She spun around and headed back down the path that led her home. As her footsteps traipsed across the trail, a voice in her head wondered if she should accept his offer. But she shook it off.
Soon she was out of the cold and back inside the warmth of the Mother. Where she belonged.
~ 11 ~
Barrier of Rivals: Forbidden, except by the elder shaman. Blocks the spells of others for short periods of time. Can cause temporary blindness or double vision. Punishment for unauthorized usage is banishment.
—WISDOM OF THE FOLK
Mooriah held her breath as Ember sliced into his palm. His whole body was rigid, muscles carved from stone, but he managed it. A tiny trickle of blood trailed the route of the thin blade. His eyes were pressed closed so he didn’t see it.
“Now the incantation,” she breathed, afraid too much sound would startle him.
He intoned the words of the first Fortitude Seal, the one to bind him against death by blade. His voice was strong, though it cracked a few times before picking up again. And then the deed was done.
He opened one eye and looked at her. She nodded encouragingly. She’d already closed his wound so by the time he opened his other eye there was no trace of blood left.
“I did it?” His voice was hushed.
It was the weakest ward she’d ever seen, but the fact that he’d actually accomplished it made her heart burst. She grinned and leaned over to wrap her arms around him. “You did it!”
He hooted and tightened his embrace rocking her back and forth until they fell back on the seating mats, his deep laugh filling the space and warming her. He’d taken the brunt of the fall; she lay sprawled on top of him looking down into his pale eyes.
“I’m really warded?” he asked.
She grinned up at him. “Yes.” It wasn’t a lie; he was protected a little. But she didn’t want to dim his joy.
He rolled them over until he was on top and smiled the brightest smile she’d ever seen on him. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“You worked hard. I know it’s still really difficult, but you can build on this.”
He sobered somewhat. “Is it enough for today?”
“It will have to be.”
The match began in under an hour, so there was no time for more. The ward was weak, however, Mooriah would be in the audience watching him carefully. While he may not be protected from the worst Rumble had to give, she would make sure that whatever happened, he would survive. While Ember had spent the past few days practicing basic children’s spells, Mooriah had been studying the forbidden workings for mending flesh and bones. The ones that could restore him if his own wards did not protect him.
But she did not tell him. He would need confidence to face his brother, not doubts. “You have everything you need to defeat him. Never doubt that you will win and usher our clan into an era of lasting peace and unity.”
He blinked, visibly moved by her statement. “You truly believe that?”
“Of course.”
“You are amazing, Mooriah.”
Given their position, she thought he might kiss her again. Her breath caught and her gaze dropped to his lips.
“If I was not already nearly late for the match…” The look he gave her made her want to clench her thighs together. He was already between them. All he needed was to—
“But there isn’t time for what I want to do.”
“Then you’d best get off me,” she said with a laugh.
He groaned and rolled away, leaving her cold without his weight on top of her. She swallowed and sat up, then took his outstretched hand and rose.
“We’ll have to hurry,” she said.
They raced through the pathways and down several levels to the arena. Since each clan celebrated the First Frost Festival on their own, the crowd that had gathered around the brawling circle was smaller than at Ember’s last match—but still represented just about all able-bodied Night Snow members, plus the unclanned who desired to attend.
A troupe of dancers was performing the Winter Totter, a graceful interpretation of the season. It was one of Mooriah’s favorites to watch every year, perhaps if she became clan she could join the dancers one day. But today, nerves about Ember’s performance kept her distracted.
They stood at the entrance to the arena, hidden in the shadows. He was so close his breath tickled her ear. “A kiss for luck?” he whispered.