Page 6 of Winds of Ruin
Just before I met a painful landing, a gust kicked up below me, and spatters of mud from the puddles coated my face. The air caught my body, cradling it before I landed knees and palms first, with no injury beyond some bruising.
“Thank you, Siro,” I gasped as Fen yanked me upright by an elbow.
“You alright?”
The spiders descended from webs, and I fought every urge to scream.
“Yes. Let’s go!” We ran for the mouth of the cave. I stumbled, nearly forgetting to avoid the lethal steps. Fenris shot flames behind us to deter the chasing creatures.
My blood ran cold as we barreled up the last steps and threw ourselves out of the cave.
“Close it, close it, close it!” I yelled as Fenris stretched a palm toward the opening.
He rapidly shouted a Phynnic spell, and the rocks melded together.
One of the spider’s legs reached out toward us, caught between the closing walls of stone. The leg writhed for only a moment before falling limp.
I stumbled to my knees. “Why did it have to be spiders?” I groaned as Fenris heaved out a breath and put his hands on his hips, tipping forward.
“That was far too close. I understand why Krait gripes about you doing this alone.”
Ignoring his worry, I retrieved the mirror from my leather belt where I’d secured it. Flipping it over, I sighed with relief to find the glass unbroken.
“What is it?” he asked.
“A mirror, but I can’t see any reflection in it at all. It’s just black…”
Fenris straightened and looked at the dark pane. “Think it’s one of Isolde’s relics?”
Running my fingertips over the smooth obsidian surface, I shook my head. “I’m not sure… but we should get it back to Luz.”
A lump grew in my throat.
Luz had never been home for me. I avoided it as much as I could, though it was becoming harder now with wanting to see Larkspur, Sybilla and Krait’s daughter, grow up.
“Don’t look so excited,” he chided.
I’d let it slip over a bottle of wine that I hated staying in the palace. Telling Fen had felt like a betrayal to Sybilla and Krait, who welcomed me as family.
Facing Ryn’s bronze face at the door each time chipped away at me, but I’d never told them.
“Well, this seems as good a time as any. I have an idea to run past you about the orchard.” Fen combed a hand through his hair as he mentioned our childhood home.
I quirked a brow. “Near-death experience got you sentimental?”
He huffed a laugh. “I’d like to turn the deed over to you. Sybilla mentioned you enjoy spending time there.”
Stiffening, I tightened my grip around the mirror’s handle. Leave it to my dear friend to be nosy about my whereabouts. Since my Source power emerged, I’d gotten better at shielding myself from her prying mind, but she must have seen that the Lamoreaux Estate had become my escape from matters of the courts and my duties within them.
There, among the ever-plum orchards, I found peace in memories that were often bittersweet. The grounds helped me face my darkest moments in the solitude I needed.
Unbeknownst to most, I’d renovated the quarters above the stables to stay in. It was the only stone structure that had remained sound through the centuries. I’d found, tucked away there, artifacts of a life I’d once lived—my father’s beloved pocket watch, an old rocking horse I’d played on as child, a few quilts that smelled dusty now but still elicited the memory of warmed plum cider tickling my nose.
“Why me? You and Asterie could build a nice life there.”
My brother and his betrothed deserved a place to call home.
“I’m unsure there will be a time when we settle anywhere outside of Luz. Asterie wants to travel. I thought you’d care for the place better.”
