Page 33 of The Eye of the Fifth
Rosary.
By her side.
Guiding her through.
‘Keep your eyes up,’ Rosary whispered, as if she could hear the pounding of Kyra’s heart. ‘Don’t let them break you.’
She led her all the way out of the Citadel and further, stopping on the bank of the narrow river that separated the city from the Upper States. Without saying a word, Kyra let go of Rosary’s hand, stripped herself completely bare, and waded into the cold water.
She closed her eyes, letting the steady stream ripple around her midriff, then dunked her entire body under. Only when she felt the chill had cleared some of the fear clouding her head, did she re-emerge.
Rosary was watching her, knees pulled in tightly to her chest. ‘Are you alright?’ Scraping her now wet and spiralling hair back from her face, Kyra shook her head. Rosary quietly asked, ‘How did you do it?’
Kyra looked down at her hands. Had it been her? Could she have done it without even realising? The Governor had said the magic was elemental. Who else could it have been, if not her?
But it had been air magic, not earth, this much Kyra knew. Had it been the Air Mother who had intervened? And if so,whywas the Goddess Gallena, and not Roheia whom her newfound magic had come from, her unexpected saviour?
‘Fuck me,’ Rosary murmured.
Kyra looked up, and instantly saw the reason for her profanity.
A winged being of strange, ethereal beauty stood on the river bank, calmly staring down at Kyra with a peculiar gleam in her almond shaped, cool grey eyes. Her features were pointed and feline, her windswept hair cropped and silver.
Those great wings shivered, and a familiar scent tinged the air.
‘Snow,’ Kyra murmured, blinking stupidly at the divine-like creature before her. ‘It was you.’
The female bowed her head, a gentle smile pulling her thin lips. ‘You are perceptive. Do you know who I am?’
‘I have a very strong hunch. I’ll be damned if I’m wrong.’
She chuckled, but her gaze drifted to Rosary, who was still gaping. The female asked Kyra, ‘This is a friend of yours?’
Kyra nodded.
‘And she can be trusted?’
‘With my life.’
Rosary finally closed her mouth, but her eyes shone with fierce pride.
‘Very well,’ the female said, seemingly satisfied. ‘Then allow me to formally introduce myself, Kyraena Daeiros. My name is Naal Westerra. Your grandmother sent me to liberate you from an unfortunate fate.’
‘Win?’ Kyra said, surprised.
‘The very same.’
‘She never mentioned she knew the Air Warden.’
Naal Westerra’s eyes flickered slightly. ‘No. I wouldn’t have expected her to.’
Suddenly nettled, Kyra retorted, ‘Iamthe Earth Warden, aren’t I? You’d think she might have told me that too, but no. My entire life has been a lie.’
Sadness flitted over the Air Warden’s features. ‘A lie put in place to protect you, Kyraena.’
Kyra gritted her teeth. ‘It’s just Kyra. How many others knew? My parents? My siblings?’
‘Would it not be best,’ Naal said carefully, ‘to direct your questions to your grandmother? I feel she can answer them far better than I can.’
