Of course.
That was why the magic was so unreachable. Sometimes the magic could be accessed in other ways. I didn’t like the fact that this was something I needed to find out on my own, but it was nice to know that I had done it on my own. I could do this. I could do this on my own. Maybe that was what the gods were trying to show me this entire time. I was more than capable, I just needed to try.
CHAPTER THIRTY
JUNIPER
The garden was taken care of. I hadn’t needed to spill anymore blood, thankfully. But it took a lot more out of me than I thought possible. For days afterwards, I was exhausted. I could hardly move my body and the little cuts on my hands from the rough bark didn’t want to heal. It could have been from the magic or needing to sustain magic in the garden below. I wasn’t sure but I kept a thin pair of gloves on just to be safe. The thin bandages wrapped around my fingers itched but I didn’t dare try to air them out too often. Reva made a point that anyone could use my blood if I wasn’t careful and doing magic like that in front of others wouldn’t be happening again.
I agreed with her, though I didn’t like to be bossed around, I knew she meant well.
No more hiding from your duties. There was that voice again.
“So nice of you to join me, how can I be of assistance?” I plastered on a fake smile and spun around my chambers. I knew I would never see the magic or the god that spoke to me, but I liked to look anyway.
You’ve grown more agitated, as of late.
“You only speak to me when it’s convenient for you,” I retorted.
Do you miss us?
This time I hummed instead of speaking. Leave them guessing and whatnot.
There are more subjects you must meet. The dragons are agreeable.
The dragons? My eyes almost bugged out of my head. “Are you going to bestow a dragon’s tongue within my mouth for me to be able to communicate with them?”
Something like that. The voice sounded amused and I wondered what the god looked like. Their voice didn’t sound male or female, almost plain. There was nothing distinguishable about it. It was strange and ethereal, and almost pleasant.
“What should I wear?” I didn’t expect an answer this time but I got one.
Something brave, intimidating. You will be taking the sky beasts to meet them. Your closet will have the appropriate attire.
It was evident when the voice disappeared and I was alone again. I shivered as I marched into the closet. In the center of the room, on the tall chest of drawers, was a set of riding leathers. It wasn’t any kind of fighting leathers. The shoulders were encased in silver scales and the stomach was bare besides chain mail that was also fashioned with the same scales. The pants were black leather with the same scales down the fronts of the thighs. The boots were just tall enough to cover my ankles. There was even a helmet and gloves. The gloves were completely metal and looked extremely uncomfortable.
“Do I need to wear the helmet too?”
Silence. Of course.
I opted out of the helmet, knowing that I wouldn’t be going to battle today. If I had been, I was sure the magic/gods would have warned me. If not, oh well. All I could do was hope to live to see another day.
Alric’s jaw dropped when I emerged from my room. “Where did you find that?”
I shrugged. “Magic.”
“So evasive,” he pouted.
“It’s just the truth.”
“Your magic can do that?” It was Reva’s turn to be shocked.
A laugh escaped me. “No, this is all the god’s work.”
“It’s immaculate,” Alric circled me as he looked my armor over. “A bit risqué, but absolutely incredible.”
Reva cocked a red brow. “I think it’s empowering.”
His lips twisted. “You would.”
