Page 131 of A Blightress of Wrath
Iswept the grass clippings from my lap and rose, taking her outstretched hand as she brought me to her side, planting a kiss at the top of my black waves.
“Wieldwryns,” she said, “move to the eastern wall.CommanderFiguerahis there and will practiceSimulairSolumwith you over theBlightLine.Meetfor lunch at noon and we will gather moreWieldwrynsto practice some healing and lightning spells from there.Goodwork this morning,” she added, grinning broadly at each one.
Allfive gave mumbles of thanks and agreement, walking together back to the castle, laughing in the morning sun.
“Willyou teach me those spells?”Iasked, stepping in front of her with my hands clasped behind my back.
“Thoseand more,” she answered. “However, it is tradition that before a channeler entersViridis, they must first pass a test of power.”
“Oops,”Ichuckled.
“Oops,” she returned, laughing with me. “Buteven though you’ve spent more time inViridisthan anyone here,I’dstill like to challenge you.Justto see what your power is capable of.”
Shehesitated in the slightest moment, butIcaught it having studied all her tells for years.Shewas feeling that deep sorrow again.
Shecontinued, “Whatwould you say is where your power truly lies?Whattype of magic calls to you most?”
Itook a moment to look south, knowing the tree line ofFelgrenwas miles away, but somehow feeling its presence all the same. “Agricolamagic.Iused to practice it.Secretly,”Iadded with a rising blush. “Pah-Pahcaught me once or twice, butIenjoyed those winter months whenIcould melt the snow and bring life back to the green leaves ofFelgren.”
Hersmile broadened and she took my hand, guiding me to a certain patch of earth that looked the same as any other. “Thisused to be theBlightLine,” she said with a simple directness. “Justthis morning,Ireturned this blackened field to one of green grass again.Thiscity used to be my home, andIwill see it returned so that my daughter may enjoy its delights asIhave.”
Inodded, taking part of my lower lip between my teeth.
Shelaughed, thoughIdidn’t know why and continued. “I, however, did not heal this soil.Imerely planted grass atop what was ash and death, giving it a new chance at life, but not one guaranteed to continue.That’swhere you come in.”
“Me?”Igazed out at the field—acres of land that sprawled across green hills leading down to the crumbled castle walls.
“You,Saelyn.WhenIwas just a few years older than you,Iwas asked to prove my power, and in attempting to disprove my worth,Iinstead further fueled my magic.Itis not something you will ever be able to hide from.”Shepatted a hand over my heart. “Youwill feel it here.”Shepointed to the warm sun, a brilliant glow of the purest light in a cloudless sky. “Youwill hear it there, a whisper of wind that refuses to deny the power you hold and the depth of magic you wield.Whenyour name is called, hear it for what it is—a promise that you are a child of great power and fate, and your father andIbelieve in the path you’ll choose for your future.”
Ifelt the purest truth of her words about my name on the wind, more so than she could know. “Buthow canIchoose my own path ifIam fated for another?”
Shedrew an arm across my shoulder, pulling me into her side. “Youare destined for greatness,LittleLove.Ofthis,Iam certain.”Sheleaned in closer to whisper in my ear, “Buthow you choose to get there is up to you.Timeswill come when you must decide for those you love.Itis not always an easy choice, and you will not make it for only yourself.Everyoneyou love will be affected, but”—she held up a finger, her smile beautiful, her eyes an emerald green—“the choice is still yours to make, and if there is anyoneIbelieve in, it is you.”
“I…”Myvoice wavered, swept away with the breeze across our faces.Ithought of telling her everything.Allof meI’dhidden from her, fromPah-Pah.ThespellsIcould create on my own, including the one that had saved us twice now.Ithought of telling her of what theBlightressknew, and that every timeIhad reversed one minute of the present, she had come with me to relive it.
Ididn’t know what that meant.Ididn’t understand how it could be possible.Butlooking into my mother’s eyes of leafy green, seeing the crinkle of lines across her face,Ionly wanted to enjoy her rare company.Iwanted to soak in her love, though always given, not always shown.
Icleared my throat and returned her grin. “I’mready for your challenge,Mama.”
“Sitwith me.”Shefolded her legs underneath her skirts, tugging me down beside her. “Nowlay your hands down like this.”Shespread her fingers wide atop the deep verdant grass, much darker than what we had at home.
Imimicked her movement, spreading my hands.Myconduit ring caught the sun, winking at me over its many facets.
“Closeyour eyes,Saelyn, and tell me what you feel.”
Pressingmy hands to the earth,Itook a deep breath.TheBlightwas still here, just under the surface.Iknew becauseIcould smell its decay and sense its consuming desire underneath my fingers.
“Ifeel it.TheBlightis under us.Dormant, but…here.”
“Destroyit,” she whispered, her voice nothing more than a command from aBaronto her channeler.
“I-Idon’t know how.”
Afew moments passed, butIkept my eyes closed, my hands pressed into the soil, sinking further, feeling the roots of the grass that ended just on the surface of ashenBlight.
Hervoice wavered as she said, “Whatmakes you so powerful,LittleLove?Showme what you can do.”
Inodded with determination.Inodded without fear, ready to acknowledge the depth of the well of powerIheld whenIhad previously only skimmed the surface.
