Page 80 of Beneath the Flames
I knew little about Eroth and yet I wanted to bring a little piece of life back to it.If I could.
“Growing things can take a long time though.It could take weeks.”
I hated the thought of being stuck here for even longer.I had no idea if my family was okay.I needed to get home.But if this was my task, then this was my only option.I would have to find the patience, and the faith, that my family would survive without me until I could get home.
Rhydian lifted his hands, gesturing around him.“Time is in short supply.The Magmara may not last that long.There really is no telling when the last petal will fall, when Eroth will join it.”Rhydian looked at me with a strange expression that I hadn’t seen before.“But I will do my best to aid you, however I can.”
I offered a small smile.“We should start as soon as we get back to the castle.”
He shook his head.“You should rest.”
“There isn’t time.Show me where I should begin, and hand over the seed, and I’ll get to work.I might need other supplies to help the soil come back to life though.”
“Whatever you need, either Nico or myself will find it.”
Our gazes met, and for the first time, it sort of felt like Rhydian and I were almost…friends.Or at least on the same side.It no longer felt as though he was my kidnapper, but instead that we were motivated by the same thing.We might want to break the curse for very different reasons, but we had a common goal, a purpose, and that felt new.It felt nice.
Rhydian’s hand brushed mine as we walked, and I didn’t miss the way a jolt rippled up my arm, nor did I miss how he left his hand there, not jerking it away in disgust like I expected he would.
Maybe, just maybe, Rhydian Malathar wasn’t as bad as I thought he was.
Ionce hated Shadow Ire Castle.
I had hated the way it should have been dark and dingy everywhere, but somehow everything was white and light instead.I hated the maze-like hallways and the way Mount Kharos was perched in the distance from nearly every window, taunting me.
For countless years, I had dwelled in this castle and never once appreciated it.
Until now.
Maren, panting for breath and shivering beneath her giant coat, stood next to me as we stood outside the gate, staring up at Shadow Ire.It loomed like it always did, pieces of it crumbling, dead vines enclosing other parts entirely.Once upon a time, it used to be the envy of the four kingdoms—a magnificent castle passed down through the centuries.But now it was merely a shadow of what it used to be.The cursehad not been kind to the building, decades of decay causing entire wings of the structure to crumble, dead vines devouring the stones.
Until the curse was broken, there was nothing I, or anyone, could do to stop it.It was inevitable.For the first time, I felt a pang of sadness at the sight.
Standing here with Maren, who looked up at it in awe, I felt a glimmer of affection for the castle I had been trapped in for so long.It suddenly didn’t seem as full of shadows as it once was.
Perhaps it was the light that Maren brought with her that chased them away.
Maren let out a shivering breath.“We made it.”The relief was palpable.
It had been decades since I had journeyed to Mount Kharos and back, and I had forgotten just how long and miserable the trip could be, especially since Eroth had started deteriorating.
Out of the corner of my eye, the Scorching Rivers came into view, slowly creeping toward us, seeking a meal.Instinctively, I reached for my magic, ready to push them back, but nothing happened.
I tried again.Still nothing.
They crept closer.
Maren noticed then and looked up at me, a crease forming between her brows.I appreciated that she didn’t ask me why I wasn’t doing anything to stop the lava from reaching us.For the first time, it felt as though she had an inkling of trust in me.
It had been so long sinceanyonehad trusted me that it was almost intoxicating.I found myself suddenly wanting to give her more reasons to put her faith in me.
I pulled one final time, forcing my drained magic to bend to my will.
Golden magic finally appeared in my palms, and relief swept over me.
Not gone then, just severely depleted.
The golden light pushed the Scorching Rivers back, and I swore I heard them hiss in response.Before it disappeared, my magic pushed the gates open, and I waved Maren inside where the wards would hopefully continue to keep the lava out.
