Page 53 of Tangled Power
Rose nodded. “I can’t imagine that the gods would have considered a situation where two Compass Points had the same element. It has to mean that what we’ve done with our wind is possible with all the elements.”
“Saying it must be true and doing it are still two different things,” Juliette said cautiously.
“I agree.” Rose nodded. “It helps to read that it’s possible, though. I was also thinking about something we might have overlooked.”
“Don’t keep us waiting,” Juliette said.
“All of these pieces—working together, intertwining, uniting—they speak of the power of all four Compass Points. This might be obvious, but I think we each have to use our elements at the same time.”
“We were using our elements together in Loch when you pulled power from Juliette,” Luc noted, catching her train of thought.
“Exactly, and when we faced Aterra.” She looked at Luc and shrugged. “It would also explain why I couldn’t find the connection when we were using our wind to push the horses.”
“It makes sense…” Juliette said thoughtfully.
“I think we should call it for today.” Rose stretched and twisted her body from the hours spent sitting on the floor. “We can put it to the test tomorrow.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The heat from the forge slowly started to fan her face. It was so different from the makeshift forges she’d used on the road. Rose had stayed in the Suden quarter of Sandrin with Luc last night. Luc had offered to follow her to the Norden quarter, but she was too tired to introduce herself there and find accommodations. Luc’s already established residence was much easier. The sun had risen all too quickly, though, and with it, their responsibilities.
Working at the forge in the military school was a dream Rose had let die before it had even been voiced. The workspace was immaculate. It was well used, the most used among the Compass Point armories. Once the second generation of Compass Points had emerged, the game was more about politics than open physical confrontations, or so they had learned yesterday in their reading. It made sense, though, that the Compass Points had assigned things like military responsibilities to the Suden court.
Rose never dreamed she would be able to make a weapon here. A Norden working in a Suden forge was not an aspiration to be shared. Today was different. She brought change to thefae courts as she sank into her role as Norden Point—she also brought change in this small, selfish desire. And it felt good.
A cough sounded behind her, and she turned. “Carter, thanks for coming so early.” She smiled warmly. She was glad it had been Luc who’d pried free Carter’s secrets. Juliette was always so wary of Luc—his motivations and power—it was nice to see Carter overcome those concerns and share something of himself.
“It’s not every day a Vesten receives an invitation to the military school. As a former scholar, honestly, I was intrigued.”
Seeing him yesterday in the library, it fit. He probably would have been happy to live a quiet life as a scholar, just as Rose would have been content to live her life as a reclusive weapons-maker. Destiny had other ideas for the Compass Points.
“Feel free to look around. Luc saw to it that we won’t be disturbed.”
Carter glanced at the forge. “Don’t you need me to get started?”
She laughed. “I have to wait for this forge to heat up the old-fashioned way. Then we can get to work. It’s almost ready.”
Rose swore Carter’s cheeks flushed at the compliment to his flame. He busied himself wandering around the spacious room, looking at projects in progress and those finished waiting for use.
“It’s kind of silly when you think about it.”
“What?” Carter asked, his fingers carefully running down the length of a broadsword.
“I mean, this—this room, these weapons—are the heart of the continent’s defense strategy.” She lifted her arms, gesturing to the racks of weapons around them. “Yet, it seems quite useless against what we face.”
“We’ll find and stop Aterra. Think of everything we learned yesterday.”
“I admit, it gave me hope, and my hope had previously started waning. It should be easy enough to replicate what Juliette and I did if the key really is all our elements being used at once. The problem is a different one. In Loch, and when we fought Aterra, I didn’t sense any connections to your power, or Luc’s, like I did Juliette’s. And that part—is one line in a journal enough to ensure it works?”
“Well…” Carter paused. “You’ve taken your turn giving us all hope and trying to bring us together on this journey. As Luc chastised us the other night—you don’t have to do this alone. Maybe it’s time for the rest of us to convince you it can be done.”
Rose smiled in a way she was sure didn’t meet her eyes. Another idea she appreciated even as she was unsure of its practicality. “I think the fire is ready. Let’s get started.”
Carter moved to the space to her right, similar to the position she and Juliette had taken as Rose forged her daggers.
“Just use a bit of your fire. It doesn’t have to be strong, just active while I forge the ax head and spike.”
“What about my other powers?” Carter asked.
