Page 98 of A Fractured Song

On the words, she strode from the building, leaving Marieke and Zev alone.

“Are you all right?” Marieke asked, the question tentative.

“I don’t know,” Zev admitted. “If I’ve led harm to them…”

“I know,” Marieke whispered.

He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know if the bargain was wise, but I had to try.”

Marieke nodded. “I felt the magic that surged up and bound you both when you agreed. It’s not something to be taken lightly.”

Zev nodded in acknowledgment, not needing the warning. If there had been a safer way, he would have taken it, but not if it might cost his family their lives.

Within minutes, Kiarana was back, surprising them with the information that she would personally lead them through the doorways that would take them to the point where the jungle met the eastern coast.

The journey required more than one doorway, but thanks to the magical innovation, it was completed in a matter of minutes. Before they knew it, they were standing on a cliff, the air tasting of salt, and a wind from the ocean giving welcome relief to the humid stillness. A gull swooped past, its cry more haunting than the birds usually sounded, as if it knew the gravity of their situation.

A rocky path led down the cliffside, and at its base a small boat bobbed in a cove. It would be cramped for the two of them to fit their human forms into it alongside the elven helmsman who would steer them, but they would make it work.

“Thank you,” Zev said, turning to Kiarana, who was to return through the doorways.

“Thanks are not necessary when assistance is given as part of a bargain,” she reminded him.

“I know,” said Zev. “But I also know that you took a chance on this bargain. My end of it may never become relevant. I told you, I don’t expect my future to involve influence or power beyond my own lifeand family.”

“I know what you expect,” Kiarana said, unconcerned. “But it’s not the future I see.”

“What future do you see?” Zev asked, frowning.

She met the expression with a smile that was too calculating to be warm. “One in which we work together. Farewell, Zevadiah of Aeltas.”

With that she disappeared through the doorway, the anomalous view between the trees disappearing with her until they were looking only at the coastal cliff before them.

“Bye,” said Marieke to the empty air, a touch sarcastically. She shot Zev a wry smile. “Good to be reminded of my significance.”

He returned the smile mechanically, although he did reach out to squeeze her hand. “You’re significant to me, Marieke.”

“I know,” she said quickly. “My pride isn’t really bruised. Much.”

Prompted by the elf who remained with them, they hurried down the cliff and into the boat. He wasted no time in pushing off, clearly under instructions from his future Imperator to make the journey as speedy as possible. They headed out far enough for the shore to all but disappear, presumably to avoid detection. Then he turned the boat northward, and activated a talisman attached to the back of the little vessel.

Zev didn’t need to be able to sense magic to know that this enchantment must be both powerful and sophisticated. They flew over the water, moving so quickly that the wind whipped his face painfully. And best of all, it didn’t require anything from Marieke. She leaned back in the boat, her eyes closed against the rushing air and spray, her voice silent as she conserved all her energy for whatever lay ahead.

They traveled through the night, both humans managing catches of uneasy slumber as the elf guided them silently on. By the time dawn was breaking, they had turned back toward theshore. Thanks to the magic, the journey that had taken them days over land had taken them less than twenty-four hours by sea. Surely Jade couldn’t have beaten them there?

Of course, they weren’t there yet. Zev’s home wasn’t on the coast. They still had many hours of travel westward over the land, which Zev knew would feel glacially slow after their time in the boat. They’d debated going through the canyon, but they didn’t want to risk being trapped there if Marieke’s voice was silenced and they couldn’t find a way up.

So instead they pooled their remaining resources to hire horses from the first village they encountered, Zev leaving his smaller blade—an expensive family heirloom—as collateral for their return. He’d never been so glad that Marieke was a competent rider as the two of them thundered over the roads, causing other travelers to pull out of their way with disgruntled expressions.

They didn’t even stop to eat, shoving food from their packs into their mouths when they walked their horses. As soon as the animals were rested enough, they pushed them back to a canter.

The afternoon was well advanced when the terrain began to look familiar, and Zev’s heart was in his throat by the time they finally reached his front gate. They thundered through it, having urged the poor, weary horses to a gallop for the last stretch of road.

“Mother, Father, Azai!” Zev slid off his horse the moment the animal came to a stop in the dusty yard. He was vaguely aware of Marieke dismounting and taking the reins of both creatures, but he didn’t stay to watch her lead them to the barn.

He ran toward the house, stopping in his tracks when he heard a shout from the directionof the field.

“Zev!”

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