Bright skies. A warm sun. An invitation to trouble.
I sat in the garden where it all began, my eyes closed and a smile on my lips. The sun soothed my aching muscles, still sore from my adventure in the pool. A month of recuperating hadn’t quite taken out the deep wounds I’d received.
“A nice day, is it not?”
I started and whipped my head around. Leiren strolled toward me with a gentle smile on his face. I watched in surprise as he took a seat beside me on the bench.
“You’re not watching the barrier?” I asked him.
“I heard your health had improved and came to satisfy your curiosity,” he revealed. I blinked at him. He chuckled and raised one hand. A thread of silver rose from his palm. “I noticed you showed some interest in my ability when I revealed my magic during our last adventure.”
“Then you really can use silvene magic like me?” I guessed.
“Very much so,” he confirmed as he closed his hand and the thread vanished. “I believe you and I are among the very few capable of using that particular element, making us almost as rare as Lord Eastwei.”
I lifted one hand and flexed my parted fingers. “So what does it mean to be able to use this kind of magic?”
He leaned his head back to study the sky. “I wish I had an answer to give to you, but such explanations are kept close by a higher deity than you or I.” He rolled his eyes to me and his smile widened. “However, I do know that we silvene are a very stubborn lot. Perhaps our strength comes from our confidence in our abilities.”
I snorted and dropped my hand into my lap. “I don’t think that fits me at all.”
He leaned down to catch my eye. “Then just imagine how strong you would be if you did have such confidence. You would be able to strike down those serpents tenfold with a mere look.”
His comment piqued my curiosity. “The serpent? The one I fought in the past?”
“Just the same.”
“Then did you guys know it was me who led you to Dadan all those years ago?” I inquired as I studied his face. “You and Lady Wuhel and Froumai were all there.”
His eyes twinkled. “What do you think?”
I leaned back and lifted an eyebrow. “I think you’re avoiding my question.”
“Well, let us say that we were very interested in you upon your arrival, and seeing you in your feline form at my home confirmed our suspicions,” he revealed.
“Lord Leiren! What a pleasant surprise!”
I leaned to one side and looked past Leiren to the door. Yushir and Arian strolled into the garden, the prince with a wide smile on his lips. Leiren stood and stepped to one side as Arian approached us.
“Please do not rise on my account!” she pleaded.
The ancient lord swept an arm toward the seat. “I rise on my own account, Lady Arian. I must return to my watch of the barrier.”
“How is it?” Yushir wondered.
“Slightly stronger for Lady Anna’s efforts, but Lady Wuhel will still craft a potion to strengthen the magic even more. If you will excuse me.” He bowed his head and slipped out of the garden.
Yushir watched him go while fiddling with his ring. “He is a very difficult book to read.”
Arian plopped down beside me and grasped one of my hands in hers. “How are you feeling?”
I grinned. “Just fine, but I’m sure you didn’t come here just to ask that.”
She blushed a little and her eyes flicked up to Yushir. “We, um, we have come to say goodbye.”
My heart skipped a beat and a little color drained from my face. “Say goodbye? Why?”
“What Arian means to say is we will be resuming my mission to speak with all the clan leaders,” Yushir spoke up.
She frowned up at him. “I had not yet finished, but yes.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Both of you are going?”
Arian’s faint red hue returned and she bowed her head. “I wish to be of use and I cannot think of a better mission than to assist Prince Yushir.”
Yushir’s face drooped at the impersonal name. “You may call me Yushir, Lady Arian.”
“And you may call me Arian,” she reminded him.
He grinned. “An apt trade we both often forget.”
“But perhaps I should be more personal with you,” Arian mused as she winked at me. “I believe my brother has given you the nickname of ‘Yushy.’”
Yushir shuddered. “I beg of you to refrain from that colloquial name, Lady-” She gave him a look of warning. “Arian.”
“When do you guys leave?” I asked them.
“The day before you do,” Yushir replied.
I blinked at him. “Me leaving? Where am I going?”
He lifted his eyebrows. “Has Dadan not told you? He intends to travel to the land of the demons and learn more about the Black Reign, particularly this individual who is spreading these seeds of evil.”
Arian gave the prince a pointed look. “Perhaps we should let Lord Eastwei explain the matter to her more fully.”
He cleared his throat. “Yes, I believe you are right, and we have a few things left to prepare for our trip.”
Arian returned her attention to me and squeezed my hand. “You will stay safe down there and return to me?”
I laughed and wrapped her in a hug. “When have I ever broken that promise to you?”
She eagerly returned the gesture. “Never.” She drew us apart and her eyes revealed reluctance. “But I fear for you. The demons are a monstrous lot and they have little love for gods.”
“No love,” Yushir chimed in as he set a hand on her shoulder. “But they do respect Dadan more than anyone else. If anyone can find anything more about the Reign in their archives, it will be him.”
Arian reluctantly stood and smiled down at me. “I hope to see you soon.”
“It’s a promise,” I swore.
She slipped away with the prince at her side. The bright, warm sun no longer allured me. I had too many questions in my head, and I set off to find the one god who could answer them. The fire dragon god himself, Lord Eastwei.
Otherwise known as my fiancé.
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