Everything moved quickly from that point on, and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to remember exactly what had happened. Mostly because I didn’t know if what I saw had happened at all. I had been so focused on Easton and keeping him alive, I’d missed it.
The Air sentries had indeed come aboard the ship. Their Wielding felt different. It was as if it weren’t tainted with evil or greed.
Considering that it had been a while since I had felt anything as fresh as that from people that weren’t lying destitute, or in a small town that had nothing to do with power, it was almost refreshing.
The sentries had shown up in light gray, almost cream robes and smiled at us, telling us that they’d been looking for us. Then said we should go. So, here we were, entering the Air territory, finally traveling to where Rhodes needed to go…and to where, hopefully, we could heal.
The Air territory was like something out of a dream. As someone who tried to run from her dreams, it sounded like a most apt description.
Everything was tall and high up in the air. There were large canopies everywhere, and the homes were built into the cliff faces as if anybody who needed to get anywhere could just fly, as if they had wings to go from one area to another.
I knew that the ground and water and all of the other elements were below, but everything in the inner sanctum was just higher, it’s elevation grander.
There were flags and billowy canopies everywhere, the wind harsh in some respects. But this high up, you would have thought it would have been even worse.
I knew it had something to do with the Air Wielders themselves because they controlled the element.
And they wouldn’t let it hurt their people.
Rhodes had explained as we came in that some of the Wielders could actually fly from area to area, though I had only been half listening because my attention had been on Easton. Others used rope bridges or different ways of getting around. Not everybody had the strength to use their Air Wielding in such a manner, of course, and he’d said that it was becoming even rarer as time passed because of the crystals failing.
I knew I needed to get to the court of the Lumière at some point, to see the crystal for myself.
I was drawn to it, much like I had been drawn to the Obscurité crystal.
I knew that once I figured out my five elements, I was going to have to figure out what to do with those crystals, too.
Or at least help someone else figure it out.
Because even though I had met some strong Wielders, the fact that so many were losing their Wielding and becoming weak as time passed, meant that the realm was indeed fractured. That people were dying.
But I was so exhausted right then, I couldn’t care. I couldn’t help.
I just had to focus on what was happening in front of me and take it one step at a time.
We had taken another airship, this one not as pirate-like as the Creed of Wings had. It had gone over the Air territory itself to get to the estate.
We had moved quickly, all of the Air Wielders using their Wielding in such a dramatic fashion that it didn’t feel as if we had been on the ship that long at all.
Though I knew the land mass must’ve been the same distance away as any of the other territories.
Everyone was in a hurry, and I had a feeling that things were going to get worse.
“We’re here,” Rhodes whispered. I looked up at the estate in front of us and sucked in a breath.
It was all white with large turrets and billowing flags and silks everywhere.
It was gorgeous and looked like a princess castle out of a fairy tale.
“It’s beautiful,” I replied.
“My grandfather may be the Lord of Air, but my grandmother is the Lady of Air and helped design it. She wanted something welcoming, something pure so others knew that they could come for safety even as they came for hope. But it was so long ago, that I don’t know if anyone actually remembers that message anymore.”
I gave him a strange look, but I couldn’t really ask him more because we were landing at the edge of the estate, and everyone was moving around quickly.
We were all bruised, and even I had some cuts and scrapes and blood on me.
Although Teagan, Arwin, and Wyn were bleeding, as well, they wouldn’t let anyone else take Easton from them. Instead, they used the gurney that the others had provided and carried their king out towards where the infirmary must be.
I wanted to go after them, but Rhodes held my arm. I blinked.
He was hurt as well, one eye sealed shut, and blood all over him, but he just shook his head.
“We’ll go to them soon. But first, you need to meet my grandparents. And I need to go, too.” He swallowed hard, and I watched the long, lean line of his throat work.
Yes, it was probably protocol for the Lord and Lady of Air to meet the Spirit Priestess, but I knew that was only part of it.
Rhodes didn’t want to be alone.
He was going to his grandparents to tell them that his mother, their child, was dying.
And he didn’t want to be alone.
I would be here for him for that. After all, that was why I was here. At least part of it.
Rhodes took my hand and kissed it, and I looked at him, frowning. My hands were covered in blood, except for the very tops, where he had placed his lips.
It didn’t feel romantic. If anything, it felt like a thank you. My head hurt, and I didn’t want to think about anything so difficult—more than I already was anyway—so I rolled my shoulders back and gave him a nod.
“Let’s go.”
“Thank you,” he whispered but didn’t let go of my hand as we walked down the plank towards where the estate was located.
People milled around, some shouting at one another and talking about different things that I couldn’t really hear. I heard the word Creed, and the words Spirit Priestess, but I ignored it all. Instead, I paid attention to the two people running towards us, the two who looked to be only a little older than me. But I knew they were Rhodes’ grandparents.
It was a little shocking, and I had to remind myself that someone who was five hundred years old could look the same age as someone who was twenty here. Age was a different construct in the Maison realm, and I had to remember that.
“Rhodes.” Rhodes’ grandmother ran towards us. “My darling. What’s wrong?” She cupped his face, and I looked over at her. I couldn’t help but stare. She had long, dark hair that had a similar wave to Rosamond’s. She was paler than both Rhodes and Rosamond but had the same sharp cheekbones and features.
Rhodes’ grandfather had dark skin that glistened under the light, with short-cropped hair cut almost in a military style. They both wore long robes, but I could see the battle leathers under Rhodes’ grandfather’s. It looked as if they’d both been waiting for us, and since that was what the sentries had said, it made sense. But it was also confusing. Because how could they have known?
How.
“It’s Mom,” Rhodes whispered and then cleared his throat. “Grandpa, Grandma, I want you to meet Lyric.”
Both of Rhodes’ grandparents looked at me, and they smiled, though it didn’t reach their eyes.
“We know who you are, dear Priestess,” the Lord of Air said, smiling, even though it didn’t really reach his eyes.
“I’m Lanya,” the Lady of Air said softly. “This is my husband, Holdar. Let’s get inside. We can check on your friends, and we can get you both bandaged up. And you can tell us what has happened to Áine.”
“I would say it’s good to meet you, but I know this isn’t under the greatest of circumstances,” I said softly.
Lanya moved forward and hugged me close. “Think nothing of it. Now, tell us what has happened to Áine, and we will discuss it more. I assume we will be headed towards the Lord of Water’s territory,” she said under her breath. I could tell there was tension there.
It just reminded me that there was so much more for me to learn.
“Rhodes, tell us what you know as we head inside,” Holdar ordered, though his voice was soft. “What’s wrong with our daughter?”
“She’s sick,” Rhodes answered, his voice breaking. “Dad sent me here to get you.”
“Why did he not send a note?” Lanya asked then shook her head. “No, don’t answer that. We know the answer. Because he likes ordering others around.”
Holdar and Rhodes shared a look, and I wondered what was going on. However, I didn’t think it was time for me to really know. After all, these were also the Lord of Water’s in-laws, so in a strange way, it made sense that they might not like their son-in-law. It just seemed out of place since we were also talking about territories and power. Then again, Maison and human nature seemed to parallel in some respects.
Eventually, Lanya led me to a room where someone helped me get bandaged up after washing my wounds, and then I showered, trying to wash away the grime and sweat while keeping my bandages dry at the same time—Water Wielding at its oddest.
I sighed, trying to figure out what I was going to do next. I knew I needed to see Rhodes, knew he might need me, but first, I needed to check on another. Easton had been so close to dying, and all because he had sacrificed himself for me. It hurt just to think about. So, I needed to make sure he was okay.
I stood in the shower for a while, ignoring my aches and pains, just letting everything wash away from me. I hurt, my head hurt, my body hurt, and my soul hurt. I hadn’t had time to just breathe, to figure out what was going on, but I knew this wasn’t over yet. It couldn’t be.
If I sat in the shower any longer, I knew that things weren’t going to get better, they would only get worse.
I dressed in soft, clean leathers that those of the Air Estate had left for me, and I was grateful. From what I’d seen, everyone either wore leathers like these or long, billowing dresses and robes that always seemed to be blowing in the wind. I liked the fact that they’d given me something to fight in instead of a dress because no matter how hard I tried to avoid it, it seemed I was always fighting.
I was exhausted and just wanted to go to bed, but I couldn’t. Not anytime soon. I didn’t trust myself. Not when I couldn’t control the power within me.
I looked down at my hands and tried to do what I normally did when I started my day, just stretch. I attempted to let my Air Wielding out, flicking my fingers ever so slightly, like I was rotating a shiny coin. Only it didn’t come. It was just a puff. I frowned.
I focused on what was inside of me, on the Wielding that I could feel pulsating within me, but it wouldn’t come out. I looked over at the pitcher of water and pointed my finger at it, just to see if I could float any water. Nothing came.
I couldn’t reach for the earth, not when I was in a building that I could bring crashing down by accident, so I just looked down at my hands again and tried to Wield.
Nothing came.
“You need to rest,” a deep voice said from the doorway. I turned quickly, and the water pitcher suddenly shattered, all three of my Wieldings hitting it at the same time.
I looked up at Easton and blinked.
“What are you doing out of bed?” I ran to him and put my hands on his face, then moved them down to his chest where he had been bleeding. Though he was wearing a shirt, it wasn’t laced in the front, so I could see where he had been stabbed. Everything looked healed, and there wasn’t a single scar on him.
“I’m fine, Lyric. They have good healers here. Everyone is getting patched up. Even you.” He reached out and pushed my hair from my face, and I tried not to lean into that movement. “It seems you healed me, as well.”
I looked up at him again, and then down at my hands where they still touched his chest. I quickly removed my hands and took a few steps back. I could feel myself blush, but I ignored it.
“I don’t know how I did it.”
“I don’t know either, but you can do surprising things, Lyric. Once you have the energy and the training.” He paused. “And once you believe in yourself again.”
I didn’t realize I was laughing until I was shaking with it. “Believe in myself?”
“Believe in yourself,” he snapped, but it wasn’t harsh. “You’ve had some knocks. Remember what Uncle Ridley said? Wielding comes from within. You need to focus on who you are so you can delve deeper into what you can do with your Wielding.”
I shook my head, studying his face. “I don’t understand what’s happening.”
“You used too much of your Wielding. It’ll come back. Plus, you’re shaking on what little ground you have. I get that.”
“I don’t know, Easton. I just don’t know anything anymore.”
“You’re awake,” Rhodes said as he pushed past Easton, careful not to actually jostle him.
“I am,” Easton said, his voice low.
I looked between them, and all of a sudden, they appeared exhausted, weary, and battle-worn. It didn’t matter that they were in different clothes and were both clean.
We all just seemed worn out.
It felt like this was the beginning again.
“You will need more training, and understand what the legend says, and then you’ll be able to work out all of your Wielding. No one has three elements like you do. So, of course, it’s going to take you time.”
“Well, I guess we’re eventually going to need to make it to the southern Spirit territory to figure out exactly what the rest of the prophecy is.”
“You know part of the prophecy?” Rhodes asked, his voice high.
“Part. But we don’t know exactly what it means. There’s only one place we haven’t really been to yet, and that’s the ruins of the southern Spirit territory. There’s got to be something for her there.”
“Well,” Rhodes began before I stepped in between the two of them.
“I love the fact that you two are talking about me like I’m not here. But we will deal with the next part of the plan after we deal with this. Because I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I think I’m just tired. That has to be it.”
Easton met my gaze, and the look he gave me said he knew I was lying. He likely knew I was afraid. I was scared because every time I attempted to use all three of my Wieldings at the same time, something bad happened. And Easton had been the one to save me each time. I hated that.
I refused to rely on him.
No matter what.
“If that’s what you want,” Rhodes said softly.
Before anyone could say anything else, there was a scream, and we all started running towards the throne room.
Air billowed about, and Wyn, Arwin, and Teagan were right on our heels as we made our way in.
The Lady of Air was standing on the dais, her face in her hands as she sobbed. The Lord of Air stood and watched over her, his eyes also filled with tears, his body shaking with rage.
I noticed a piece of crumpled parchment in his hand, and I knew.
I knew that someone had sent a note, even though they had sent Rhodes and the rest of us here.
Someone had sent a missive, just like they could have before. Rhodes should still have been in the Water territory.
Because as soon as the Lord of Air started speaking the words, I knew what they would be.
“The Lady of Water is dead. Áine is dead. My daughter is dead.”
As Rhodes fell to his knees beside me, I didn’t move, I couldn’t do anything.
Because I could feel the grief and didn’t know how to help. We had been sent away for a reason, I just didn’t know what it was.
We weren’t there, at Rhodes’ home.
And now the Lady of Water was dead.
Rhodes had lost his mother.
Still, somehow, we needed to figure out what was going to happen next.