Page 26 of A Blightress of Wrath
Themost haunting of all, theBlightresshad ripped her own heart from her chest and gave it toAdaynth.Hehad kept it warm for centuries before she convincedBaronEreythto steal it back for her.We’dlearned so much and had even more to do.
“BaronKarus.”Pompeii’svoice interrupted my somber thoughts.Ilifted my eyes to say goodbye, but he was still far ahead, his back to me, watchingMychaelclimb into the seat next to the carriage driver.
Ijolted upright at the discovery that he was speaking to me in my mind.
“Bringhim back.”Heturned his head, still fifty feet away, catching my gaze with golden eyes lined in kohl. “Please,Karus.Bringback the manIlove.”
Iswallowed, replying through my mind, “TheBlightedtrees inViridis…Igrew those.”
Henodded, looking back to watch everyone gather into the carriages.Revleaned against one of them, patiently waiting for me.
“Igrew theBlightthat caused theBlackLung.TheBlightressgave me that power.Weare both in your mind.”
“Yes.Ifound you there with her, but seeing how pale you grew upon the confirmation,Ididn’t want to upset you more.”
Iheld onto my buttercup stems tightly, following the path to reach his side. “Ipromise not to pry into your thoughts,”Ispoke upon the wind gusting around us.IwatchedRevsmile in the breeze as it blew through his hair.
Pompeiisaid with urgency, “Idon’t care what you do to my mind, just bring him back.”Hefaced me, pressing his hands to my shoulders.
“We’renot even going to her heart yet, this is just to?—”
“Donot underestimate her determination.”Hisusually pleasant face broke into something hard. “Ihave heard her cries of rage.Ihave dreamed of what this forest once was.Shewill not stop, and she will not let anyone get in the way of what she wants.”
Heglanced once again to the carriages.Severalheads of the peopleIloved and must care for, stuck out of the carriage doors, waiting for me to finally join them. “Bringall of them back.”
“Thisis quite the ominous goodbye,”Isaid in a nervous laugh. “ButIpromise.”
Hepulled me into an embrace and admitted, “It’sthe only goodbyeIcan give you.”
Ashiver ran up my spine and he let go, stepping aside soIcould continue on to join everyone else.
“Ready?”Revasked, taking my hand.
Itook one more look atFelgren.Thethick tree line was a stark contrast to the edge of frozen earth that marked the border of the forest, telling the story of winter settling over the rest of the isle.
Ipulled my warm cloak tighter over my shoulders and nodded toPompeiibefore brushingRev’shair behind his ear, planting a quick kiss on his lips. “Ready.”
* * *
Adustingof snow covered the fields of grasses and rows of broken stems from the wheat grown in summer.Iwatched a few flakes fall outside of the carriages we’d commissioned to take us all the way toRadyx.
Insideour carriage,ClairanniaandFiguerahspoke toRevabout their plans for our daughter’s nursery, catching him up on the details of the sun and moon painted ceiling they had planned.Ihad let them take over the details, thankful thatIwouldn’t need to plan them myself now thatIwasBaronand considerably more busy training channelers.
Revichadded his own thoughts, and my mind drifted to our task at hand.Mychaelsat with our carriage driver at the front, and behind us,Philiussat with his.Thatcarriage heldRenn,Rell,Ilyenna, andNyeimahwithTalonsitting on the bench at the back.
Weall agreed to take our turns outside of the carriages along the way.ClairanniaandFiguerahhad assured us there were no real dangers on our first stop toLythglyn, especially not to two carriages full ofBarons, conduits, and channelers.Ifanything, we were the safest travelers there could be, andIwondered whatPompeiihad been so concerned about.
PerhapsI’dask him more this evening when we arrived atLythglynand test the distance between our connection.Iwas tired of ignoring my power and dismissing whatIcould do.Iheld the power of each type of conduit magic: iumenta, lapis, medicus, and agricola.Iwas and had always been adept at using each type of magic ifI’djust admitted it.NowthatIwasBaron,Icould easily control the earth, the wind, and the water of the isle.Therewas only one soul more powerful than me.
TheBlightresshad been left.Icould not turn a blind eye to that.She’dbeen broken, and she’d been left by those who should have stayed to love her.Ithought ofPhilius.Ithought of myself, ofRevich.We’dall seen the darkness at some parts of our lives, and yet, we’d never been abandoned.RevichandIhad made it through andPhiliuswas getting there, so what was it that made us so special?Whydid we get the nurturing we needed in those darkest times andVisaliadid not?
BaronAdaynthsaid he kept her heart safe, kept it warm, loving her still, but was that enough?
Revhad watched over my care for years, speaking to me each day, checking on any sign thatIwas finding my way back to my memories.Hehad given me space to heal, looking consistently for the rhyzolm in the hope that it could help my memories return.DidAdaynthdo any of those things?
Ishould ask.
Ishould reach out to him in my mind.
