Page 158 of A Blightress of Wrath
Revstayed at my side, talking with me through every bout of pain, easing every spasm with the spells he knew to calm my racing heart and help me bring our child into the world.
Hercries lit the night, andIcollapsed back intoFiguerah’slap, closing my eyes, hearing the bliss of full, healthy lungs.
Figuerahshook, laughing and crying, wiping the sweat and tears from my face.
Iblinked to seeRevichholding our child in his arms, sobbing asI’dnever seen, rocking her wrapped in his cream shirt, his chest bare, pressing our daughter to his skin.Hewhispered something at her ear before kissing her mess of black hair.
Heleaned down to kiss me in a jumble of words of love and pride and admiration.HesetSaelyninto my shaking arms and held the two of us, kissing my head repeatedly, beginning the song of his mother.
Timemoved swiftly across the moments after and as my body healed fromClairannia’smagic,Idrifted to sleep, searching one more time for theBlightress, finding nothing but the silent, empty dark.
* * *
Threeweeks later,they came back to us.
Theyall came back to us.
Itbegan with the lumens.RevichandIwalked the paths ofFelgren,Saelyntaking turns in our arms, whenParvusandRaucacame bounding through the forest trees to greet us.
Novines grew from their skin, no red flickered in their eyes.Theyreturned as the loyal lumens we knew with no evidence but our memories that they had ever been otherwise.
MychaelandRellcame next.
Theyarrived one evening as the sun sank below the trees.
Pompeiicalled to both of us through theOverseerbond, and we rushed to the foyer to find him there inMychael’sarms whileRenntwirled her sister around and around in cries of relief and giggles.
IheldSaelyntightly asRevrushed toRell, asking if she was alright, looking her over for any signs of injury.Whenthey both assured us they were unharmed, we headed to the kitchens to hear their stories.
“Idon’t remember anything beyond being pulled into that portal,”Mychaelexplained. “ThenextIwoke,Relland so many others were lying in a grove of broken trees up north.”HetookPompeii’shand into his. “It’swhy it took us so long to return.Thatwas around three weeks ago, butRellinsisted on helping me return all of the other channelers to their cities.Noneof them remembered what happened.”
“Canyou tell us?”Rellasked excitedly. “Howlong were we gone?”Shenodded toSaelyninRevich’sarms and then toThevininTalon’s. “Itmust have been months if both babies ofFelgrenhave arrived.Whathappened to theBlightress?”
Silencefilled the kitchens and everyone looked toRevichand me.
“Sheis gone,”Isaid. “Shehas released everyone she put into those syphoner trees, and she is gone.”
Mychaelasked softly, “Doyou believe she’s gone for good?”
Icrossed my arms at my chest. “Ifthis is some game she’s playing, it’s a convincing one.”
* * *
Threemore weekspassed before the question was answered.
ClairanniaandFiguerahleftFelgren, returning to their homes, promising to visit soon.Philiusleft as well, summoned by theQueento meet withLadyLamoral, whose young daughter,LadyLanna, had gone missing one night in her bed.WeaskedPhiliusto representFelgrenand help lead the search for seven-year-old heir in our stead.
RevichandIhad fallen into a routine.Parenthoodwas fulfilling and simple when we had a fortress of servants and friends who all wanted time spent withSaelyn, givingRevandIplenty of much-needed breaks and quiet moments alone.
Ihad fallen asleep that afternoon on my blue high back chair, my hand still onSaelyn’scradle whereIhad rocked her to sleep.Idreamt of a black night lit with white shining stars.Idreamt of a forest bursting from the ground outside ofHyrithia’scastle gates.Idreamt of a field of snow, high as my waist, cold and silent asItrekked through endless white seeking… someone.
Iwoke with a start, bolting upright and gasping.Ithad felt more than real.Ithad felt like a memory.Ireached down to sweep my fingers acrossSaelyn’ssoft black locks to find that she was not there.Irose in a panic, whipping around to see a figure in black walking slowly across the room with a bundle in her arms.
“Please,”Ibegged, reaching out. “Pleasedon’t take her.”
TheBlightresshalted her steps, facing me with eyes brimming in tears. “Iam not here to take her,LittleSprout.Iam here to say goodbye one last time.”
Idared not move.Idared not leap across the room to take my sleeping baby from her arms, knowing she had all the power to whisk her away in a mere second if she wanted to.
