Zyphira just blinked at him.
“Really? Nothing? I know I’ve been a total prick, butcome on. Give me something.” He released a heavy breath. “Any advice? Words of wisdom? Or is everything you say cryptic just to fuck with me?”
As Vesper crossed his arms over his chest, the Oracle mimicked him and reflected back the snark he wore in his own expression. He had to give it to her, even for an old crone, Zyphira’s spirit hadn’t been stolen by time. She reminded him of Marlys. But maybe it was the motherly, smack-you-in-the-ass attitude they both wore like a crown.
“Was that not obvious enough? Did you need me to spell it out? Use simpler words? I have a responsibility to hold the answers in my palms and only interfere whenabsolutelynecessary. Lest I set off a chain of events and bring eternal darkness. You would not want that, would you?”
“I suppose not.”
Vesper glanced around the Sacred Lands and spotted the clearing where he and Emmery had been attacked by serpents deep in the cavern. It was now burnt to shit from Kaida’s flame. The memory seemed so distant now.
“Though, I could do without the attitude, I’m working on that deal we made.” Vesper rubbed the inside of his wrist where the pactum scar in the shape of acavaecarved his skin, not stolen by death because of the amulet used to bring him back. It would’ve been nice to have one less thing to deal with.
As if Zyphira could hear his thoughts, she grabbed a nearby stalk of grass and walloped him across the back of the head. It took him by such surprise Vesper didn’t have the good sense to dodge. Maybe Zyphira thought she could smack some sense into him. Clearly the joke was on her.
He rubbed the back of his head as the bite and sting reddened his skin.
“When you are in the north, donotruin this. There are those who wait for you and have for some time. You will do better or so help me—”
“Alright, alright!” Vesper held his hands up in surrender. Gods, he had his work cut out for him. “Go to Morana. Find Kyrith and the people with magic like mine. Get the answers for Izzy to save Ellynne. And do better. I’m on it.”
Zyphira grinned, a sharp display of her black teeth. “You called on me, boy, remember that. Do not disappoint me.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
EMMERY
Emmery hadn’t believed Briar when she claimed she would leave the next day, and when one day turned into two, and two bled into a week, she stayed at her brother’s side, joined Emmery in the training ring, and even met occasionally with Destonne and Brennen. In fact, they all found an amicable rhythm with one another, which, in itself, was bizarre. Fionn still hadn’t woken, though Emmery swore she caught his finger twitching one night, as if crying out,I’m still in here!
When Emmery wasn’t at Fionn’s side or training, despite every cell in her body screaming to flee, Destonne nudged her further into the water. She’d even managed to float on her back, thoughher thudding heart had pounded her ribcage like it begged for an escape. Destonne’s tendency to hover with his hands under her was surprisingly comforting, but she could do without his running commentary.
“I’m still leaning toward the sink or swim method. I’ve heard it’s undeniably effective.”
“Have you given thought to that gift? I’m not getting any younger here. Better looking? Yes. Younger? No.”
“You’re incredibly lucky to have such a handsome, talented mentor. Just think, you could be looking up into anyone’s face, but you get the unmatched joy of staring up into mine.”
She didn’t want to admit it, but he distracted her from the water, sufficiently replacing her fear with annoyance. It helped chase away those images threatening to drown her in not only her own trauma, but her self-doubt, too. And she hated that she actually looked forward to her lessons every day, whether it was the tangible increments of progress or the company.
Then, once the thick blanket of night fell, Brennen would escort Emmery to the Tree of Eternal Blood. It was one of her three demands, the other two being the banishment of her restraints and resuming her magic training. Destonne had come through on his promises so far and she just hoped his graciousness would continue. If she remained on good behaviour, maybe they would.
Emmery and the wolf strolled in silence, the moon their only guiding light in the darkness as they headed to Asaella’s tree and the kingdom capital centered around it. Many of the shop windows were boarded up like long abandoned dreams and the streets were surprisingly empty, though most had likely found shelter for the night.
Emmery kept her hood up, her hair tucked away, the shroud of her vestige hidden by her cloak. Gods forbid she be recognized. According to Destonne’s lengthy lectures on anonymity, it’d bea fate worse than death. But if these were his terms, Emmery would meet them with an agreeable smile and a middle finger behind her back.
As the tree came into view, the crimson veins within the bark and familiar thrumming magic drew her in like a siren song calling to something within her. The leaves, dark as the night sky, rustled in the windswept breeze and waved in greeting. Cobblestones surrounded the sacred trunk, but the city was only a backdrop to the tree which stood as the beating heart of this forsaken city.
Like usual, Brennen and her shared mutual silence, but today, something had overcome Emmery. Maybe the small victory of floating on her back without crippling panic, the fire barrier she’d formed in the training ring, or Destonne’s morsel of praise had spurred her on. "You’re doing well. I may even be impressed. Soon you won’t need me,”he’d said.
Maybe he was trying to get out of the lessons, but she responded with a surge of both smug satisfaction and cheek-reddening bashfulness. But it certainly fed her ego, and she was still flying on that high.
After kicking a stray pebble, she gave Brennen a sideways look. His orange eyes glowed in the night, face complacent as usual, like he simply went through the motions of life but didn’t touch or feel any of it.
“You really don’t say much, do you?” she finally said.
The wolf’s eyes slid to her, focusing on the sliver of her face revealed by her hood. “What would you like me to say?”
“It’s not so much what Iwant,” Emmery mused. “I’ve been here for some time, with you for much of it, and I know nothing about you.”