Page 161 of A Blightress of Wrath
Saelynwasten and her paternal parentage was clear.Shelooked so much like me,Ioften wondered if this was what my mother had looked like as a child.Blackhair, skin that tanned easily in the summer sun, eyes so blue they mimicked the depth of the sea.
Thatsummer,Saelynargued her way to my side every second she wasn’t already off riding lumens withThevin.Orreceiving formal dance lessons fromMychaelandPompeii, who had apparently been hiding their talents all these years.
Saelyn,Thevin, andIwere at the muddy lake whereIwas teaching them allIknew about mudfishing.Theyhadn’t caught anything yet, but had made a game of it, each of them challenging the other to see who could catch a fish first.
Saelynwon when she pulled a copper tail from the mucky bottom, cradling the scaly beast in her arms, though it was no bigger thanMoira.
“Ha!” she exclaimed, sticking her tongue out atThevinwho only smiled, his single dimple appearing on his cheek. “Icaught the first fish!Nowyou have to kiss it!”
Mychest heaved in laughter andThevincalled, “I’mnot kissing that slimy thing!Youkiss it!”
“Icaught it!” she returned, “Thehard part’s over, now someone’s gotta kiss it!”Shemade kissing noises, holding onto it tightly as she raced closer toThevin.
“Gross!” he shouted, splashing her with the muddy water.
Thefish slipped out of her arms, disappearing under the surface in a ripple.
Shesplashed him back, laughing and calling, “Youowe me a fish,Thevin!”
Hewiped his eyes, replying, “Ican catch you a bigger fish than that anyway!”
Imucked through the water back to the shore, sitting on the muddy bank, letting the children ofFelgrenbe just that—children.
Saelyngiggled again asThevinreached down asIhad taught him, though the water spilled over his shoulders and would make the pull more difficult.Soonenough, he did what he’d promised, yanking a fish half his size up over the surface by its mouth.
Saelynsquealed in excitement before the mudcopper flounced its body into the air, smackingThevinin the face and knocking him below the surface.Irushed into the lake, butSaelynwas already there, pulling him up, helping him wipe mud from his eyes and laughing so hard, she held her chest.
Hejust smiled at her and shrugged. “ToldyouI’dcatch the biggest fish.”
Chapter77
Karus
Saelynwasfourteen and ready to train.
Herpower had been manifesting for years, revealing itself in trails of white left in her wake.
RevandIdecided the winter she was fourteen that she was ready.Weasked her what kind ofOfferingshe wanted—a lavish party or a quiet celebration with just the people who loved her.Shesurprised us, confessing that what she truly wanted was a celebration inHyrithiato end theTreatybetweenFelgrenand the last city to refuse channelerOfferings.
Shehad met theQueenand her uncle once before, but through the years and all of our busy schedules, we had not visited the city.Apart of me continued to fearSaelynbeing taken from us.Itwas not the same pulsing dread it once had been, butIcould not shake the feeling that theBlightresswas there, looming in the background of every one ofSaelyn’syears of life inFelgren.
RevichandIagreed to the celebration, andIquickly wrote to theQueen.Saelyncould not have chosen a more welcoming benefactor for herOffering.TheQueenmade sure that this celebration would be as lavish as her coin could buy.
Weofficially dissolved theTreatythat night, ending the proclamation that channelers born inHyrithiacould not be givenOfferingsto train to become conduits inFelgren.
Everyonewe knew attended, and asSaelyntook the hands of herBaronparents, her gown bloomed to one of shimmeringFelgrengreen with sleeves that billowed long to her wrists.Asimple ring of silver banded across her forefinger, topped with an almost clear white stone in a teardrop shape with five smaller stones above and five below.Shegasped in delight upon seeing it there, leaping into our arms with joy.
Notlong after,Thevinstole her away to watchPhiliusperform fire tricks with his power and end the night in a show of his magic as he had embraced it over the years, giving himself hands of flame.
Revichstole me away himself, covering my eyes with gold silk, leading me up to our rooms in the castle.Heushered me through the door and with a sweep of his hand and a kiss at my ear, my blindfold was gone.
Ilaughed in awe at our rooms.Anexact replica of the night we shared for the first time as companions lay before me.Allthe details were the same, even down to the same mugs that steeped styris tea and the burgundy mums on the table.
“Howmuch do you remember?” he whispered in my ear behind me.
Ihummed, reaching for him in the candlelit glow.Afew subtle notes of gray lined the black hair at his temples and graced the hair at his chin.Hewas still so beautiful with black eyes turning blue and that upturn of his lips always left for me to find when he loved me—just as he had loved me since the day he’d felt me through his rhyzolm.
“Allof it,”Ireplied, brushing my hand across his jaw. “Iremember every night like this with you, andI’llnever let myself forget them.Eachday we have together is oneIam thankful to keep in here.”Ipressed my hand to my chest. “Tokeep me warm.BecauseIknow what could have been,Rev.Isee it sometimes in my dreams, but that’s all they are.Iwake up next to you and thank whomever is listening that the life we wanted is ours to live.Thatyou are happy, and safe, and loved.”
