Fires of War (War and Deceit #4) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,138
Revna asks, her voice low, keeping the conversation between us. Despite our disagreement and the slight rift between us, she still cares for me. She’s already done her job as high chief, but now she’s asking out of concern for me as her niece. It means a lot, and I wish I knew how to express that to her.
Instead, I give her a tiny smile and nod my head firmly. Now is not the time for hugs and declarations of love. Sighing as if hoping I might change my mind, she nods sadly and turns back to address the others.
“Are we in agreement?” Reluctantly, the chiefs, high mages, and speakers agree. “Then we continue to Galandell. Clarissa and Vaeril will do what they need to and meet us there.”
She immediately walks away, not meeting my gaze as everyone else breaks away into their groups and prepares to move on. Wincing, I rub my chest to rid myself of the sting at her blatant attempt to evade my attention. I know she’s disappointed that I’m leaving, but surely she doesn’t think I’m abandoning them? Why would she let me do it if she doesn’t think I’d come back? Doubt plagues me.
Turning to my mates, I automatically touch my left wrist as I trace my goddess mark, my nervous habit. “Am I doing the right thing?” Vaeril reaches out and pulls me into his chest as the others place their hands on me, grounding me.
“Excuse me, beloved?”
Pulling from Vaeril’s arms, I turn to face the voice and find Speaker Beck, the sea elf representative, standing nearby. “Sorry to intrude, but is it true you have a wayfinder?” At my surprised look, he chuckles and takes a step closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “We don’t give them to many, so the news travelled quickly within the sea elves. May I see it?”
Smiling at his tone, I dip my head in acknowledgment. “Of course.” Honestly, I hadn’t thought much about the gift since I got it, and I had only used it once when I was lost in this forest. I hadn’t understood it then and had packed it away for safe keeping.
Walking over to one of the wagons where I stored my pack, I fish out the wayfinder and gently unwrap it. As soon as the smooth wood touches my hands, the dials and arrows start to move. Cradling it, I carefully make my way over to the speaker and hold it out for him, but he smiles and shakes his head.
“It’s spelled. It will only work when you’re holding it, beloved.” His explanation makes sense, but that doesn’t help if I can’t use it.
Looking up from the dials, I raise my eyebrows. “But I don’t know how to use it.”
Chuckling again, he points at the symbols on the edge of the wayfinder. “We use them to navigate. The symbols all have meanings, but the true magic is behind the intention of the user.” He moves to stand just behind me, placing his hands on my arms as he directs me, lifting them up. “You want to know if you’re making the right decision. If you should go with the army to Galandell.” He gestures to the left, and I notice one of the arrows circles, reaches that point, pauses, and then does another circle of the device. “Or if you should leave to fulfil your bargain.” He gestures to the right, the second arrow doing the same. “Ask the wayfinder, and it will show you the way.”
He releases my arms and comes to stand in front of me, smiling softly. Awed, I meet his gaze as I realise the value of the gift they’ve given me. If this can truly do what he says…
With butterflies in my chest, I raise the wayfinder to my lips. “Please, show me what’s the right thing to do,” I plead in a whisper, and watch as the arrows both do two full circles of the dial. They slow, and both arrows hover over the symbol pointing to the right. For a second, I think they’re going to move on, but they merely pulse, then freeze.
I was right.
Hope blooms in my chest now that I know we’re doing the right thing, and as I turn to Vaeril, he must see something on my face, because his eyes soften.
He cups my cheek. “When do we leave?”
My steps falter as a wave of darkness rolls over me, threatening to drag me down. Vaeril grabs me just in time and