Page 127 of Beast and Remedy
“What is that?”
Fascination clings to his voiced question, and I peer over to the floating ember flickering a breath away.
The sky brightens above me, and I need to get answers before the esprit’s time runs out.
Beau’s soft voice reflects his awe. “Is it—”
“L’esprit? Yes.” I twist toward the esprit. “We got the plant from Northtry. But I need to know if we need five or six. And the lavender… How will we get it if their borders are closed?”
“Vi, what are you doing—”
Beau grunts as I nudge him into silence, not wanting his questions to spoil my opportunity for guidance.
The esprit inches toward me, its proximity warm against my exposed skin as it brushes up my torso, twinkling when it reaches my face.
“Five will suffice,”it hums against my ear, and the light drifts closer, inspecting me.“Yet there is more you need.”
“What do we need?” I rush out as it pushes past me, analyzing Beau.
Irritation prickles along the hairs of my neck, the esprit sweeping across Beau’s face and peppering him withkisses.
What the Oblivion?
Beau fails to mask his amusement at my scowl.
“Him. You need him,”the esprit whispers, pulling away and doing a flip in the air and singing again. “And a seer. A seer you must seek.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, its vague meaning leaving me riddled with more confusion. “Please explain. Help me—helpus”—I gesture between Beau and myself—“help us understand.”
The esprit shimmies, circling the trees.“Time is thin.”
“Give me more time, please,” I beg. “I need answers. Answers to everything. Please. Just explain. Make it make sense.” I move off Beau, staggering upright to block the esprit.
It halts before bumping into me and does another flip, drawing toward the shadows of the forest.“Time I shall give, daughter of Johanne. Now, come.”
My heart stops. “How do you know my mother?”
“Come, and all will be revealed.”
Beau laces his fingers through mine and guides me down the path the esprit drifted toward.
But as I cling to his cloak and conceal my nakedness, I can’t even look up as we are lead south, my heart unable to catch up to my body.
Heaviness surges in my chest as my feet sink into the damp soil with every step. My face must convey what my mind cannotgrasp, because Beau remains quiet, silently supporting me as the terrain grows rocky.
We must be close to Unterkirch’s border.
I spare a glance to the pack Beau carries and the weapons on his person.
At least there’s that.
The esprit sways as we walk, shimmering and rushing into a small cave.
Beau angles toward me, concern etched in his features, but I ignore it, pressing on after the esprit. It stops against the end of the wide alcove, the top of the space barely tall enough to stand comfortably.
Darkness snuffs out the forest beyond and our vision, until the esprit’s light blooms, glowing brighter and expanding.
I cannot shield my eyes, shock freezing me in place as a figure stands before us, the esprit shifting from a floating ember into a sizzling soul.
