Page 88 of Sanctuary of the Shadow
Suddenly, it all became clear. Deep within her, the turbulent Water that had assailed her for hours suddenly calmed to glassy stillness in accordance with her new conviction.
Go to him, it said again.Protect him.
This time, she didn’t fight it. It didn’t matter what Raith had done in the past. He’d been tortured, coerced, and tortured again… She couldn’t abandon him. How could she have betrayed him like that? He never would have done such a thing to her, no matter what crimes she’d committed.
By the Goddess, she was worse than Furie. At least Furie had avenged her lover with undying ferocity.
Harrow had stabbed hers in the back.
“What have I done?” she whispered in quiet horror.
But Nashira wasn’t finished yet. “Of all the Elements, Fire and Water are the most conflicting. Merging them in perfect balance as Darya did? An impossible feat. Yet not so, for it occurred. Even more spectacular, created in part by Water magic, he came into existence with a powerful tie to the only other Water Elemental being in this world—you.”
“H-half my soul.” That was why her power rose when she was near him. Not because she was in danger. Because the Water in her was responding to the Water in Raith, reaching out to him, strengthening them both. Together, they were stronger.
“But it goes deeper than that. The Fire and Water Elements are restless from centuries of strife. The great Goddess responded to the imbalance. Two beings of opposing natures were brought into existence in the most conflicting scenarios. Is unconditional love and acceptance not the perfect way to heal the rift?”
“We’re supposed to heal the rift? How? What do we do?”
“Oh, it’s simple. You were already doing it, in fact, until you buggered it up so royally.” Nashira shot her a glare. “Betrayal. Abandonment. Why, you’re as bad as my sisters.”
Harrow couldn’t deny it.
“I have to find him.” She suddenly didn’t care about Furie or Darya’s revenge or anything at all except Raith. In fact, she was disgusted she’d ever allowed herself to be caught up in it in the first place. She jumped to her feet, beseeching Nashira. “Please help me find him. I can’t believe— I never should have—” She swallowed hard. “Please help me.”
Nashira studied her carefully. “You have much to amend, child.”
“I know.”
“You were given a great gift, and you squandered it.”
Tears obscured her sight. “I know. I just want to make it right.”
Finally, Nashira nodded, her face softening. “If only you’d been here yesterday. This could have all been avoided. Now, it’s too late.”
“It can’t be too late. I refuse to believe that.”
Nashira stood suddenly, setting her crystal ball on the sofa and holding out a hand to Harrow. “Come. We’ll visit the tavern.”
Harrow took her hand while Nashira held out her other to Malaikah, who grasped it and stood. The Ether Queen’s blue eyes started to glow, and the air crackled until it was hard to breathe. Suddenly, they were sucked away into oblivion.
Only to reappear in Harrow and Raith’s room at the tavern.
…
“What was that?” Malaikah shrieked.
Harrow swayed on her feet, feeling a bit green. She knew Travelers could teleport, but only themselves, not others. But it made sense that Nashira, as Queen of the Ether, could—
Everything in the world ceased to matter when Harrow noticed the state of the bedroom.
The bedsheets were torn to shreds, the furniture upended or smashed completely. One window had been ripped from its frame and smashed into a thousand shards. Blood painted the walls.
Raith was gone.
Harrow swallowed her scream as the rest of the room came into focus. There were others there. Ouro was facing off with an imposingly tall male, the two staring each other down.
Salizar.
