Ace kept tossing daggers into a nearby tree and would use his air bending to bring them back to himself.
“What is all this?” I gestured to all the things dangling from the nearby trees.
“They all hold a story or have a purpose. Would you like to learn about them?” she asked, and I nodded, peering up at them all. “Alright, how about you pick one and I’ll tell you a story about it?” She gave me a smile, and all I wanted was to hear her knowledge.
“What about that one?” I pointed to the sun and the moon and she shook her head as if she knew I was going to suggest it.
“I think most of us know that story. But it’s one of my favorites, so I’d love to tell it. The wind chime represents the god of the sun and the goddess of the moon. Long before ourtime, they waged war. Neither won nor lost, neither stronger than the other, but equals. Always tugging and pulling against one another. After centuries of endless strife, the moon became tired and dull, and the sun took notice, giving her a sliver of his light to bring back her glow. The exchange created peace among them, and they blessed Osparia. Their power coated the land, soaking into the ground and becoming one with the people that dwelled here, blessing us with the abilities we have today.” She paused, glaring at Ace. “Which is why we should use our abilities for more important things rather than knife throwing and being too lazy to get up and go get it.”
The knife fell midair at her statement and Ace rubbed his neck as his face bloomed with embarrassment. I giggled under my breath but felt a pang of sadness fill my heart. My mother would use those same words on me. The loss of her filled me suddenly, unexpectedly.
I missed my ima and pada more than words could describe. Willow had been the only thing keeping me grounded. I felt she did the same for Ace, too, after everything that happened. She kept us busy in our ways of life and hadn’t mentioned who we all lost the day Ember came. Willow’s voice brought me out of my thoughts.
“How about you pick something every day, and I’ll tell you its story every night before bed.” She gave me a warm smile, leaning over to give my hand a gentle squeeze as if she could hear the thoughts in my head.
“Sounds like a plan,” I said, returning the gesture.
And she did.
Over the following months, Ace and I learned of plants, tending wounds, cooking delicious foods, and trading at the dock markets, and every night, after our long days of labor and learning, she would tell us a story. Some were about dragonsand other fantastical beasts that roamed our world, while others were lessons on those we should fear.
Willow had become our anchor in our storm of grief, and I was thankful.
Chapter Twelve
Stranger
The old woman in the woods hadn’t lost her touch like I would have thought. When she saw me lugging Emelyn and her winged companion along, she assumed I was doing them harm, turning them in to Valla. But in reality, I was saving them.
I watched as Emelyn fell from the sky in the arms of the elf, and I slipped away from the battle. Fear consumed me. My need to get to her made my legs act, and my boots had sunk into the bloody soil. That was the only reason I had come to begin with. I didn’t want to be a part of this war, but it was too late for that.
They had been poisoned and were covered in blood and sweat. I quickly treated them as best as I could before dragging them through the forest. I had to get them far enough away, and that was when I was met by afamiliarelderly woman with a temper.
I rubbed at my side where she had knocked me on my ass from the force of her bending. The water soaked me and she left my side black and blue from the impact. It would heal soon, but she was powerful, given her age. I’d give her that.
I stood on the ship’s deck, peering out over the dark waters of Draynua. Not a sliver of land was in sight as we changed course, heading back to Iron Isle Harbor. I watched the waves crest and bob in the never-ending distance of blues as the sky met the sea. The ocean breeze misted my face, and a sense of calm enveloped me.
I had done it; I had found her. And I would do everything in my power to keep her safe, even if it meant staying away.
To be continued…
Islands Of Ash
an osparia series novella
By Lashell Rain
Chapter One
Ihad been lying to my people about my whereabouts throughout the day. As a recently marked chieftess, I felt guilty about it. I should be open to them as their protector, but I still hadn’t mustered the courage to tell Baron what I was doing. I guessed that didn’t make me a dutiful wife either, let alone a leader.
But I realized that the fae warriors of our small piece of the world of Osparia had traditions, customs so instilled within them, they would never find this acceptable. They would never change their ways for the dragons that roamed through the Espien Islands—our islands. Maybe I was the crazy one as I stood in front of one, talking out loud to her as a friend while I mulled over all the thoughts in my mind.
The battle between dragons and warriors had raged on from when I was a babe. Before my time, the fae of our islands only had one view of the dragons—that they were vile bestial creatures that roamed our land and stole our food. Over time,it became a tradition that if you slayed one, they considered you one of the finest warriors, the title being something to be proud of. One of the customs that my people still lived by was simple. When you became of age, you slaughtered a dragon to prove yourself worthy of being titled as a fae warrior. But I had never viewed them as dreadful beasts. If anything, I had seen a reflection of myself through Emeris.
Beyond that simple rule, we had lived peacefully amongst them since times of old. I ran my hand up and down Emeris’s rough leather-like skin. The light reflected off of her scales, making her almost look dark purple, although her color was black from a distance. She nudged me with the side of her angular head, and I giggled, smiling up at her. Her bright-yellow eyes met mine, and I admired her fierceness. That was something I needed more of.
“How about one more ride for the day, Ris?” She perked up at my offer, spreading her wings with a purr of excitement before she lowered her colossal frame down to the ground so I could get on her back. I climbed on, and she nudged my leg with her snout to ask if I was ready as she inched toward the edge of the cliff. I patted her neck, letting her know I was, as she spread her wings and dropped over the ledge. Her wings caught the wind, and we were soaring into the clouds of the open blue sky. My smile stretched across my face, and the wind tousled my long braided locks as Emeris’s powerful wings took us farther out to sea. Once we were far enough away from home, we flew below the clouds and enjoyed the views before grabbing fish from the depths of the ocean and heading back.
