Page 132 of A Blightress of Wrath
Isent my magic down deep, tendrils of white coursing through the solid ground, maneuvering through the roots of theBlight.Theresistance came, asIknew it would, as a push back, a shove away, and a challenge to retreat.
Theclear truth was, it was no challenge at all.Mypower widened, shoved through the ground in a long, deep line thatIwas ready to push forward, replacing the consuming roots ofBlightwith what could thrive here in the grasslands north of my home.Mymind swirled with visions of life, the speech of magic forming wordsIcould use to bring this land into a new age of growth and beauty, forever changing this landscape to the oneIdesired.
Mymother asked whatIcould do.
So,Iwould do it.
“Cresereen silvam.”Mywords, new and comforting on my tongue, spilled forth just as my magic grazed the land.Along, wide wall of white haze draped one hundred feet from each side of my arms stretched out wide.Istood, opening my eyes and taking my first steps forward.Mywall came with me, buried deep within the ground while the roots of treesIcould name sprouted from whereIcrossed the hillside.
Faster,Ipicked up my feet in a run.Mymagic was not something still, but wild and free, a pursuit of the warmest rays of sun across a forestIloved, and thoughIknew what grew behind me,Idid not stop to look.Idid not stop to see my spell come to fruition—a spell of growing a forest of trees, able to give power to those born to wield it.
Myfeet carried me across the tall grass, my laughter piercing the air in accompaniment to the groans of thick trunks and sprawling underbrush sprouting from upturned earth behind me.
Mymother wanted to know whatIcould do.
So,Idid it.
Igrew her a forest.
Chapter56
Thevin
Shegrew a fucking forest.
Itwasn’t very big—a little over an acre, but the fact that there now lay what looked like a cutout ofFelgrenin the grasslands ofHyrithiacaused an understandable stir in the ranks ofRunnersandWieldwryns.
“Shehas more power than theBaron.”
“Shehas more power than the damnBlightress!”
Ileaned against the wall of the castle, listening in on the conversations without joining them.
“Whatdoes this mean?”
“Isay it means we have a fighting chance.”
“Isay it means we’d better not piss her off.”
Ihuffed a quiet laugh.
“Maybeshe can return all the land taken from us.Maybeshe’s truly the one who can fight theBlightressand win.”
“Ifshe did this in minutes, imagine what she could do in hours—days.Sheshould be at theBlightLineright now, shoving it back.It’stime we show our strength.”
“Wedon’t have all our forces.”
“Justlook at that!Wedon’t even need them!”
“Thevin, what do you think?Youknow her best.”
Icut my stare from the line of trees to focus on the threeRunnersstill gaping asIdid at the miniature forest. “IthinkIunderstand better why theBlightresshas soughtSaelynsince she was born.”
“Butdo you feel like we have a real chance now?”Flynnasked with a light in his eyes.
Inodded, pulling myself off the wall, headed into the new forest. “Holdonto hope!”Icalled behind me.
“Defythe dark!” theRunnersreturned in a rowdy cheer.
