Fires of War (War and Deceit #4) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,59

When we reach the bonfire, I see there are four high elves already sitting around it, and as I get closer, I instantly forget about the sea elves.

“How?” I look up at Vaeril, my eyes stinging with unshed tears before I look back at the elves who are now staring in my direction. “How is this possible?” My voice is a whisper, but I’m sure they still hear me anyway with their superior hearing.

“Come on, chosen one, haven’t you kept us waiting long enough?” Naril teases, confirming he heard me, only to yelp as he gets smacked in the shoulder by a delicate pale arm. Snorting at the scene before me, I start to walk again, Vaeril’s hand on my lower back gently guiding me forward. Tor and Eldrin stand behind me, still in guard mode, which I don’t quite understand. What happened?

“Be nice to the poor girl, she’s had a shock.” Saril glares at Naril, then looks at me across the fire as I settle onto one of the logs that’s being used as a bench. “It’s good to see you again.” Her smile is soft and genuine as her gaze flicks between Vaeril and me, and I wonder what he’s told her about our relationship. From the gleam in her eyes and how she keeps looking at where his hand is still touching me, he’s either told her about the bond or she’s worked it out for herself.

“Life has been such an adventure since you came into our world, Clarissa,” Taelir, her mate, comments brightly from her side. Elves live for such a long time that seeing an elderly elf is unusual, but if these two were humans, I would guess them to be in their forties, so I can’t even imagine how old they are. The two of them are old friends of Vaeril’s I met in Galandell, and sitting next to them, watching me with a wide smile, is Master Ardeth.

“Hello, Clarissa.”

My eyes sting as the realisation that I might have never seen him again finally hits me. Ignoring Vaeril’s protests, I push up from the bench and approach the master, sitting at his side and taking one of his hands in mine. “I’m so happy to see you again.” My voice catches in my throat, and his expression softens. Taking a few moments to compose myself, I look between the three of them, questions making my mind spin. “How did you escape Galandell?”

The master’s face turns more serious, his sigh heavy at the prospect of having to relive what happened, but he nods his head in agreement, knowing he needs to explain. “After you left to visit the wood elves, Saril had a vision.” Glancing over at the older couple, I see Saril nodding, wearing an unusually somber expression.

When I first met Saril, I learned she gets visions, and sometimes when she touches someone, she might get a vision of that person. However, I didn’t learn this until I had already shaken her hand, and she didn’t know my goddess gift can sometimes amplify the powers of others. This had been quite the revelation for both of us.

“I don’t get many anymore,” she tells me, leaning closer, keeping her voice low. “However, since I met you, I’ve been getting more of them. Just small snippets that don’t usually make much sense,” she reassures me when I frown. Has being around me somehow set off her abilities? I’m not quite sure how I feel about that. “This vision was different and very clear—we needed to leave.” There’s a note in her tone that makes the hair on my arm stand on end, the taste of magic on the air. “I didn’t know what was going to happen, only that we needed to leave.”

I don’t remember Saril’s powers being this strong before, but I’ve not had the chance to spend much time with her. Glancing over at Vaeril, I see he’s watching with a slight frown, but he doesn’t seem to be too concerned.

“Taelir and I are old friends,” Master Ardeth says, picking up the story. “He told me what Saril had seen, and we left together. We headed for a house I have near the White Cliffs, my sanctuary.”

“By all accounts, they left just in time,” Eldrin interjects from the edge of the bonfire, still standing like he’s expecting to be attacked at any moment, his eyes scanning the area. “The attack happened hours after they fled Galandell.”

I’m suddenly really grateful Taelir was such a good