Page 21 of Wings of Ash & Flame
“You’re not from here.”
“Smart too. I knew we’d get along.” She smirked. “House Arculum.”
She clasped her palm tightly, then reopened it. Tiny waves of lightning danced across her fingers.
A storm wielder from Lyra.
Alaire racked her brain for what she knew of the territory. Lyra was Cielore’s strongest military ally, separated by the Azalea Lakes and Scorched Marsh.
The lightning vanished as the fae extended her hand. Alaire studied it, wariness warring with something she couldn’t quite place.
“Not exactly the friendly type, are you?” Mirth danced in her eyes.
Alaire couldn’t afford to trust anyone, but she was also an outsider who needed every advantage. And something about this female’s easy warmth painfully reminded her of the friend she’d failed to save.
One less enemy didn’t sound so bad either.
“Not exactly.” Alaire clasped her hand in a firm grip.
“I’m Kaia, by the way,” she said.
“Alaire.”
“Kinda knew that.” She slipped her hands into the pockets of her leathers.
A few other novices passed through the corridor, pointedly avoiding eye contact.
“We should get going.” Alaire’s gaze followed her peers down the hall. “Professor Ross will have our hides if we’re late.”
Kaia fell into step beside her as they approached the rear of the group. Every head turned in their direction. Kaia waved cheerfully and slung an arm around Alaire’s shoulders.
Alaire moved to the right, stepping out of her embrace. Kaia flashed her a wink and simply adjusted so their elbows brushed together.
“Ladies, delighted you could finally join us,” Professor Ross called.
Kaia responded with an enthusiastic thumbs-up that made Alaire bite her lip to suppress her laughter.
“So, what do you know about these Celestial Familiars?” Alaire whispered as they followed the group.
Kaia’s eyes sparkled. “I’m bonded to one.”
“No way,” Alaire gasped.
“I know,” Kaia replied with a sly grin.
“What does—” Noticing they had an audience, Alaire pressed her lips together. A few of the fae ahead of them had turned to stare.
“I’ll fill you in later,” Kaia promised.
Kaia was a flier. If she was from House Arculum, she must’ve bonded with an arcstorm—a celestial that could summon and command storms. Alaire had heard they were streaked in shades of grey, silver, and blue, with flashes of yellow across their feathers, sleek black beaks, and talons. But she’d never seen one in person.
Alaire tilted her head as her thoughts began to whirl. Flying. Maybe being stuck here wouldn’t be all bad after all.
Historia Hall was a monolithic space in the castle’s East Wing. The lecture hall was the largest classroom on campus, doubling as a space for general assemblies. It was laid out in the shape of a diamond with two-tiered levels of seating. An elevated round platform with a small lectern sat in the center of the room.
But it was the ceiling that stole the breath from her lungs.
Diamond vaults soared to meet in sharply pointed arches, converging upon keystones masterfully carved with images of Lysia, Umbra, and Elithian’s creation story. Stained-glass panels muted the world outside into hues of deep indigo and crimson.
