Page 87 of Legacy of the Heirs
“You should tell them,” said Nyzaia, and Elisara stiffened.
“It is not only my choice,” Kazaar said. Sadira looked at Larelle to determine if she knew what they referenced, but she appeared equally as confused. Elisara sighed and reached for a tie at the back of her neck that held up her dress. With a gentle tug, she held the panels to her chest, careful not to expose herself. Allowing one panel to loosen, Elisara exposed a small scar that glistened silver in the stream of sunlight floating over her and Kazaar. Sadira squinted, trying to identify the mark. She could not make out what it was from here. Kazaar removed his leathers and pulled his shirt aside to reveal a similar mark on his collarbone.
“It is a celestial tie,” Elisara said, looking at Nyzaia, though the revelation did not relieve Sadira’s confusion.
“There was a book in my father’s study calledMyths and Lies of Ithyion.”Nyzaia removed her hands from the table and placed them in her lap. “It has various odd pictures and tales in it, many of which I have not had the chance to read. However, there was a page on celestial ties. It is a tie bestowed upon two individuals who share a destiny. The Celestial Gods grant the bond when two beings finally acknowledge their connection to one another and allow their essences to merge.”
Elisara and Kazaar nodded as Kazaar gently tied her dress back into place. Caellum shifted beside Sadira, who glanced sideways at him. He did not meet her gaze but looked at his ring, twisting it around his finger. A weight settled on Sadira’s chest, and she attempted to push her pain down, keeping her face neutral. Sadira could not help but question Caellum’s feelings for Elisara, given his reaction to the news.
“So, what does that mean?” Sadira asked, insecurity pounding within her heart.
“We can speak to one another silently,” Elisara said. “Apparently, it grants us access to one another's power, but we are yet to find anytruth in that.”
Larelle cleared her throat.
“Isthatthe truth?” Larelle asked. Elisara jerked her head back at the accusation. “I do not mean to offend, but if you cannot share power, then how can either of you explain the odd shadows oozing from your feet when the creatures attacked? Or the fact your combined blood can paralyse them?” The others in the room glanced at one another with confusion, signifying they had not seen the shadows Larelle referenced. Kazaar rested his hands on Elisara’s shoulders to lower them. She could not meet Larelle’s eye. Sadira understood why Larelle asked. After all, Kazaar and Elisara had kept this from the group long enough. What else were they hiding?
“That does not imply we share powers; neither of us had those abilities beforehand.”
Caellum finally spoke beside Sadira. “That’s not true.”
“It’s ironic thatyoubelieve me a liar,” Elisara scoffed, but he did not bite at the insult. Sadira straightened and raised her chin, preparing to defend Caellum if needed.
“We all heard Vala accuse him,” said Caellum. “She said he had tainted you with his darkness, which implies the shadows Larelle saw seeping from you both werehis.” Sadira looked down at her engagement ring, repressing her feelings as Caellum hurled accusations at Kazaar, the man his first love had clearly moved on with. “Even if you did not know it,” he added as an afterthought. Sadira refrained from smiling, twisting her ring so the stone sat perfectly central. Adding that latter part proved he had grown, though worry still ate away at her.
Sadira recalled Vala’s odd reaction to what Elisara had shown her in the temple, and how the goddess jerked back, her shock mirroring the gods.
“Is the mark what you showed Vala?” asked Sadira, and Elisara nodded.
“When light meets dark in the rarest of times, when all that isleft is the last of the lines,” Larelle breathed. “What if you are that part of the prophecy? If Kazaar were to have some kind of power related to darkness and Elisara to light, then it would fit.”
Elisara reached for Kazaar’s hand on her shoulder and squeezed.They are communicating.Sadira glanced at Caellum to see if he had picked up on it, too, though she was unsure if his narrowed eyes were because he had or if he simply chose to glare at the commander instead. Larelle tapped her fingernails on the table and took a deep breath.
“Given how much you have already kept from us all, it would be polite to share your thoughts with one another aloud in our presence,” Larelle said firmly. Kazaar had the decency to glance down at the scolding, but Elisara raised her chin to meet Larelle’s eye in challenge.
“Perhaps it is the tie of light and dark that affects the creature, who could be born of a similar power to whatever lies beneath Kazaar’s veins?” Nyzaia suggested.
“Could we stop accusing Kazaar of being filled with darkness? He is standing right here!” Elisara snapped.
“It’s okay,” Kazaar murmured.
“No, it is not! Everyone assumes we have some untapped power that can be controlled and that we—you—are hiding something.” Elisara continued with a raised voice, and Nyzaia reached for her hand.
“We do not think it is a bad thing; we are thinking strategically. If your blood can recreate a version of the sword, then think of what we might be able to do if either of you can wield whatever potential powers have been gifted upon you,” Nyzaia said.
Elisara leaned back in her seat, seemingly defeated.
“Could that be possible?” asked Larelle. “If Sadira channels her efforts in trying to imbue swords, could the two of you focus on trying to access any other power?”
The pair remained silent, and Larelle clenched her jaw, seeming to refrain from scolding them for a second time. Sadira did admitit was becoming frustrating. Eventually, Elisara nodded.
Roles were assigned to the group. Nyzaia assumed responsibility for the infantry and begrudgingly accepted Caellum’s help, who also offered Sir Cain’s support when he arrived from Garridon. Larelle agreed to research and read throughMyths and Liesand Sadira’s Wiccan book, and Sadira planned to channel her efforts into deciphering the gods’ messages while experimenting with imbuing new weapons.
“Thirteen days left,” Larelle said as they all stretched their backs and stood after the long meeting, the sun now setting over Tabheri. “Thirteen days to figure this all out and prepare.”
Sadira reached for Caellum’s hand, but he had already begun to walk for the door ahead of Elisara and Kazaar. Sadira cast her eyes downward, blinking rapidly and smoothing invisible wrinkles in her dress.
Thirteen days with all of us together under one roof.
