Page 59 of Wind and Water
Demons screech and disintegrate as the water-infused light streaks through them. Those few that remain flee to the east.
Pulling me into his arms, Liam sags against me. He didn’t use up all of his strength this time, but enough that he’s tired. “You were amazing.”
A sob breaks through my control. “Check on Belloc. Maybe you can save him.”
Releasing me, Liam turns. Corell and Jadar are kneeling by Belloc’s still form. Corell shakes his head.
Mother kneels beside another centaur whose name is Toball. Tears roll down her cheeks. When she lifts her face and looks at me, the sorrow in her eyes breaks my heart.
Blood mars the soil and grass. I rush forward, but Jadar limps to block my path. “There is nothing for you to do here, Wren. You cannot save him.”
Too many are dying. I struggle against both Jadar and the pressure in my head. I should have done more. I could have saved them if only I’d been stronger or faster. “I should try.”
Liam wraps his arms around me, turns me, and pulls me into a hug. “I know this is foreign to you, but in war, there is always death, my love. These brave centaurs were not the first to die, and they will not be the last.”
“Are you telling me that I’ll get used to it?” My gut heaves, and I push away and run to the river. Kneeling in the grass, I vomit until my bones ache.
Liam sits next to me, rubbing my back. Tucking my hair behind my ear, he says, “I hope you never get used to death. Each loss should be felt and each person remembered.”
I dip my hand in the water and rinse my mouth. Tears running freely, I sit a foot away from him. “Are you used to it?”
Stoic and calm, his eyes darken. “I have lived my entire life in a war and been a soldier since I reached my eighteenth sun. Death is my constant companion.” He sighs and draws two long breaths. “No. I am not used to it. I didn’t know Tobal, but he was well liked. Belloc was a fine centaur with a keen mind and a strong back. I did not know him long, but I will miss him. If ever the death of those we care about is meaningless, I fear we will have lost sight of what we’re fighting for.”
“If only I could have moved more water. Maybe I should have used air. I don’t know how to save these beautiful people. Too many are dying.” Renewed tears blind me to everything but my sorrow.
Liam reaches over and pulls me into his lap. “You were magnificent. Many more would have died if you hadn’t been so brilliant. Think about your vision of them all lying dead. That was not the outcome. Your magic is a miracle. Jadar, Corell, and the others you kept from falling were lucky to have you there. You are not to blame. Venora is the villain here, not you.”
Momma kneels in front of us. “I’m so proud of you, baby girl. You are so brave.”
I look at her through watery eyes. “I don’t feel brave, Momma. I let those centaurs die in such a horrible way.”
She closes her eyes for a moment, and when she meets my gaze again, her eyes light with intensity. “You didn’t let anything happen. You couldn’t save them. No one could have. They died for a cause they believed in. That’s what soldiers often do. You can’t save everyone. What you did was amazing.”
I nod.
“Good. Now, pull yourself together. The centaurs are building a pyre, and we’ll need to say farewell to Belloc and Toball before we move on.” Momma kisses my forehead and steps away.
Slipping out of Liam’s arms, I return to the river and wash my face.
Chapter Fourteen
Liam
The centaurs chant while the pyre burns, and they continue for hours. It’s haunting and filled with sorrow. Perhaps if I knew their native language, I would also find the happy memories of Belloc and Toball.
The Martin women sit beside me by the river. We stood with the centaurs for the first hour, but backed away once the smoke became too much for Birdie. She and Wren cried for a long time, but they calmed down and started talking about the events of the day.
“How did you know to throw the water at the light?” Birdie asks.
Wren holds several pieces of grass, and she braids them into an intricate pattern. “I suddenly remembered Mr. Perkins’ lesson on refraction and thought there was nothing to lose.”
“Harold Perkins has a way with words.” Birdie’s voice gets a bit dreamy.
“Momma, did you date Mr. Perkins?”
Birdie blushes. “A few dates, but it was never going to work out, so we went our separate ways.”
I have no idea who this Perkins fellow is, but my curiosity gets the better of me. “Why would it not have worked?”
