Page 69 of Prince of Blaze and Embers
I leaned into him, my head resting on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. The storm outside had subsided, the rain now a gentle whisper against the cave entrance. The soft crackle of the distant fire was soothing, a reminder of the warmth and comfort that awaited us outside. I staggered with trembling legs back up the cave to the fire and to our friends. When I got there, I guzzled down water from my watersack, all the while Bella glaring at me with a snarky gaze and an upturned eyebrow. Cade cleared his throat as he sat, sending a soothing smile my way.
CHAPTER 33
With a thunderous roar, Errax launched into the sky, her immense wings flapping powerfully. The force of her ascent sent shivers down my spine, a thrill that filled me with awe and wonder. The morning air was cool and the wind rushed past us, carrying with it the sounds of the forest below. The trees were a distant blur of green and brown, a sea of vibrant colors that seemed to stretch endlessly.
As we climbed higher, I marveled at the view. The forest was a breathtaking landscape, the sunrise casting a golden glow over the treetops. The river sparkled in the sunlight, its meandering path a reminder of our journey ahead. The terrain was rugged and ancient, a testament to the eons that had passed before us.
Errax soared through the air with a steady rhythm, her powerful wings beating the wind with a mighty force. The sensation was exhilarating, a thrill that filled me with a sense of freedom and empowerment I had never known before. With each stroke of her wings, I felt more alive, more determined than ever.
Cade flew beside us, his expression steady and focused. Krakos' dark scales shimmered in the sunlight, his powerful forma sight that would have filled me with dread only weeks ago. The dragon's eyes were a deep red, almost glowing with a burning intensity. The fire within him was palpable, a raw power that could easily consume almost any form of life in Allovan.
Hunter and Bella flew behind us, their forms silhouetted against the brightening sky. The sun ascended higher, casting a warm glow over the landscape below. The day was clear and the air was fresh, a perfect morning for our journey.
As we continued deeper into the Faewood toward the spot they'd found the mystic, the terrain changed. The trees grew taller and denser, their ancient trunks thickening with age. The river narrowed, its path becoming a winding snake through the dense underbrush. The rocks became more pronounced, their jagged edges sharp and imposing.
"Ash!" Bella called out, her voice filled with excitement. "Look over there!"
I looked in the direction she was pointing, and my heart leaped into my throat. In the distance, a massive structure loomed, its stone walls towering above the treetops. It was a building unlike any I had ever seen, its ancient stones etched with intricate carvings and adornments. The structure was immense, its decrepit, time-worn towers reaching high like jagged fingers pointing toward the heavens.
Cade nodded, his voice steady despite the awe of the sight. "That's the mystic's sanctuary," he said. "The old world ruins, hidden deep within the Faewood. We need to be wary. This place is ancient and unprotected."
Hunter and Bella nodded in agreement, their expressions serious and focused. Errax let out a low rumble, her emerald eyes reflecting the sunlight that filtered through the dense canopy. I could feel her unease, but pressed her forward. I focused my thoughts on her, reaching out with my mind. This is the place, Errax. Take me down there, and remain vigilant. I thought, my mind reaching out to her.
Errax responded with a surge of speed, her wings slicing through the air with a force that sent my hair whipping behind me. She dove lower, scanning the forest below with a keen intensity. I clung to her scales tightly, my heart pounding in as I scanned the landscape for any sign of shelter.
As we approached the sanctuary, I marveled at the intricate details that covered its walls. The stone was ancient, worn with age and weather, yet it held an aura of power and majesty. The building was a relic of a past long forgotten, a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of those who had come before.
Cade led the way as we descended, his expression serious and focused. Hunter and Bella followed closely behind, while Errax's powerful wings flapped with a steady rhythm that seemed to echo the beat of my own heart. The sensation was exhilarating, a reminder of the incredible creatures that carried us through the sky.
As we landed, the ground beneath us trembled slightly, the earth compressed under the weight of the dragons. The air was still, wet with morning dew, a stark contrast to the wind that had accompanied our flight. The sanctuary loomed before us, its massive stone walls casting a long shadow over the forest floor. The ancient structure seemed to hold a deep, hidden history, a story of power and knowledge that had been lost to time.
"Stay alert," Cade warned, his voice low but firm. "We don't know what lurks in this old part of the forest."
Hunter and Bella nodded in agreement, their expressions steady and focused. Errax let out a low rumble, her emerald eyes scanning the surrounding forest with a keen intensity. I could feel her unease, her instincts urging her to find shelter. I focused my thoughts on her, reaching out with my mind. Stay alert, Errax. I thought, my mind reaching out to her.
Errax responded with a powerful surge, her wings flapping with a force that sent my hair whipping behind me and my clothes billowing against my body. Hunter and Bella gasped, theirexpressions filled with a mix of awe and concern. Cade's voice was steady but alert, his eyes never leaving mine.
"This is it. This is the place we found the mystic..."
We approached the sanctuary cautiously, the massive stone walls towering above us. Errax's wings brushed against the ground, leaving a trail of disturbed earth in her wake. As we neared the entrance, I marveled at the intricate carvings that adorned the door. They were ancient symbols, their meaning lost to time, yet they held a power that seemed to resonate deep within me. We walked further inside, a darkness looming like ancient fog.
Cade walked at my side as we walked straight through the moss-covered sanctuary. At the center of the wide room, was a single chair. A throne of sorts, with vines that crept all the way along the floors to tie in knots all around, creating a sort of nest of thorns and red flowers decorating the throne. But besides the eerie feeling that crept down my skin, was the nervousness I felt in Cade as he stood beside me, itching his cheek.
"Where is he?" Hunter asked from behind.
"He's supposed to be here?" I muttered, Cade taking staggering strides forward, his fingers spread wide and his gaze searching the room anxiously.
"Where is he?" Cade scanned the room feverishly. "He was here. He was right here."
"He's got to be near." Hunter aided in the search around the dark room with no ceiling, only the branches above that scratched in the wind. The air hung heavy with silence as Cade’s hand slammed against a thick wall of thorny vines, shaking the structure to its core. “He’s gone,” he muttered, his voice thick with disbelief and frustration. “Vanished.”
The room we stood in was dark and cavernous, the only source of light the faint rays of sunlight filtering through the leaves of the ancient trees that surrounded the mystic’s sanctuary. A heavy sense of unease settled over me as I looked around, mysenses heightened. The only light that illuminated this place was that of a thousand fireflies that had made their home in the thorny vines The air grew thick with an unnerving stillness, amplifying the sense of abandonment. The stones beneath our feet seemed to hum with a forgotten energy, the remnants of a civilization lost to time. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this place held a deep, sorrowful memory, as if it had witnessed an ancient tragedy and was now whispering its secrets to the wind. It pressed on me, the feeling that something wasn't right. I felt my stomach drop to my feet.
This isn’t good, I thought, my gaze shifting to Cade. His face was pale, his jaw clenched tightly as he paced back and forth, his frustration palpable. I’d never seen him like this, so consumed by anxiety, and it sparked a new fear in me. He was so confident, so in control, so prepared for what lay ahead. But now, his carefully laid plans had crumbled, and the uncertainty in his eyes mirrored my own growing dread.
Hunter placed a reassuring hand on Cade’s shoulder, his voice calm and steady. “He can’t be far, Cade. He’s probably just meditating somewhere nearby. We’ll find him.”
Cade shook his head, running a frustrated hand through his long, dark hair. “This was my last hope, Hunter. My father told me… he said the mystic would have the answers. He said Myrathyn would know what to do.” His voice cracked with a vulnerability I’d never witnessed before, and it made my heart ache for him. He looked so lost, so utterly defeated. It was a side of him I hadn’t seen before, and it sparked a protectiveness within me—a fierce determination to help him, to find a way forward, even if I didn't have a clue what I was supposed to do. This wasn't Bramblebash anymore. I had magic, I had a dragon, and I had him.
