Page 102 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

20

Death Sails

River couldn’t believe that his magic had worked on Naia, considering there was something different about her, something that had allowed her to cross into the Ancient City. But she had fallen asleep and now he was bringing her to their room.

He watched her peaceful face, thankful that she was so close, that nothing bad had happened to her. There weren’t enough words to explain the fear he’d felt. And yet, he had made her sleep.

But what could he have done? He had to be cautious. On one hand, he didn’t want her to risk getting hurt, on the other, he couldn’t let her sway him from his course.

Some people compared having a big responsibility to carrying a boulder. River felt like he was juggling boulders. There had been a time when he wouldn’t have imagined that he’d take on such a burden. A time when he wouldn’t have guessed he’d ever be able to take any responsibility. He wasn’t sure if he missed those days or if he wished he could go back and do things right. But what did it matter now?

20 years before

Harsh,brash, irresponsible. Those were virtues, if one knew how to look at them the right way. River dressed in a simple white shirt and brown linen pants, hoping it made him look human.

The sun was high and most Ancients were asleep at this time, when he tiptoed out of the palace. He hadn’t told anyone where he was going, as some tasks were better carried out alone.

“River.”

He shuddered at his sister’s voice. Ciara was too shrewd for anyone’s taste.

“Yes?”

She stared at him with her dark-pink eyes. “I know what you’re doing.”

He gave her a smile. “If you mean going for a walk, I will say you’re very perceptive.”

“Spare your verbal knots, brother.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re going to Fernick to try to find the dragons, to try to find the staff, aren’t you?”

“Why do you want to know?”

She shook her head and extended her hand. “Here.” On her palm, there were five blue pebbles.

“The lapse stones?” Their grandmother had given them to Ciara before moving on to the afterlife. The issue was that nobody knew what they did. Or maybe nobody knew how to use them. Or, most likely, a silly combination of both.

“If any of us can figure them out, that’s you.”

River hesitated. “Our grandmother gave them to you.”

“And I’m giving them to you now. Take them.”

She had made up her mind, and when she did that, it was impossible to contradict her, so River did as he’d been told, and put the pebbles in his pocket.

She took a deep breath. “But please… come back. We’ll figure it out, we’ll find a way to win this war with or without that staff. Don’t risk your life for it. I know you’re feeling guilty because of Kanestar, but if you’re still here, it’s for a reason.”

“I’m trying to find the reason, sister. If I’m still here, I might as well do something useful.”

“You do know father is planning a mission to collect that staff, right? You don’t need to do this.”

“Hang on.” He stared at her and tried to keep his tone playful. “Do you want me to go or do you want me to stay? Because you don’t give someone a magical heirloom if you don’t want them to succeed.”

“I just want you to be careful. And to come back.”

“If everything goes right, I’ll be back before our father and the council even agree on whether they should try to send a mission to Fernick or not.”

“That’s what I’m hoping, that you’ll come back. Staff or no staff. Understood?”

River wasn’t going to return empty handed, but thankfully his sister wasn’t asking for a promise, but for him to tell her he understood her point, which he obviously did. He nodded. “Perfectly.”

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