Page 51 of Bound Paths
“Mind you, the fae courts were not established then,” Aurora added. “It was quite a surprise to us when we realized this was the same location where we set the Compass Points’ seats of power.” She shrugged as if trying to convince herself it wasn’t all that odd. “This is a place of its own unique magic. It’s why we selected it. Cassandra must have felt that much as well.”
“You are right to be suspicious,” Juliette said oddly reassuring the Norden goddess. “This place does have magic, but how could she know how important it would become or how it would grow with time? It seems more likely that she knew something about the future of this place.”
“That’s not possible, is it?” Rose asked.
“I thought we decided this morning we shouldn’t hold ourselves to assumed conventions of what is possible. Bound fae from two different courts, for example, shouldn’t be possible.” Juliette spread out her hands. “But here we are.”
As if summoned by her words, Luc chuckled in her head.“She’s got you there.”
Rose pressed forward. “Okay, so Carter and I will go to Vesten property and try to cross at the willow tree.” She looked at the others. “What will you three do?” Rose added as she moved her hand to her hip.
“I think we’ve read everything we can here,” Juliette said. “I hope Aaron finds Celeste’s journal. Maybe she’ll have a slightly more detailed understanding of what happened.”
“He should have an update for us tonight,” Rose replied.
“As long as you don’t mind missing it, Rose, I’d like to try to talk to Zrak,” Arie said. He looked to the Osten Point with a question. “Would you take us to the caves where you commune with him?”
Juliette glanced at Rose, who shrugged in confirmation. “I can do that though I’ll warn you to temper your expectations.”
“He owes answers,” Arie said.
Aurora cut off any further discussion. “We can meet back here this evening to continue reading and discuss our attempts. Zrak may not come, but we must try. He will have more relevant information than even these journals if he chooses to share it.” She sighed.
“We have no idea what he did to ensure he could stay beyond the veil,” Arie added. “Or how that is connected to his Nebulus spreading the mist plague. Just as you and Carter were discovered immediately, it’s safe to assume Zrak was also.”
“He seems resourceful,” Carter said. “Maybe he charmed her?”
Arie snorted. “Zrak is many things, but a charmer he is not.”
“Agreed,” Juliette added with a scoff. Rose wondered again at the Osten Point’s interactions with her patron god over the years of her rule.
Aurora sighed. “I agree. I just don’t think we can rule anything out. He’s been able to send the mist plague, and he’s been able to commune with you.” Aurora gestured to Juliette. “He seems free to do many things beyond the veil. Rose has carefully avoided the topic, but I assume Luc and Aterra are not so at liberty. What has Zrak done to earn his freedom? Especially when we know Cassandra’s perspective on intruders to her land.”
Arie’s brow furrowed. “There’s only one way to find out.” He shifted into his black bird form and flew out of the room.
Tryingto call the Osten god would be its own burden. Rose didn’t envy the others as she and Carter left Norden house and walked to the Burning Garden. The last time she was here was the night before the Compass Points went after Aterra. She shook her head, remembering when they thought the Suden god was their biggest problem. Even before that, when they thought the mist plague was a symptom of a single problem with the balance on the continent.
They were well past that now.
What Aurora and Arie were saying, what Juliette was hinting at, was that all of this was bigger than one god seeking to disrupt the balance. If this tree’s presence predated the Flood, what other problems were further entangled with the continent’s history?
It was fitting, then, to begin to see how all of the pieces wove together. Zrak paid penance for the greed of the gods. He bargained with Cassandra, the Lady of the Veil, to exist there. Aterra continued with his selfish ways, unconcerned with Zrak’s sacrifice. It was almost like Zrak knew Aterra would do it. At least, he’d prepared accordingly, convincing the Lady of the Veil to allow his Nebulus to alert the continent’s leaders of Aterra’s disturbance.
It fit too neatly to be coincidental. And Cassandra negotiating to have this tree planted on Vesten property, hundreds of years before the fae courts were created? That was the icing on the cake. Rose agreed with Juliette. Someone knew these pieces would fall into place eventually. Did Cassandra have some gift of foresight as she ruled over the spirits beyond the veil?
Rose hoped not, as they were about to, once again, circumvent her hospitality. Suppose she had another way of knowing when visitors arrived—some sight? Rose wasn’t sure Aurora’s dagger would protect them.
She shrugged. They would try regardless. Fleeing last time had worked, and hopefully, it remained an option on this second venture.
They walked through the garden. Only blooms of oranges, reds, and yellows were allowed in the Vesten garden. Each flower was chosen to represent the Vesten’s element. It made the entire garden appear aflame when it was in bloom.
Rose marveled at the tribute to the Vesten court. What would she do with the Norden property now that it was hers? She’d always loved living in the caretaker’s house as a child, but her father had made it clear they couldn’t truly customize the property.
It wasn’t theirs.
Now it was, and she would make the changes her father always dreamed of. He loved greenery. He always said he’d love to grow ivy everywhere, even on the house. It was a small way to honor her family when this was all over.
Rose envied the way Luc had made Suden house his. It was a stark contrast to how she currently felt about Norden house. Admittedly, she had her own history with the place she needed to overcome, but Suden house felt like a family home the moment she walked into it.
