Page 30 of A Blightress of Wrath
Icalled my power to hold the reins and folded my arms at my chest, sitting back against the carriage bench. “I’lltell you a secret.”Iwinked his way, then closed my eyes, laying my head back as well. “It’snot really about what tree leaves you can identify or remembering which trees have the most growth in the summer months.It’sabout knowing the place your power comes from.Thebetter you understand all parts ofFelgren, the better you can harness what it gives to you.PartofPhilius’sstruggle is that he cannot let go of where he believes he andKarusshould be.Hedoesn’t accept what she accepted long ago, and so the channeling line of connection between him andFelgrenis stunted.It’spart of why you have become stronger than he in the little time you’ve been training.”
Mychaelsat with that truth for a moment before clearing his throat. “WhenIfirst saw you andKarusinHyrithia,Ithought of how great it would be to live your lives.Tolive inFelgren, training in magic, riding enormous wolves.”Hepaused again, letting the clop of hooves hang in the air. “Beforeyour offer,Ididn’t thinkIheld enough power to ever be chosen, soIforgot about it most of the time.Sollawas always so much better at it anyway.”
Iopened my eyes and looked him over.Herarely spoke of his companion who had been killed by theBlackFeverseven years ago. “I’msure she would have made a great conduit,”Iencouraged.
“Shewould,” he chuckled. “Shealways kept that little hope that she’d be given anOffering.Evenas we got older and knew people our age are never taken toFelgren.Evenas we were deciding if we wanted a family, she still insisted she would go if asked.”
“Anddid you?Starta family,Imean.”
“Neitherof us ever really wanted children.Wethought of adopting for a little while, but decided it wasn’t something we were missing in our lives.”
“I’msorry you lost her,”Ifound myself rasping, surprised at my own sudden emotions.
Heeyed me with a small smile. “Thankyou.I’vefound peace in rememberingIgot to know her.Igot to be in her life and witness her living it.Ittook a few years, but thenIwas able take comfort in that.She’llalways live in here.”Hepointed to his chest. “Pompeiilikes me to talk about her.Hesays talking about her life will help me keep moving forward with mine.”
Iquirked a brow. “IfPompeiigives you advice,I’dtake it.”
Hesmirked. “Oh,Ido.Ididn’t expect to…to find someone like him.Butjust likeItold him before we left—we don’t know what our future holds when we take the uneasy step of moving toward the unknown, but we do know what our future holds when all we do is stand still.”
“Andwhat’s that?”
“Thesame life we’ve always lived.”
Inodded. “I’llhave to remember that one.”
Aloud bang erupted from the cabin, followed by shrieking laughter.Ipulled the horses to a stop, signaling toNyeimahto stop as well behind us.
Thedoor flew open andPhiliusran from the cabin, dousing the flames at his shirt sleeves.Mychaeljumped off the bench, running to his side to help.
Ihopped down, brushing againstKaruswho tumbled out of the cabin and fell to more laughter against my chest,RennandRellstill cackling inside.
“Whatwas that about?”Iasked, checking her over for burn marks before looking over the twins.
“Hewas practicing—” she wiped at her eyes, bursting into laughter again.
“He’salright!”Mychaelannounced.Tendrilsof white rose from his fingers, wrapping around thePrince’sarm while he murmured a healing spellClairanniahad taught him.
Karustook a deep breath, her lips still spread wide, her laughter still contagious asIfound myself chuckling too.
“Hewas practicingIlluminarewithRennandRelland said he’d be able to make a larger orb of light ifI’djust channel some of my power to him.”Shesighed, shaking her head. “SoIdid, and obviously, he couldn’t hold it.Itburst into flame instead.Thankfully, it only got him.”
“Hisspell lit on fire?”Iquestioned, beckoningPhiliusover soIcould have a look at his wound.
“Notat first,” she replied, pulling back his burned sleeve.Philiuswinced with his arm outstretched.Shelooked up to him, in approval. “Youheld that spell for five minutes straight.That’sa record.”
“What’sthe point ifIcan’t hold it without lighting myself on fire?” he gritted asKarusripped the rest of his sleeve and healed the welts further.
“Philius,”Icalled, “Lightthat bush on fire over there.”Inodded toward a lonely withered shrub along the side of the road.
“Now?”
“Yes, now.”
Hesummoned a ball of orange light, small as a button above his hand.Huffinga breath, he flicked it toward the bush.Theglow died out inches before it hit the dry stems.Iplaced my hand on his shoulder, letting my power flow through his vest, his shirt, all the way to his skin, usingCosensianMagicto give him more of what he needed to produce the same flame as before.
Inodded for him to try again and he did, this time producing a much larger ball of light, the sizeKarusandIused for the sameIlluminarespell.Hetried again, flicking his wrist toward the bush.Onceagain the light dispersed into nothing but orange smokey tendrils.
“Mychael!Renn,Rell!”Icalled. “Comeplace your hands onPhiliusand focus your power to him.”
