Page 72 of Bound Paths
“How often do you talk to him?” Rose asked.
“Not very. We’ve had a few conversations over the hundred years I’ve been doing this ritual.” She paused. “That’s the other thing. He’s not open about…anything. He still believes he’s a god and I’m the Osten Point, and this distance between us can’t be crossed. But if anyone understands the bind he’s in, shouldn’t it be me?”
“He could be embarrassed that you must help him at all,” Lela said quietly.
“It is a valid idea. And definitely a reason that an ageless god would act so childish, even if it is literally all his doing.” Juliette ran her fingers through her hair. “I’m angry at him all the time for this. I have been since I found out what the Osten Point had to do to preserve the court’s magic.” She looked at Lela again. “But I don’t want to pass that anger on to you. If I have anger, my predecessor was filled with rage. She’d had to see more directly what the Lost God’s choices had done and how the first Osten Point had been weakened.”
“It’s understandable to be angry about what his choices cost you,” Rose said.
“Yes, but I don’t want it to be the focus of the Osten court. It has been for so long—but we are more than the weakness he created.” Juliette nodded at Lela. “We can do better than the legacy he left us with.” Juliette coughed. “But that wasn’t your question, was it? Do I trust him?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Idon’t think he meant the harm that he caused. I’m not even sure he realized the harm he caused at first.”
“Isn’t that worse?” Rose asked.
Juliette smiled. “Some might think so, but this is one piece of information I did pick up from Zrak over the years. Cassandra’s control over her borders is more absolute than he realized when he first went to her for help. He didn’t know how much his power and his ability to provide balance to the Osten people would be impacted by existing beyond the veil. He knew his ability to affect the continent would be hindered—which was his overall plan. The full result of where he existed was a much more complete removal than he anticipated.”
“He was able to find a way to send the mist plague,” Rose pointed out.
“Yes, but as we learned, that has to do with the bargain he struck with Cassandra. She needed someone to shepherd spirits—his Nebulus were her best option.” She sighed. “I’m sure Zrak took advantage of that task to send the mist plague and to refuel the Osten fae connection, but from what you’ve said, Cassandra was aware of both.”
“I don’t think you’re reassuring me.” Rose laughed without any real mirth.
“I’m not sure I mean to,” Juliette said. “I told you it was complicated. He has specific plans in mind, and he doesn’t see fit to share them. The only reason I don’t hate him is that I’m not sure what other choice he had.” She paused again, her expression thoughtful. “Even now, I don’t think he has another choice. There is much more going on beyond the veil than we understand. I know you hate waiting, but our plan is sound. Without further understanding of what sins Cassandra holds against the gods, it would be unwise to confront her.”
“I’m going crazy, yes,” Rose said. “But I also agreed to give Aaron a chance to find Celeste’s journal. I can talk to Luc, so Iat least know he’s okay.” Rose took a deep breath and put her hands on her knees. “I’m committed to our third attempt beyond the veil to be more fruitful.”
“Look at you, coming to terms with waiting.” Juliette’s smile didn’t meet her eyes. It was clear she didn’t wish this on anyone. She took another sip of her tea. “I believe that Zrak is on our side. My hesitation is that he is willing to pay any cost to meet his ends, even one he doesn’t have to bear directly.That,” she emphasized, “makes him dangerous.”
Next on thelist of things to occupy Rose was exercising her water magic. She had a little time before Walter was supposed to bring the Norden he’d spoken of last night to the house. Until then, she hadn’t much cause to let her magic play with the waters of Compass Lake since her return. It unfurled in waves now as she hit the Norden property line.
While chasing Aterra, Rose had spent so much time with her wind. She prioritized it in her attempt to connect with Juliette. It was also the first time she’d been able to use her wind without guilt—having been taught to hide it as a child. Her thoughts strayed to Walter’s daughter. She had likely grown up just like Rose. It was Rose’s mission that she wouldn’t need to continue that way.
The magical waters of Compass Lake called to her. All those times she couldn’t swim in the Lake of the Gods, she made up for now, diving into the water as she had when she was a child. Her power spread throughout the lake, touching every shore. It put on a display to rival the one she’d done at the Solstice Ball, but she didn’t watch. Rose floated in the comfort Compass Lakeprovided. She was too relaxed, stretching her magic, to notice a crowd had gathered on the beach.
As recognition hit, Rose got out of the water. It was the group of Norden she and Walter had discussed. She recognized many of the faces from when she’d claimed the Norden seat. Meg and Catherine stood with the group, but Rose couldn’t tell if they considered themselves part of it.
“Welcome,” Rose said. Walter appeared next to her, handing her a towel. She thanked him but dried herself with a flick of her magic and then addressed the group. “I’m glad to see so many Norden faces. Walter thought it would be beneficial for us to meet as a court.” She spared a glance at Meg and Catherine. “And for you to have the opportunity to ask me questions directly.”
“Your magic—it was a thing to behold in Compass Lake. We haven’t seen a Norden’s power exercised as such in a long time,” Walter said.
Rose nodded. “I admit, it felt great to do,” she said, addressing the crowd again.
“Is it true you have wind magic, too?” someone asked.
Meg’s face lit up like she was expecting trouble and delighting in it. Rose wanted to roll her eyes at the elder. It was no accident that she’d told Meg and Catherine about her mixed lineage. She had wanted everyone to know. The fact that they didn’t understand that was another representation of how little the ex-elders understood Rose. “It is,” Rose said without hesitation. “I have both wind and water magic, but as Samuel attested, I have claimed the Norden Point seat.”
“How is that possible?” a woman in the front row asked.
“The courts were never meant to be as separated as we’ve allowed them to become,” Rose said. “The gods created the courts in hope of us working together. It’s not a surprise that our magics might also eventually blend. I don’t want anothergeneration of fae to believe there is anything wrong with having the magic of multiple courts or of having human ancestry.”
“Why are you able to be so frivolous with your magic?” Meg asked, referring to her display on Compass Lake. Her voice was low, almost a hiss in its exasperation. The crowd was hanging on Rose’s every word as she spoke of the future she strived for. Of course, Meg would want to choose a different topic of discussion. “Shouldn’t you be saving the continent with the Compass Points?” she asked snidely.
Rose searched the faces of the others gathered. They didn’t appear to hold as much anger as Meg’s tone indicated, but they did look interested in the response.
“I see the same question in the eyes of many gathered. So, I will share my response though I caution against your tone. You are a member of the court like all others gathered here. We should show each other the respect we wish to receive.”
Meg lifted her chin, her pride continuing to get the better of her.
Rose focused on the rest of the group, those who looked genuinely interested in what Rose was doing as Norden Point. “When the Compass Points left the lake together, we went to stop the mist plague. No new villages have been attacked since we returned.”
