Page 119 of The Study of Fire
“We’ll try it regardless,” Bain said.
“Yelena believes that when Roze and the others die, she’ll be able to capture their souls and imprison them in Opal’s glass statues.”
“How?” Bain asked.
“This is where she’s not so sure it’ll work. Since Opal can trap magic in her glass animals, Yelena theorizes she will be able to also trap the souls. And if they’re trapped in there, they won’t be able to communicate with anyone.”
“But Opal isn’t a Soulfinder. Can Yelena transfer the soul to Opal?” Irys asked.
“That’s the this-might-not-work part.”
“What do we need to do?” Valek asked.
“We need to bring in a kiln, and all the equipment needed for glass blowing. And we need Opal.”
“I’ll contact the local glassblower’s guild,” Irys said. “I’ll ask them to provide the equipment.”
Valek stood. “And I’ll fetch Opal.”
“Uh, that might not be a good idea,” Leif said. “You’ll probably scare her.”
“I’m not letting any harm come to the one person who might be able to save Yelena.”
“I understand that, but what if her parents refuse to let her come with you? Are you going to kidnap her?”
Of course, he would. Valek huffed. “Then join me. Rusalka is a Sandseed horse. I plan to ask Kiki if I can ride her so I can cut through the plains.”
“That’s a good idea. When do you want to leave?”
“Now.”
Leif grumbled but left to pack his bag. Valek stopped by Ambassador Signe’s guest quarters. Two guards stood outside the door. One raised an eyebrow when Valek approached.
“This better be important,” he said.
He handed the man an envelope. “Please give this letter to the Ambassador when she wakes.”
He looked relieved. “Yes, sir.”
Valek went to the stables next. Kiki looked over her stall door when he entered. Her ears drooped and she gave him a morose nudge, like she had done every day he’d visited for the last couple weeks. Feeding her a peppermint, he explained about Yelena’s plan and how they had to get to Opal as fast as possible.
“You’re the fastest, Kiki. Will you come with us?”
She practically knocked him over in her hurry to leave her stall. He laughed for the first time since Yelena had gone to the fire world. He was almost done saddling Kiki when Leif entered. When he finished, Valek helped him get Rusalka ready.
Finally, they mounted, and Kiki took off with Rusalka right behind her. Normally, she’d walk through the Keep and the Citadel’s streets. This time, she jumped both barriers and broke into a gallop as soon as they cleared the east gate. Valek just held on.
A half-moon shone in the night sky. It was almost the end of the warming season, so he had left his heavy cloak back at the Keep. He tried not to think of all the time that had passed without Yelena, but the answer popped into his head: sixty-four days.
When Kiki reached the Avibian Plains, she switched to her gust-of-wind gait with a slight hitch in her step. The sands beneath her hooves blurred into a river of wind. They flew. Valek had only experienced it a couple times. Each time was as thrilling as the first.
Eventually, Kiki slowed, and the world snapped into focus. The sun was low in the sky and both horses’ sides heaved. Valek had no idea how far they’d traveled, or even if it was the same day or the next.
Valek walked with them as they cooled down. “Don’t kill yourselves,” he said to Kiki. “Yelena would be very upset if you died on this mission.”
Then he wondered if horses had souls. He guessed that since souls seemed to have magical power, that the Sandseed horses with their magical gust-of-wind gaits would indeed have souls. He’d have to ask Yelena. And for the first time in a very long time, he had hope that he would have another conversation with her. Once the horses were taken care of, they made camp.
Kiki woke them when it was time to go. Another thrilling ride was followed by another stop. When they halted for the third time, Valek saw buildings and farms in the near distance. From the position of the sun, he guessed it was mid-morning.
