I took a step forward, put my hand under her chin, and forced her to look in my eyes. “There will be other times to run. I know you’re afraid. I know losing Oleo crippled you. But I also know there’s a smart ass, lovable vixen hiding somewhere in there, and I hope someday she returns to me because that strong, relentless warrior would not back down from this fight.”
She brought her hands up to my arms. “Maybe he’s done it. Maybe he’s already won. Maybe he knew taking Oleonis from us would shatter me so thoroughly I’d never be able to repair myself. And maybe he saw us together that night. At the ball. And realized if he broke me, he’d break you too.”
“Perhaps he thought that’s what would happen, but instead he lit a fire in my soul. I am not irreparably broken, but I am forever changed. I’ll never be the male I was before, and maybe that’s added to the space between us, but I won’t go back. I’ll never be his to command again. I have to do this, and I’m sorry if you can’t understand it.”
“I understand it. You were always the best of us all, Tem. You’ve always said your true nature was to heal, and I honestly believe that. But not just a single fae or even a group. I think you’ll heal the world.”
Without another word, she carried us away.
“A bit overdressed, aren’t you, healer?” a voice from behind me asked.
I pivoted on the sandy beach and quickly counted heads.
“Do we have to leave?” one of the injured rebels asked, tilting her head back into the warmth of the sun.
“It is lovely, isn’t it?” Gaea responded.
“I can’t believe this place exists,” the male whose leg I had healed said. “Clearly, we need to get out of the north.”
“Trust me,” she answered. “It’s not all sunshine and soothing waves in the rest of the world. Are you all ready to go?”
“I’m ready,” the male that had readily carried an ax said, stepping forward. “This is all beautiful, but it’s unsettling to just sit around waiting. It’s time to fight.”
“Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to fully restore my magic before I was called in by the king. I’ll examine you all, do what’s best, and Gaea here will take you one at a time to a spot near Bryer’s Keep.”
“Well, I’m fine, so I’ll go first,” said the female with the staff.
We worked our way down the line until I came to the female with the wing I had taped up. “I see you’ve taken off the bandage.”
“Can you still heal them?” Her cracked lip quivered.
“Yes. Healing a wing does not take a great amount of magic.” I smiled and placed a hand near the crease in her wing. She sucked in a breath between her teeth and I let my magic free, pushing through the tips until her shoulders dropped and she sighed in relief. “All done.”
She flapped them back and forth, and a smile grew across her face. “Thank you, healer,” she beamed.
Once Gaea had taken the whole crew, she placed her hand in my own. “Do you want to see them through, or do you want to head to the ruins?”
“Did you see that ax? I think they will be okay. Let’s see if we can find this flower and then decide what to do.”
“Can we talk about the flower?”
“Sure. It’s called the adda. The flower itself looks like glass, like ice, but the leaves resemble flames. It’s the stuff of legends though. I’m not even sure we can find it. I’ve heard of it and brought a few books, but even Oleo had never seen one. He told me about it ages ago, and that’s the only reason I know of it.”
“Don’t you think it’s odd that the king has us, two of his prized fae, hunting down something as ridiculous as a flower? I think he’s planning something, Tem. Something bigger than anyone ever saw coming.”
“I’m listening.” I removed the heavy cloak before I started to sweat.
“Well, remember when I told you Autus made me take Thane on a hunt, but he wouldn’t tell me what we were searching for? And then the business with Ragal and The Bog? And now we are hunting down a flower that’s only heard in legends? Sounds like a recipe to me.”
I remembered Oravan telling me about the sword he had demanded from him. I’d never thought to ask if he finished it before the rebellion took him and his family into hiding. I hadn’t considered it might be for anything more than an ornament for a king during war.
“You’re right. So, we find the flower but don’t hand it over? Or we find a fake? I doubt the king knows what the flower physically looks like. It’s a risk though. I can’t be sure.”
“Let’s see if we can find the real flower, and while we journey, you see if you can remember or find anything in your books that might pass for it.”
“Okay, let’s go.” I flung my heavy cloak back around me and lifted the deep hood until my face was completely hidden. Gaea did the same. The bite of the frozen air mixed with the sound of the whistling northern winds created an atmosphere that did not encourage small talk.
I considered what Gaea had said about healing the world and wondered if she knew the truth of my magic, if she would condemn me to annihilate it. Could I use my magic against the king, or was he too strong? Would the risk be worth finding out if I could stop a war? But then I also remembered the sea queen and knew I’d never be able to stop the war, even if I could defeat him. As long as the courts had the royals they did, this world was condemned whether by my hand or the king’s hardened fist.
