Page 15 of A Trial of Two Worlds
We had to sail the length of the continent before reaching the northern pass, the departure site adding an extra day to our journey. And once we passed through, it would only be a few more days to Solace.
The distinct scent of the captain announced his presence before he spoke.“You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” I answered with a confident grin.
“Good. What do you have planned? I’ve tried crossing without Daxton a time or two—and it did not go well.”
“Do I want to know what happened?”
“Let’s just say this isn’t the first ship under my command. Others have been claimed by the sea for attempting to pass through without magic to part the way.” Fjorda crossed his arms and leaned against the paneled wall.
I reached into my pocket and wrapped my fingers around the solidified eye of the basilisk. The second key of the trials thrummed with power of its own in my grasp, almost begging to be released.
Here goes nothing.
“This should do it,” I said, presenting the key to the captain.
Fjorda’s eyes widened as he noted the eight-pointed star in the center, his gaze darting to the tattoo on my arm. “Let’s hope so.”
The ship’s sails were fluttering in chaos, a clear sign that we were nearing our intended destination.
“Tie them down!” Fjorda hollered as he walked with me to the front of the ship, pointing to the sails. “Ready the oars. I believe we’ll need the extra push through.”
“You didn’t have those out last time.”
“No, but there’s a different ambiance to the waters this time around.” Fjorda stroked his blond-speckled beard, deep in thought, almost like he was listening to guidance from the waters themselves. “Trust me, we’ll need them.”
“The sea is alive today, Captain,” a sailor said, his voice low and edged with unease. “The currents are restless. Churning, racing, spiraling in ways I’ve never felt before. This crossing isn’t like the others. There’s a tension in the air, a warning in my bones.”
I hesitated, glancing at the darkened waters below. “What should we fear in the depths?”
The fae sailor’s gaze flickered to me, his expression turning. “Some things, Champion,” he said gravely, “are better left unknown.”
My instincts told me not to push the matter further, and for once, I was inclined to listen.
“Your focus lies on getting us through. Mine is on keeping us alive on the journey across the seas,” Fjorda said.
I nodded. “Very well, I’m trusting you.”
“Likewise.”
I stepped into position at the bow of the ship and braced myself, the salt wind tugging at my sleeves. A faint trickle of raw magic prickled across my skin before I connected with the dominant power of the veil. My animal stirred just beneath the surface, her essence sharpening, awakened by the veil’s wild magic.
In my left hand, I held the eye of the basilisk, the power radiating from the small orb against my palm. Like a curtain drawn back by invisible hands, a route through the barrier appeared. The ship surged ahead with the synchronized power of the rowers, its rhythm steady and unyielding. At the forefront, the key glowed faintly, cutting through the unseen forces and carving a path forward.
Pricks of fire danced along my nerves as we moved through the veil. And just like before, it wasn’t until we passed through the outer barrier that I finally saw the beauty of the magic hovering around me.
The crystalline colors danced around us, but unlike before, I didn’t feel the intense waves of desire and lust running wild. There was a thrilling skip in my heart rate, but nothing compared to the first time I crossed.
“You’re holding up better on this voyage, I see,” Fjorda commented. “I’m glad to see your plan worked.”
I turned to him, still holding the eye. “This crossing feels different.”
The magic crackled along my skin, my senses sharp, alert, but the all-consuming heat I’d felt withDaxton was absent. No breathless longing. No flood of adrenaline threatening to drown me.
“Each one is,” he answered plainly. “Magic is as wild and unpredictable as the sea. And—” Fjorda paused as a half-grin slid along the corner of his mouth. “It is also known to heighten magic already present.”
Our mate bond.
