Page 54 of A Blightress of Wrath
Myattemptat goodbye toBoroswent poorly.Sopoorly in fact, that he followed me back to theFortress, disregarding any commandsIgave him.Hesat next to me, my traveling bag in one hand, my other occupied, stroking the top of his head at my chest.Hissilver eyes pleaded up at me, and he gave a slight whimper—the firstI’dever heard from him.
“Youcan’t come,”Ireminded him, planting a kiss on his long, black snout. “Thepeople out there won’t understand that you’re a good boy.”Henudged my arm to keep petting his ears.
Westood at the bottom steps of my home—all of us.Theentire staff and guests from the party the night before were crowded around five portals glowing a bright emerald in the morning sun.
Iwas fascinated more than frightened to be leaving, especially by portal.Mymother typically only made them to bring more channelers to our home to train or when she brought a few leaders to the forest for occasional meetings of whichIwas never allowed to attend.
Eachsummer,Thevinarrived with his parents at the edge of the forest where she would lift the shield just enough to let them in.Butthese portalsIhad watched her unfold were enticing.Istudied her movements as she pulled her hands from the ball of green light she’d created, forcing open a few portals which would lead to a part ofArcaynenI’dnever seen.
TheBaronofFelgrenfinished her words toPah-Pahand they embraced.Hemurmured something in her ear, andIrecognized the break in her, noticed the grip she had on his arm as she nodded with a trembling chin.
Shekissed his cheek and addressed the crowd. “Theshield overFelgrenwill be weak for as long as we are gone.”Shenodded toPah-Pah. “Pompeiiwill work with each channeler here to produce what shield you can.Stayalert.Donot enter the deep forest alone.Reportback to yourOverseerof any oddity you may come across.”Shegazed out at her people for a few moments, the sharp flicker of her portals glowing behind her. “Ido not know when we will return.TheDimmingis coming.Asyou have likely heard by now,BaronRevichis alive.”
Ahushed band of whispers filtered through the crowd, but my mother continued. “Ifall goes well, we will return withBaronRevichand theBlightresswill be defeated once and for all.”
Idug my fingers intoBoros’sfur.Itseemed as if every eye shifted to me, the one this war apparently needed and the daughter of the long-thought-deadBaron.Myrole was set, my future already predicted, andIhad no say.
Thevinshifted on his feet next to me.Theback of his hand brushed mine asIgripped my travel bag to the point of white knuckles.Irelaxed at his touch, not even daring to look at him.
Therewas one other taskIneeded to complete.Itwas a choiceIwould make for myself—convincingThevin, who claimed to possibly love me, thatIwas more than just a girl of the forest he came to see every summer to escape from the horrors of war.Icould be strong, too.Icould be powerful.Icould prove to all these people thatIwas capable of doing great things, powerful things, andIcould help save my father and help with whatever theDimmingwas.
Irolled my shoulders, giving one final squeeze toBorosbefore taking a few steps toPah-Pahto say goodbye.Twoflashes of light andThevin’sparents were gone, leaving through their portals to theSpire.
Thevingrinned my way, his one beautiful dimple appearing in the smile, and he turned his back to the portal saying, “Seeyou in a minute,” before falling back and disappearing completely.
Ilaughed and hoped he fell out of it on his backside.
IcaughtPah-Pah’schuckle as well as he pulled me in for one of my favorite hugs.Hekissed the top of my head and sighed. “Ilove you.Youare powerful, you are beautiful, you are your father’s daughter.Hewould be so proud of you,Sae.Ialways will be.”
Weswayed for a moment while the crowd dispersed, and my mother waited for me to join her.Ilifted my head at his chest and squeezed, replying, “You’llbe proud of me still,Pah-Pah.Theydon’t know how powerfulIcan be.”Iwinked and he laughed in a rich tenor.
“Idon’t doubt it.”
Mysmile faded asIpulled back, still clinging to my bag, still holding his arms. “I’llbring him home.”Hisface fell immediately, butIcontinued. “Ipromise.I’llbring all of them home.”
Hisgolden, kohl-lined eyes darted to my mother behind me.
“Come,Saelyn,” she called, lifting her hand to take mine, watchingPah-Pah. “I, too, have promises to keep.”
Ikissed his cheek one last time and turned to her portals. “Willyou teach me how to make these?”Iasked, my eyes flickering over the glow of light that matched my height and build.
“Iwill,LittleLove.Yourfather taught me, andI’llteach you.”Shesqueezed my hand. “Ready?”
Inodded and took a last step out of my home and into the world beyond.
* * *
Lightblinded me,andIcovered my eyes with my arm, landing on solid white marble, catching myself on my knees.Mybag skittered across the floor, the sound accompanied by a murmur of voices all around.
Acalloused handIknew well slid over mine asIbraced myself. “Ifell, too.Thoughnot nearly as gracefully.”
Iblinked in the bright light to seeThevingrinning ear-to-ear in front of me, his golden, cropped curls flipped casually to one side, his other hand reaching out to help me up from the floor.
“Areyou alright?”Iheard my mother ask, patting my back.
Istood, nodding, and dusting off my black skirts, pulling the hair from my face and takingThevin’shand for balance asIfixed my boot that had come loose in the fall.
Icaught his stare, but he left quickly, moving to where my bag lay across the circular, open hall at the edge of an outlook upon a great city.
