Iwatched Ace, in his silent grief, have a moment with his father. Hallan had died on the battlefield, and I had so much empathy. He didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to either of his parents like I had.
When he had finally woken up, he came and found me clinging to my pada and had to pull me away from him. Willow took his body to clean him up and prepare him for his send-off along with a few others that didn’t make it through the day. Watching her work nestled a seed of pride in my chest. Willow had been tending to our people along with the other elders from dusk till dawn. Despite her advanced age, she kept up with everyone’s needs. Being fae, we had endless lives unless killed. I couldn’t help but think of all the things she knew, all the stories she could tell. Now I understood why my mother had such deep respect for her.
I succumbed to nothingness. It took over like the poison that had coursed through my veins. This pain was nothing comparedto being hurt in battle or cut down in training. It was like losing your soul, but you had to continue living without it, becoming an empty husk that breathes and eats. Being alive was like the rivers. Their currents never stopped moving. Life wasn’t going to give me pause, regardless of the darkness that came with it. We had to keep going, keep breathing, living…for all of those who no longer could.
Wounded fae, battered and burned, limped or stumbled, trying to prepare for the send-off of their loved ones. Some bodies had made it, though not very many. Others had already turned to ashes in the wind, becoming one with the battlegrounds of Esora, or had fallen away to the waters of Draynua.
So many people were lost. I hadn’t seen one Sky Elf since the battle. Not a single feather, and I wondered if Ace was the last of his kind. That was who Ember had come for to begin with. Did they annihilate an entire race? For what? The thought made rage rise within me. Ace stood, turned to me, and didn’t sign a word; he only pulled me into a tight hug.
“You scared me. I woke up in some strange woman’s hut and you were nowhere to be found,” he signed as he pulled away.
“I’m sorry. I felt you were safe where you were.” My heart sank as I peered around at the destruction. “I just had to get here.” A ball formed in my throat and I had to fight to swallow it down before I fell apart again.
“I need a drink,” Ace signed, and I handed him my skin, but he shook his head at me. “Not that kind of drink.” He cocked his head to the side with a bemused look. “Have you ever drunk alcohol?” he questioned, and I answered truthfully.
“No, I haven’t. My mother would kill me.” The words hit me as soon as they left my lips and fluttered off my hands. She was gone too…
My father used to invite his friends over to drink and play Tile. It was a strategic game they would play and they’d bet with skins or coppers. Sometimes they’d even bet each other’s chores for the week. He would drink with them and always seemed to enjoy the time with his allies and friends, but my mother never drank and would have strangled my father with the water she wielded if he let me do it or even offered it.
I pushed it out of my mind for now as Ace continued, “I’m sure they would understand this once…” He released a heavy breath. “After the send-off, let’s get some air, away from all of this.” He gestured around and I nodded in agreement.
Willow walked up to us from behind and handed Ace a large cloak. “You need this. Ember left because they thought they had destroyed your kind. They scoured Esora for hours when they overtook the battle but came up empty. They left before Emelyn got here. Hide your wings if you're walking around in public in the light of day, and I’d only fly at night if you absolutely have to.”
Ace’s eyes were wide with adversity. His wings were a symbol of pride for his people and now, after losing them, Willow was asking him to conceal a piece of who he was. He stood there, shoulders tensed, going ramrod straight as if rooted to the ground. So still.
“Ace…” I touched his arm, pulling him from his trance. He had nothing to say as his brow knitted together in grief and anger. His features grew cold as he snatched the hooded cloak.
“I’m sorry, dear.” Willow’s brown eyes were stern but full of empathy. She placed her small hand on his shoulder before stepping away.
“Willow,” I called to her. “Who saved us?” I asked, and she turned toward us again.
“I did. Your father was so worried about you. He wouldn’t let go until he was sure you were safe.” Her voice was soothing, comforting, like a mother’s touch.
“No, I mean, who brought us to you? Who was that man?”
“A traveler in the woods found you near my home. Luckily, I was heading back for more supplies or I would’ve missed him.”
“What was his name?” I asked.
“I didn’t catch it. He left quickly, dear.” She gave me a warm smile. “I’m glad you both are okay.” She touched my cheek gently, and it reminded me of the touch from when I was drugged by the poison. I felt foolish for thinking it was the stranger that had tended to me. Everything I remembered was so blurred and distorted. I didn’t know how long I had been out or how far the man had dragged us along before reaching Willow, but I was thankful he had helped us.
The moon loomed high in the night sky as Ace and I stood on the sandy beaches overlooking the calm waters of Draynua. Its light made the white sands look silver. Soft waves lapped against the shore as we prepared the small boats. We had spent the rest of the evening bending and molding them for those that had passed. As I whipped my water through the wood, I couldn’t help the burning behind my eyes while I prepared the boat that I would soon lay my father to rest in and shoot an arrow through in remembrance of him. It was all too much to process and, for a moment, I just wanted the emotions to stop.
Ace and I helped one another as we pushed the boats out into the open waters. Willow said a prayer, hoping those lost would find their way into the next life. Fae lit their arrows as theypassed by the campfire. All of us had lost someone. Ace and I were two of the last to light our arrows as we stood in a line with everyone else. All of us pinched our bowstrings, pulling them past our faces as we aimed.
“Mai lao kahi.” I choked over my words. “Until we meet again.” I released my hold on the taut string and the flaming arrow hit its mark as the boat slowly engulfed in flames. The heavy fog resting over the waters in the distance made the flames on every boat look soft, almost beautiful. They were like a light showing you the way in the dark, until they slowly dissipated to nothing and the only thing left were the soft cries of the injured left here to live on.
I decided in that moment that I would live for my parents and for all those who were lost that day, and we would rebuild from the cinders and dust left behind from this battle. But for now, I just wanted to take a moment to forget the ache in my heart.
Ace had flown us to the cliff’s edge. He wasn’t doing well with the idea of not using his wings or hiding them. My legs dangled over the side as I looked down at the free fall below, where I had almost become a puddle of blood and bone before.
It was the middle of the night and we had both sent off our parents to the next life, along with having already drunk two bottles of something called gin. I learned that not only did the Sky Elves have excellent tea, they apparently knew how to drink, too. Fermenting juniper berries and grain had a way of taking the edge off. At this point, my vision was blurred, and I was sure my signing was just as slurred as my speech. But Ace still went back up to Heavensreach to grab more.
Earlier, when he flew up the mountain for the first time, he told me how there was nothing left. The flames had consumed everything. Apparently, the only reason he was able to get alcohol was because Hallan had a stash in a small cave along the mountainside. You had to fly to get to it.
I smiled at the thought. It sounded like him. I imagined my father probably teased him about it, but then they would meet there for gin and Tile. I could see it so clearly in my mind’s eye. After clearing my throat, I tore the image out of my head and became a mess of tears. We were supposed to be giving ourselves a small reprieve, a moment to just try to forget the bad and remember the good, and I didn’t want to ruin it by sitting in a pool of my own tears.
I rubbed my hand down my face as Ace landed with two more bottles and a small bag of something. I stood, stumbling over to where he landed.
