Page 42 of The Spark that Ignites
She slid the cuff over her sleeve until it hugged just above her bicep. Her forefinger skimmed the text hidden on the back of her mother’s pocket watch. The letters were similar enough to assume it was the same language. But what did that mean?
“I meant to ask where you got that. And your ring. That’s a blood ruby,” Vesper said, nodding at the red, oval stone.
The shadow steed rested his head on Vesper’s shoulder, and he gave him an affectionate pat. Eyes trained on the pocket watch, he said, “You see that green-grey tint of the metal? It’s called sellanium. It’s incredibly rare now but hundreds of years ago it was used to enchant items. Deimos’s mausoleums are built from it too.”
“It was my mothers. She gave it to me before she passed.” Her mother offered little explanation, only telling her to hold onto it. Emmery flicked open the watch—its odd feature to fold into three unique circles—before closing and tucking it away.
Emmery added, “The ring is from a friend.” Since the day Fionn gave it to her, she hadn’t removed it. Some small part of her couldn’t even though he was gone. Vesper eyed the ring like a coiled snake ready to strike.
Standing beside Juno, it became clear what a monstrosity she was—not nearly as large as Balthasar but her torso hovered above Emmery’s chest. She reached for Juno’s neck, but there was no saddle to grip and no stirrups. Her hands slipped and she nearly lost her footing.
Vesper chuckled, an impish smile on his face as he watched her struggle. “Need a boost?”
“I’ve never ridden a horse this large.” She patted Juno’s muzzle with a trembling hand and added, “Not that you aren’t perfect the way you are.”
Could the horse tell she was nervous? Why were images of her flying off its back into some nasty brush full of thorns running through her head? Aera’s claws dug in as Emmery failed twice more before turning to Vesper.
Thankfully, he didn’t pick her up like a child. “Step off my hands.”
Emmery pushed off his woven fingers and swung her leg over Juno. She had never ridden bareback and the broad stretch in her thighs told her she wouldn’t be able to walk right for days.
Vesper swung onto Balthasar like he’d done it a thousand times. “Follow me. We’ll head into town.”
With a cluck of his tongue, Balthasar took off, racing along the dirt path. Aera’s squeaked in Emmery’s ear as they thundered after them.
Chapter Fifteen
The weathered sign readingBellamere, held up by a few loose nails and a kickstand that had seen better days, marked a town surrounded by lush farmland and countless rows of homes. Yet, despite its size, it held a cozy, close-knit feel, swelling warmth through Emmery’s chest.
Dozens of workers tended the fields, their bronze vestiges pulsing as they magically grew assorted vegetation. Blades in hand, their wounds dribbling blood onto the soil, and plants erupted to consume their offering. Workers with ice-blue vestiges levitated water and sprinkled it over the newly emerged greenery, seamlessly working in tandem.
Emmery gawked over her shoulder as Juno carried her into town. She’d never seen anything like it.
Vesper swung his leg and slid from Balthasar’s back, his cloak billowing behind him as he landed gracefully. After tapping the cuff, Balthasar’s body merely ... Emmery didn’t know how else to describe it—the horseevaporatedinto thin air.
Her eyes widened and Vesper winked, strutting over to her.
Would she ever get used to the casual use of magic? How long would she be captured by this wonder? A small part of her never wanted to lose it and trade it for familiarity.
Emmery tapped her cuff three times and Juno’s body did the same, hiding away, returning wherever it had appeared from. Emmery studied the cuff in bewilderment. What else could be enchanted like this? There were surely laws against these things. Limitations.
With a soft groan, Emmery braced her hands on her hips and stretched her aching back. Luckily, the ride with Juno wasn’t entirely unpleasant other than the steed’s obvious size, and they’d found a mutual rhythm, though Emmery’s thighs chafed and her muscles smarted. A good stretch and walk would help.
Aera shimmied down her body to walk alongside while Emmery’s attention darted everywhere.
There was too much to see. Too much to take in.
The village market, similar to those in the human lands, had stands full of trinkets, vibrant clothing, dangerous weapons, and luxurious fabrics. They avoided those and stuffed their packs full of produce.
Vesper conversed wordlessly with the young woman at the stand, sharing a series of hand gestures Emmery didn't recognize. All she could decipher was the woman’s refusal of payment, mostly by the vigorous shake of her head. When Vesper happily leaned across the counter, answering the woman’s pink lipped smiles with far too much eye contact and hand brushing, Emmery rolled her eyes and wandered off. Poor girl.
Aera toddled alongside, wings tucked tight and pointed ears swivelling. Occasionally, she squinted up at Emmery and gave a toothy grin. Emmery assumed she would be able to find a stand with medical supplies, but as she glanced around, she had no such luck. She had passed a healer’s quarters, but people were lined up out the door, mostly parents with sickly children. It was a heartbreaking sight, and Emmery didn’t bother to wait, figuring their attention was priority. She would tend to Aera’s wing herself.
The quaint houses, like most other towns, were built of stone or wooden planks reminiscent of her cottage. Simple. Small. Perfect. Multi-coloured flowers lined the front yards, butting the dirt road. Perhaps she could settle here after everything andstart her life. But would Maela be safe here? Would Emmery even survive today? There were too many unknowns.
Drawing herself from that far away dream, Emmery’s mouth grew parched as tall bottles of liquor caught her eye, calling with their siren song. A slender man with a hooked nose drummed his fingers on the stand, watching her sceptically as she fished a coin from her pouch.
“We don’t take that,” he said, eyeing the silver. “But we could trade. A bottle for that pretty watch?” He gave a grin of yellowed teeth.
