Page 167 of Between Soul and Vessel
“I don’t understand.” I shook my head. “If she was afterhim, why didn’t she just go to the Three Realms herself? Why send giants? Why send me?”
“Before the Creator died, he tied her life force to the Mother Realm,” Naia answered. “She physically cannot leave here, which is why she has to send others out to do her dirty work.”
Kaleb scrubbed at his jaw. “I have a question.” We all looked at him. “If the Creator was the one who originally powered the energy stones, and Sage is his daughter, shouldn’t she be able to power them too?” he asked.
Collectively, our gazes all swung back to Naia.
“It’s quite possible,” she replied.
A small seed of hope planted itself within me—if I could power the energy stones, we might be able to find our way home.
“However, a word of caution,” Naia said, her brows lifting. “Energy stones consume power at a monumental rate. It took your father many, many years before he was able to get them to work. You should train yourself and slowly build up toward powering them. If you don’t, who knows what it might do to you? It could drain your soul’s energy completely, something there is no returning back from.”
A flavor spread across my tongue. It was bittersweet, like lemons and honey.
“I understand,” I answered, sparing a glance at Von. Black lashes lowered, his eyes shifting to mine. In the depths of them, I found confirmation of what flavor I was tasting—worry. The bitter part stemmed from his concern,and the sweet part was because he cared for me.
Naia tapped her chin with one long finger. “Come to think of it. I believe your father had a journal somewhere where he documented how he learned to power the stones. Perhaps it would be of use to you. That is, if it still exists.”
My hand slid into Von’s, and I offered him a reassuring squeeze. Looking back to Naia, I asked, “Do you have any idea where we might find it?”
“I don’t, but I can have some of my scholars look into it. You might have to extend your stay a day or two longer, though, to give them some time,” she replied.
I glanced at everyone else, trying to read their faces. I knew we were all eager to get going and join back up with the others, but my father’s journal could help me learn how to power the stones, which would be our ticket home. “What do you all think?” I asked them.
“The journal could be very beneficial to you and the rest of your group,” Artemesia said, shrugging one shoulder.
Kaleb nodded.
I looked at Folkoln. “What are your thoughts?”
“If it helps us get home, it’s worth the wait,” he stated, dark pools shifting to Von. I followed his gaze.
“Thoughts?” I asked my mate.
“Many,” he answered, but didn’t expand any further. The smallest taste of lemon and honey returned, and I knew hismanythoughts centered around me. Von was trying to decide what the safest option for me was, but that wasn’t what this was about—it was about what was best for the group.
If it can help me safely power the stones, it’s worth it, Von, I spoke down the river that linked our thoughts.
Von studied me, reading me as if I were a book. Then, with a hint of reluctance, he spoke out loud, “We’ll stay one more day.”
“Wonderful!” Naia exclaimed, standing and walking over to the table. She poured herself another cup. “Now . . .” She lifted the teapot and smiled. “Who would like more tea?”
Realizing I had yet to try it, I lifted the cup, noting it felt much lighter than before. I glanced down—
It was empty.
Did you have something to do with this?I pushed the question into Von’s mind.
Yes,he answered back, face as unreadable as a blank sheet of paper.
Why?
Von’s attention flicked to Naia.She’s being pushy about the tea. She couldn’t have cared less if we ate the food and drink she had prepared for us this morning, but she went out of her way to offer each one of us a cup. I spoke with Folkoln—he finds it suspicious as well.
Okay, but she’s drinking it too. If it is poisoned or something, why would she do that?
Doesn’t mean anything. She could have an antidote.
