Page 103 of Fate and Flame
“Very well.” She shook her head. “Everyone who wishes to come, hands on the staff.”
We stood in a circle around her. Nadra sandwiched between me and Rhogan. The floor fell out from below us, and my heart dropped into my stomach as we traveled by whatever means she decreed necessary.
We landed on charred ground, my boots crunching as ash fell from the sky like a soft winter snow. Half a forest had been blown to smithereens and we stood directly in the center of the rubble. Stepping away from Aibell, Greeve released the staff and cleaved away.
Wren cried out and bolted, falling to the ground beside Ara. Kai walked somberly toward us. Our eyes met for only a moment before he looked away, watching Greeve as Gaea buried herself into his arms. He pulled her close to Wren, and together they knelt with Ara.
I didn’t even know Gaea had made friends here. Still, I watched as she cried and Greeve stroked her long chestnut hair, holding her fiercely to him.
“Go to them.” Aibell pushed Nadra forward, jutting her chin to the group.
“Temir?” Wren demanded from the huddled group. “Temir, you have to save him.”
Only then did I see the king laid before them. I ran, inhaling the falling ash as I knelt beside them all and placed my hands on him. I felt for his heart first. No response. His lungs were empty. His body completely still.
A hand gripped my shoulder. I looked up, expecting Nadra, but found Aibell instead. “Not even your magic can save him now, boy.”
“No,” Ara whispered. “He can. He has to try.”
Aibell reached down to Ara, pulled the jewel on her necklace forward and carefully examined it. Ara gasped and lifted the trinket from her head. She stood, clasped it in both of her hands and bowed her head, saying a silent prayer.
She stayed like that, unmoving, until a tiny creature came out of the woods in the distance. Kai was suddenly moving. Trying to block Fen’s body as the pixie flew passed Ara entirely and moved to the king.
“What are you doing?” Ara asked, stepping beside Kai to protect the fallen king.
“You’ve asked for her helpsies. Ofra has agreed.”
“Where are we going?” Kai asked, moving to lift Fenlas from the ground.
“No one elseies. I will take hims to the glen.”
“Do it,” Ara said. “Move,” she commanded Kai.
His face fell and he stepped away.
“Ofra makes no promises. It will takes a miracle.” The little forest pixie fluttered her wings. She laid the palm of her hand upon the king’s chest, and then they were gone.
Greeve and Gaea stood as Nadra approached them.“If I may, Aibell thinks I can help you,” she offered.
I wanted to stop her. I wanted to keep her secret forever, but it was her secret. Not mine.
“No one can help me now,” Gaea answered. “The wind has abandoned me. I am nothing without it.”
I opened my mouth to disagree but Greeve turned her to face him. His dark eyes looked down upon her and she moved her hands to his bare chest. It was a private moment we probably shouldn’t have witnessed.“Never nothing.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “I have enough for both of us.” He called the breeze forward to encompass them.
She shook her head as fresh tears began to fall.
Her magic had been her identity. It had saved her from so many things, but it had also been the cause of so many other problems. Still, Gaea had always been like the wind. The storm at sea and the blizzard. It was the only constant in her life.
“If I could just try.” Nadra reached her hand halfway to Gaea.
“You have nothing to lose,” I encouraged her. “Aibell brought us for a reason, and if it wasn’t for Fen, then it was for you.”
“Are you sure?” Rhogan gritted his teeth but didn’t move.
I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Gaea closed the distance, grabbed Nadra’s hand, and her eyes rolled back. She began to fall, but Greeve caught her.
“What did you do?” Greeve barked.
