I felt my stomach drop. I wished I was asleep so I didn’t have to hear this, yet I couldn’t help but wait for her response.
I wouldn’t blame her if she did. I hated me, too.
“Silas?”
I imagine Roland nodded.
“No. No, I don’t hate him.”
Even though my eyes were shut, I could swear I felt her eyes on me.
Chapter Forty-Eight
LENA
Itwasn’tuntilthefollowing evening that we finally reached the base of Mount Rozavar. The sun was just starting to set, so we still had some time left with light. The mountain was enormous—I recalled Igon telling me it was close to thirteen-thousand feet.
“We’re supposed to climb that?” Erabella asked with her mouth hanging open. My people looked at one another with widened eyes, various voices whispering in concern.
“No,” I replied, hopping off my horse. “I was told there’s an enchanted symbol here, only visible to a Mage’s eyes.” I looked around the massive mountain and let out a sigh.
Who knows what part of the mountain it’s on?
“Anyway, it should teleport us up. So long as we get approval.”
“Are you sure your people's clothing will be accommodating enough?” Hendry asked. It was already quite chilly by the mountain base, and because the top wasn’t visible, it was understandable to think it would be worse at the top.
“The top of the mountain is actually a warm climate, adjusted by the mountain dweller’s wife—her gift is weather control,” I said.
“So…does anyone see this symbol? What does it look like?” Merrick asked while squinting and glancing all around the mountain. His silver-white hair was down and moving with the wind.
I frowned as I recalled the drawing Igon had shown me. “It should be a swirl that slithers downward—little symbols along its tail.”
Merrick, Elowen, Viola, and I split up, searching alongside the base of the mountain, as well as a handful of those from Ames. We stayed close enough though—I didn’t want one of us finding the symbol and the rest being far away.
After roughly twenty minutes, we found it.
“Here! I think…” Elowen called. We all quickly ran over. Sure enough, the symbol from Igon’s map was present, glowing a light green.
“You see something there?” Silas asked with a quirked brow.
I walked forward, running my hand along the illuminated mark the size of my hand. “Indeed. This is it.”
“Who wishes to visit my mountain?” a man’s voice boomed, causing all of us to stagger back. Well, all us Mages, anyway.
“What is it?” Roland hissed.
I cleared my throat. “My name is Lena Daelyra. I come with my people from Ames.” I bit my lip for a moment. “Igon Natarion sent me here…more or less.”
“Igon…” the voice said. “Is he with you?”
I steadied my voice. “I’m afraid not…he…he was killed.” I felt a lump in my throat but pushed past it. “We were attacked in our home. My people have nowhere else to go.”
There were so many moments of silence that I thought the voice may have left.
“I take it you are the Supreme now?” the voice asked quietly.
“I am.”
