turrets. They were narrow, made of brilliant crystals of varying heights. When the light hit the quartz just right, the prisms split the rays and cast a spray of rainbow-colored tessellations.
“Can we live here now? Forever?” Breena laughed; her quiet words somewhat drowned under the rumbling waterfall.
Gavrel made a dismissive sound in his throat and led us to the massive gatehouse entrance, which was flanked by two Draumr warriors. He nodded to them, and they moved to open the metal gate made of silvery posts fused in an elegant, arched grid.
“High ranking, eh?” Kaden smiled as he bumped his shoulder against his brother’s. The motion didn’t budge Gavrel one bit.
“Something like that,” he grumbled.
As we approached the palace’s vaulted entrance, Gavrel said, “I’ll show you to your rooms, where you can get washed up and rest for a bit.”
He looked at a Draumr standing near the doorway and waved her over. Then he looked at Letti, his lips scrunching and releasing a quick puff of air. “Letti, you’ll have to go with this guard. She’s one of my best.”
“Xeni Reed.” The guard dipped her head in a slight bow toward Letti.
Gavrel went on. “Those who aren’t Druiks are required to stay in the mainland barracks. I’m sorry. I wish you could stay in the palace.”
“Absolutely not,” my voice bounced off the moonstone walls.
He grimaced. “I don’t control this, Seryn. The Elders’ procedures are stringent. Almost everyone stays in the barracks, besides the Elders, my unit, and Druiks.” The sound of his boots shifting sifted through the air. “She’ll be well taken care of, I assure you. You’ll see each other daily.”
“What do you mean? The Elders are here in Surrelia? I thought they didn’t have to endure the Dormancy,” Kaden blurted, one brow arching. Of course, he fixated on that part. I crossed my arms across my chest, glaring at both men.
