Page 61 of Fate and Flame
“Thank you,” he said, finally looking down at me.
“For what?”
“For being strong enough to ease his pain when I couldn’t.”
“Never again.” I shook my head. “Please never ask me to do that again.”
“I promise,” he said as the voices from the shoreline began to pray, and we joined them.
“Into lightness and darkness, into shadows and mist, may you rest for eternity. Over the mountains and beneath the sea, let your souls find peace. May nature keep your soul, the wind hold your memories, the river bless your spirit and the fire carry you away.”
Fen held me in his arms as we said our final goodbye to the king that lived two thousand years.
Chapter Sixteen
Temir
In theory, the next part of our job was simple. Burn down a tree and hide the ashes so the evil king and his henchmen couldn’t use them to help destroy the world by taking control of an unparalleled power. In theory. But as Nadra and I now stood at the base of the biggest tree I’d ever seen, while the clock ticked in the background, there was no questioning the challenge we were about to face. Fifty fae could have circled the trunk.
I knew how to grow trees. It was what I had spent most of my life doing with Oleonis. But I also knew how to kill them. I would have to use the power I’d kept to myself for so long and trust that Nadra wouldn’t be terrified of me when it was done.
“Stand back,” I told her, setting the bag and the accelerant on the ground at her feet.
I walked up to the tree, put my hands at the base and called forth the magic that took life instead of giving it. As I pushed it through the depths of the tree, it began to die, but I also knew I’d be drained long before I could push my magic through the roots. Still, I worked and worked until it dawned on me.
“Nadra,” I whispered, “the adda.”
She sat beside me and rubbed her hands for warmth. “I’m so sorry, Temir.”
“No, no. I’m not blaming you.” I placed my hand upon her cheek before I realized what I was doing. She closed her eyes and leaned in like it was the most natural thing in the world. I rested my forehead against hers, our frozen noses touching.
“Temir?”
“Sorry.” I pulled away, refocusing. “I’m pulled to you the way you were pulled to the adda. Every time I touched the flower it replenished my magic and now it’s your power.”
“Let’s try, then.”
I held out a hand and she took it into both of hers. “I’m going to call my magic forward on the count of three. I have no clue what’s going to happen, so whatever you do, don’t let go of my hand.”
Tension and worry settled on her face more prominently than I could feel down the bond. She was trying to shelter her nerves from me.
“One … two … three.” The tiny bit of magic I called forward became a rush of death. “It worked. Not only did it work, but my magic isn’t drained.”
“What does that even mean?” Her hands trembled.
“You refilled my magic with a simple touch. You just became a thousand more times valuable to the king. We can’t tell anyone, Nadra. Are you hurt?”
“N-no,” she stuttered. “I’m fine.”
I watched her carefully, looking for signs of fatigue or pain. Only trepidation. “One more time should do it, then, if you’re sure?”She nodded and closed her eyes. “One . . . two . . . three.”
Again, the magic ripped from me and into the base of the tree until it was completely dried out and cracking in the breeze. We had to burn this tree down as quickly as we could. Fortunately, at least the wind was blowing south. The ashes wouldn’t go directly to Autus, but a burning tree at the top of a mountain would be the biggest beacon we could ever make.
Nadra stood back as I doused the tree in as much of the solution Aibell gave me as I could. I wanted to climb the tree and pour it down the trunk, but there was no time, and I’d never be able to get back down without getting it all over me.
I knelt at the trunk once more and placed kindling along the bottom. Nadra blocked the wind with her hands and I struck the flint until one tiny ember sparked the dry bits. I took her hand. We jumped backward as fast and far as we could while the first tree in the world burst into blue flames.
I had no idea what that old hag gave me, but whatever it was worked like a fae charm because within minutes, the tree was completely engulfed. I never believed we would burn that tree to ash within twenty-four hours, considering how wide the trunk was, but as I watched the top crack and splinter, I now believed it was a possibility.
