Page 48 of Bound Paths
“We might still think you’re losing it,” Arie answered without missing a beat. “But I do think you’re bound. I agree with Carter.” The Vesten Point beamed at his patron’s praise. “Ifsomething is impossible, we should expect you and Luc to make it so.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The group finished breakfast and relocated to the Norden library. Aurora sat in the plush chair, and Arie sprawled across the couch. Carter and Juliette stood by the bookshelves, though Juliette’s gaze lingered on the Compass Point table. The books Aaron brought were spread out and left open to key entries.
“Getting a head start?” Juliette asked. Rose followed them in and walked to the table, flipping through one of the books.
“Aaron brought them. I only read a few passages with him, but they make it clear that you were both right to suspect the stories about the Lady of the Veil,” Rose said, glancing at Carter and Juliette.
“How so?” Carter asked.
“They are journals from villagers in Marcil—it was maybe the only village to have documents preserved from before the Flood. They indicate the governor’s daughter had some kind of interaction with Cassandra. It might even be what helped preserve part of the village.”
“What kind of interaction?” Carter asked.
“That is very much up for debate.” Rose gestured to the stack of journals. “The entries I read said a bargain was made. Aurora and Arie seem to think it more malicious.”
Carter looked like he had many more questions, but Arie interrupted, asking, “Aaron didn’t want to stay and help?”
Rose looked at the others. “I think he’s hesitant to be around us all working together. And nervous to know what we’re doing. With Luc gone, the Suden will ask him questions. He said he’s a terrible liar, so the less he knows, the better.” Rose shrugged. “Though he did say he would continue searching through the Suden archives and for the governor’s daughter’s account.”
“Trust me, everyone is still confused about us working together,” Juliette said.
Carter nodded. “My advisors accused me of illicit relationships with you both.” He blushed, the words had come out before he’d thought them through.
Rose smiled. That, at least, meant he was comfortable with them, even if his advisors didn’t care for it.
“Honestly, it’s to be expected,” Juliette added. “Changing how the entire political structure of Compass Lake works will take time.” She glanced at Rose, who had opened her mouth to respond. “I’m not saying it’s impossible, and I’m not saying I won’t support the effort. I am saying we still have a bit of a time-sensitive mission here. The mist plague may have paused, but we don’t know if Zrak has complete control of when it’s deployed or if anyone else is pulling his strings. And we still don’t know how or if we can wake those impacted. We need to end this. And we need to get Luc back.” She added the last part offhandedly.
Rose crossed her arms over her chest. “Agreed. So, what’s next?”
“Well, it doesn’t make sense to go beyond the veil again until we have something concrete to say to the Lady since we knowshe’ll be waiting for us,” Carter said. “Maybe we should dig into these texts to see if they give us anything to work with.”
Aurora coughed slightly, drawing Rose’s attention. The way her eyes lit up when Rose’s gaze met hers told Rose it was feigned. The morning had been so full she had already forgotten the boon Aurora had shared with her.
“What if it’s not necessarily the case that Cassandra will be waiting for us when we arrive? What if we can enter the realm undetected?” she asked, fingering the dagger in her belt and pulling it into her palm. “What if the Norden artifact does more than we realized?” She held the handle firmly.
“What did you learn, Rose?” Arie asked, a small smile curling his lip.
“Our problem was that the Lady of the Veil knew we were there before we’d even had a chance to look around. What if we could go beyond the veil but not have to deal with the Lady or her cats as soon as we arrived?”
“If possible, it would be faster if you explained how,” Carter said.
“Fine.” She flipped the dagger in her hand. She used her wind to safely land the tip between her fingers—a game she remembered Luc playing with his magic while they chased Aterra around the continent. “The dagger doesn’t only enhance Norden magic, it can help the bearer go unnoticed.” She flipped the blade again, palming the handle.
“That could work.”As if thinking of his magic had brought forth his voice.
“How?” Carter reiterated.
Rose gestured to Aurora to see if she wanted to share. “By all means, Rose. It’s yours now.”
Rose flipped the dagger again. This time, allowing it to pierce her finger as it slid into place between her thumb and pointer. As soon as her blood touched the blade she saw magic ripplethrough the room. Concentric circles surged from where she stood and from other locations in the library as if decoys were already set up. Then, the raindrops of magic Aurora described started to fall. It was dozens of raindrops pouring into the room at once. They hit the ripples, creating more of their own, further obscuring Rose’s position.
She smirked as the others looked around the room for her. Juliette turned toward the window facing the lake. Carter glanced toward the fireplace, and Arie slowly turned as he sought her out. He shifted into his black bird form when he couldn’t find her and flew to the fireplace to perch. His head swiveled back and forth. Each of their senses appeared to indicate Rose was elsewhere in the room. Aurora stared straight at Rose, who hadn’t moved from her place by the table. The goddess gave her an approving smile.
“So much trust built, and you still knew they wouldn’t believe you. You needed to show them.” The others turned back to the table where Rose still stood—the location where Aurora’s words were addressed. Rose felt the ripples and drops dissipate, and Carter and Juliette’s eyes widened ever so slightly to see her standing in the original location, the dagger still poised between her fingers.
“Well, that might do it,” Carter said, stepping forward from his place against the bookshelf to reach for the knife. “May I?” he asked.
