Page 3 of Of Withering Dreams
“It is.” The corners of my mouth curled, my head tilting as I considered my sister. She wiggled her fingers at me, smiling, and I pulled her up, leaving the tiny flower to bask in the sun.
We were all together, walking as a unit now. The meadow had mesmerized us, convincing everyone to slow their pace and remain cognizant of its tranquil beauty.
From the side of my vision, a hovering, soft greenish glow startled me. My hand flew up to touch my bottom lip as if to hold in a gasp. I swung my gaze toward it but only saw Kaden keeping in step with me. I shook my head, my soft curls dancing around my ears. My hand dropped to my side, and a small giggle slipped past my lips. I must have been more exhausted than I thought.
As another raven flew across our path, I concluded if ember existed anywhere, this meadow would nurture it. But it was a rarity in our realm, at least over the last century—unless you were an Elder or one of their Druik enforcers, the Akridais. According to the law, if someone developed powers once they reached twenty-one turns, they were required to register as a Druik without delay.
Sometimes, I wondered what it was like to be a Druik. Having powers would be unnerving. If the Ancients had gifted me with ember abilities, I wasn’t sure I would have taken the path Hestia was accused of. Yet, I couldn’t condemn anyone for protecting their family. My eyes glanced at Gavrel, his steps never faltering, never relenting.
As we came to the opposite edge of the meadow, I stole one last look at the small clusters of astra poppies peppering it. A sea of toast-colored grasses and moss covered the big hill, sloping into the meadow like the crest of a wave frozen in time. It was a matter of time before this place fell, conquered by the Withering—the progressive death of our lands and everything within them.
2
THIRTEEN FROGS
BACK THEN
Kaden, Letti, and I had spent nearly all day in the meadow. It was the perfect way to celebrate my thirteenth birthday. I lay in a patch of tall, fresh grass, feeling blissfully content. A spotted moth fluttered above me.
I was grateful Father had gone without me, taking our wagon and horse, Alweo, to the Rationing. It was rare that I indulged on my birthday. It always coincided with the Autumn Equinox—when the Dormancy pods awakened. Since Mama wasn’t around anymore, I usually went to the Rationings. However, Father had gotten a late start and didn’t want me to slow down the journey. This wasn’t the first time he had made it clear that my presence was unwelcome.
My eyelids scrunched shut for a moment, squeezing out memories of my mother and the effortless dismissal of my father. Over the last six turns, I’d gotten adept at pushing those feelings away, deep down into a hidden place within my chest.Not today, Seryn, I ordered myself. Today was a good day. A day to enjoy the vivid blue sky and the butterflies dancing among the flowers.
I sat up, watching Kaden help Letti catch frogs. Earlier, Letti had presented me with a handmade box, declaring it was for my birthday. It was crafted of grizzled grymwood bark, held together with tall blades of grass and bendy catbane reeds. I stroked the side of it. A cozy warmth spread through my chest at the memory of her excited smile. My second gift was the team of frogs they were catching—thirteen frogs, one for each turn of my birthday.
“Thirteen, Ser!” Letti bounced toward me with her hands cupped in front of her. Placing the frog in the box, she shouted, “Happy birthday! Wait … where are the other ones?” She sounded dismayed as Kaden walked up beside her, a goofy grin on his face. His light-green eyes sparkled with mischief. He had the most striking eyes. They reminded me of soft fern leaves stretching up to the sun.
I smiled at my sister. “I think they wanted to leap around in the little pond over yonder, but I chatted with each one before they went. Thank you so much, you two.”
Letti plopped beside me as the last frog leaped out of the box. A giggle drifted along her exhaled breath.
“We should probably head back home,” Kaden said with an exaggerated pout. “Your father should get home before dark, and I have to help Pa get things ready before the Dormancy tomorrow.”
“I suppose you’re right, Kade. Let’s head home,” I sighed, agreeing.
Kaden snapped his fingers and stepped backward, strands of dark hair falling over his forehead. “Hold on a moment while I grab some flowers for Ma. I think that’ll cheer her up a bit.” I grinned at him and reclined, resting my forearms on the soft grass.
Kaden’s mother had been feeling ill lately and often needed to rest. Kaden was helping a lot more around their home and never once complained about it. I knew he lost sleep worrying about his mother and brother. The youthful, usually fawn-colored skin under his eyes looked smudged with dark exhaustion.
Gavrel had been away for a few months after joining the Elders’ warrior legion, the Order of Draumr. He’d already be training to be a warrior … if he had survived the journey to Pneumali City. I often pondered how Gavrel was doing. He must have been experiencing so many wonders in the southern desert-like metropolis.
I squeezed my eyes closed for a moment, squashing any doubts about his survival. If he had perished in the Perilous Bogs, he would be another bloated body floating in a peaty swamp. I grimaced, praying to the Ancients for his safety.
The Perilous Bogs coated the center of the realm, spilling into the western lowlands. Most of what we knew of the area was passed down in whispered warnings. Few people from the northern or eastern regions chanced traversing the bogs—unless they had no other way to reach the south.
Before he left, there were missives, delivered by harbinger starlings, that Haadra, the eastern region, was flooded, its rivers engulfing much of the land in brackish water and sludge. To ensure they made it to training on time, Gavrel and a few other young men from our village agreed that passing through the Perilous Bogs was their only practical option.
“Ready, miladies?” Kaden bowed theatrically before us using a haughty Eastern Pneumalian accent our teacher once demonstrated.
Magister Barden tried to keep us interested in his lessons, enthusiastically teaching us what he could of the different regions, the Ancients, and the history behind ember. Of course, that was all layered with reminders of the Elder Laws and why the Dormancy was so vital. I rolled my eyes to the sky and then over to Letti.
Laughter burst out of us simultaneously as we made eye contact before looking at Kaden. He was brandishing his bundle of flowers and doing some little dance, feet moving back and forth swiftly.
I didn’t want the beauty of this day to end, but alas, time marched on. I sat up and brushed off my plain, mud-colored kirtle. My linen chemise dipped down over my shoulder.
Kaden handed the flowers to Letti and then gave me his hand to pull me up. His other hand swept along my shoulder, righting my chemise. My breath hitched, and a wave of prickly heat washed over my face as I stood.
“Uh, sorry,” Kaden mumbled and dropped his hands. He nodded in the direction of our homes. I could have sworn his cheeks were flushed a deep shade of crimson as he turned to walk ahead. Shaking out my hands, I reached out and pulled Letti up.
