Page 214 of The Lands Defying
Wisps come from the forest behind us, their green-blue glow a gentle warmth amongst the cold. They swirl around the memorials, touching each one gently until they reach Danny and Josie.
They hover over them, swaying gently side to side before gathering together and rising up into a swirl of soft light, disappearing into the night sky. I follow them, snowflakes clinging to my lashes and I close my eyes in relief.
They can rest now.
I look to Darius who is already watching me, and my gaze shows my gratefulness to what he has done. He nods his head, his hand reaching out to stroke my nose before he stands and takes a step back.
My pack comes and fills the space he left behind, their comfort wrapping around me. Josh is on my right and Kade is on my left, the others are at my back and we just breathe in each other. I take Josh and Kade’s hand in mine, squeezing gently as we pay our respect to the dead.
We have lost lives since the Elites came to Eridian. Whether from the Highers hands or the rogures, and with that reminder, the determination in me grows even stronger.
To right the wrongs that have been done.
Sixty Two
Rhea
I palm the lilk tree, feeling its power thrumming beneath. The relief I feel is indescribable. Eridian is finally a safe haven again, even after the attack on it.
The difference with this barrier and Solvier’s though, is that we can be wolf inside of it. I don’t know if that is because of Darius and I, or something different altogether.
I look up to the blooming petals and think of Solvier. He would have wise words of what to do next now that we have this. He would be able to guide me, know which path I need to take.
Now I just feel…lost again.
I also feel a sense of foreboding lingering, like anything can change within a moment.
Rogures have come to our home on Charles’s command. Word of more hangings have reached us and Charles has given up the façade of caring for his people. Anyone at his gates uninvited are also hanged, and any Elites caught in the lands are punished by death.
The people are more terrified than ever. They are being starved if anyone in their village has attempted to get into thecastle for sanctuary, food tax is higher and the Higher’s guards are more brutal.
But they are also rallying back, fighting when they can by stealing food that’s intended for the castle, running away from guards that are brutal to them. It may be little, but it’s a start on losing the control the Highers have over the people.
But there is still so much death.
Starvation, rogure kills,guardkills.
I think back to when I was looking down at all those beasts in The Deadlands and shiver. It will be death unbridled if an army of those things roamed the lands.
Darius has told me his men in The Deadlands have started moving rubble to get to the back room to see if what Frederick said was true, but he hasn’t received word yet.
“The lands are being lost, and I don’t know what to do anymore,” I whisper to myself. “What am I supposed to do? How do I right the wrong? How do I help?”
Frustration makes tears spring to my eyes. We are not moving fast enough. I know we aren’t. But with the Elite forces split between here, Colhelm and The Deadlands, we don’t stand a chance of attacking Charles, but we need to do…something.
A breeze swirls past as a wisp appears in front of me, and I can’t help but smile. I raise my hand, ready to play with it like I always do, but it zooms away from me.
My brows furrow. “Do you not want to play with me anymore?” It flies back to me, and then zips away again. I walk towards it, and it moves again.
I pause for a moment.
“Do you want me to follow you?”
The wisp wiggles, and moves further back. I raise my hand and Runa is there, instantly.
She moves toward me, nuzzling into my neck and I reach up and stoke her head. “Go to Darius and bring him. You will bothbe able to follow my scent.” Her wet nose touches my cheek and then she’s off.
I follow the wisp through the barrier, feeling the caress on my soul that warms my chest. The wisp doesn’t go fast, it makes sure I am within its sight at all times. I pick up the pace, my walk turning into a run and then we are running through the trees.
