Page 12 of The Ascended
The path to the caves was packed. It wasn’t just our people. Traders who'd come early for the festival marched along with us.
"There's Marel," Thatcher said, and his tone had me snapping my head up.
"So?"
"So nothing. Just pointing him out."
I caught sight of blonde hair near the front of the group. "Don't start."
"Start what? I'm not starting anything." But he was grinning in that way that meant he was absolutely starting something. "Though he asked about you again."
"When?"
"This morning. Wanted to know if you were coming tonight."
The flush hit me hard and fast. "What did you tell him?"
"That you'd be here. Unless you decided to throw yourself off the cliffs instead."
"Thatcher."
"What? It's accurate." He cocked an eyebrow. "You've been walking around like someone died all week."
"Someone might."
I heard the cold in my words too late, and Thatcher's teasing expression sobered. We walked in silence for a moment, the weight of tomorrow settling between us like fog.
"Hey." His voice was quieter now. "We're going to be fine."
I wanted to believe him. Gods, I wanted to believe him so badly it hurt.
"Yeah," I said. "Okay."
He studied my face for another moment, then nodded. "Good. Now come on, before Lira starts the whole thing without us."
The caves were already half full when we arrived. Someone had lit the torches early. Their flames whipped and sparked, casting flickers of shadow across the cave walls. I loved this place—had since I was a kid. The way the cave curved inward created perfect acoustics, your voice coming back to you changed and richer. Thiswas where the village came to celebrate everything. Births, marriages, good harvests, surviving storms.
"Thais!" Lira waved us over to where she'd claimed a spot near the center. "Perfect timing. I need someone to hang these."
She handed me a string of sea glass. For a moment, I froze, staring at the way the glass seemed to pulse with its own rhythm, wondering for a second if it had come from me. But no. Just a normal trick of the light. Thatcher plucked it from my hands.
"I'll do it," he said easily. "Thais is afraid of heights."
"I am not afraid of?—"
"Terrified," he continued, already moving toward the cave wall. And then I realized what he was doing—stepping in to distract from whatever he thought I had done. Always saving me, that one. "Absolutely paralyzed by anything more than three feet off the ground."
"Are you two going to bicker all night?" Lira interrupted, but she was smiling. "Because if so, I need to get more wine."
I settled onto the blanket she'd spread out, finally managing to set down the basket and bottle. The cave was filling up steadily—families finding their usual spots, friends clustering together, kids running between the groups like excited puppies.
"Wine?" Lira offered.
"Gods, yes."
She poured, and I took a grateful sip. It was good stuff—better than what we usually drank at home. "Where did you get this?"
"Trader brought it in yesterday. Said it was from somewhere south." She lowered her voice. "Cost me half a month's pay, but I figured... well. Special occasion."
