“Look around you,” Signe cut in and motioned to the people who wandered aimlessly. “Do you not see what is happening here? Nothing has really changed.”
The people were scared. They’d lost Lani and countless others whom they had depended on. If Kera left again, they would continue to endure hardships. But what was she to do? No one trusted her. That was apparent by the welcome she’d been given. “I understand their grief, and I share it, but—”
“Do you? You look well fed and rested for someone who has lost a dear friend.”
Kera choked on the stillness in her lungs until the air burned and its ragged escape filled her ears. “That is unfair,” she whispered. “Unkind even. It’s not like you to be so harsh.”
“It’s unlike you to abandon us,” Signe shot back. “You spouted all sorts of promises before you left. Where are they now when you have real power? Dust on your shoes, is where. How can I tell them the one they saw as their savior is leaving? Again.”
“I never asked to be their savior.”
“I know. It was thrust upon you. Much in life is that way.” She grabbed Kera’s hands. “I stay not because I have no choice. I stay because I refuse to leave even one behind to suffer. I thought you felt the same.”
Kera pulled her hands free, feeling trapped by Signe’s words. “Yet you are willing to let the human realm suffer. They are defenseless against magic.”
“So are we.”
“Not completely.” Why was Signe being so stubborn? “Magic is from our world. We know what threats exist. The humans don’t. I’m asking you to let me do what is right. I caused so much of this.”
“It will never end,” Signe said. “One day you will have to choose where your allegiance lies.”
“With you,” Kera said. “Never doubt that, but I’m begging you, treat Reece as you would any other innocent man whose only crime was one of ignorance.” She took a deep breath and said, “I think he loved her.”
The bristle of Signe’s anger faded and she buried her face in her hands, covering her misery. “I always feared Lani’s impetuousness, yet I loved her for it, too. I miss her so much.”
Lani was gone, and now Signe believed Kera was abandoning them. She wasn’t. Her responsibility was to two worlds, each vulnerable. Why couldn’t Signe see that? Kera gently touched her friend’s arm. “I have not forgotten you, nor will I ever.”
Her friend turned away. There was nothing more Kera could say. Dragging Reece back to the human realm was out of the question. If Signe refused to care for him, Kera would have to find someone else—her father maybe? When Signe turned back around, Kera eyed the tin in her friend’s hand.
“To ease his pain and draw out the remaining poison,” Signe said.
“Then you will help him?”
Signe nodded. “I doubt either of us could get him off my bed.”
Kera hugged her tightly and whispered a heartfelt “Thank you.”
Her friend pulled away and tucked the tin in her pocket, not yet ready to accept Kera’s gratitude. “You will fight your new battles and love your new love and you will forget us…and I shall be stuck with your human castoff forever.”
“I’m sure once he finds out Lani is gone, he won’t want to stay.”
Signe escorted Kera to the caves’ entrance, her silence the sound of disapproval.
Though the sun’s rays inched through the clouds, Kera couldn’t feel their warmth. She was now a stranger to her own kind. “I can’t pass through the spell any longer. Halim had to bring me through. You should keep a closer eye on him.”
They both knew that was useless. The boy did as he pleased.
Signe played with the necklace that held her birthstone at her throat. “If not for his wandering about, how will we know when you return?”
Kera touched the necklace in Signe’s fingers. “There is a spell using birthstones…”
She had no idea if it could cut through the barrier magic, but it was worth a try. Paper materialized in Kera’s hand. The spell had to be put to paper and then burned before it would work. She stared at it until words appeared, then took off her sapphire ring and held it out. “I give this to you willingly so that you will never forget me, and wherever you are, I will find you.”
Signe made to take it, but Kera shook her head. Understanding dawned, and Signe pulled off her necklace and held it out. “I give this to you willingly so that you will never forget me, and wherever you are, I will find you.”
Together, they placed the items within each other’s palms. With their hands clasped together, Kera closed her eyes, and the spell wove over the items, binding them to each other. When she was done, the paper with the spell on it burned in a flash, the ash taken up by the wind. Kera took the necklace and slipped it on, fingering the ruby set in the center, and Signe pushed Kera’s ring onto her finger.
Kera quickly told her how the spell worked, and when she had nothing more to say, they stood staring at each other. Kera gave her friend a sad smile. “It’s the best I can do.”
“Will it work?”
“Let’s hope. Most of the spells I was allowed to use before were more practical in nature. But you know me. I always tried what I was told I could not do. And failed miserably. Now that I have my own powers, it should work.” She touched the necklace around her neck. “I’ll wear this always. Never take off the ring.”
Signe fingered the ring, pulled her hand to her chest in a protective manner, and nodded.
Halim suddenly burst into the clearing, his eyes bright with fear. Staggering to a stop, he bent, trying to catch his breath as he put his hands on his knees. He managed to point behind him. “They’re doing—” He shook his head and swallowed. “It’s unspeakable.” His gaze rose and found Kera. “We have to save them.”
Kera’s stomach dropped. Now was not a good time. She had commitments…but the fear in Halim’s eyes…it spoke of the horror he’d seen.
Those who were close rushed to the boy and peppered him with questions. Behind him, smoke rose slowly into the sky like a line of fresh ink, black and heavy. It curled and bent unnaturally. What type of fire produced smoke like that?
She had asked the question to the wind, and a voice within her head answered back.
She blinked and searched for the one who could speak to her mind as if whispering in her ear. Everyone appeared busy.
Kera was afraid to ask more. She bent and placed her hand flat on the ground. Rumblings of hate echoed through the dirt. A sudden clash of blades sounded. A stab of dark magic surprised her and she yanked away, flexing fingers suddenly gone numb.
A chuckle echoed in her head.
She peered back at the rise and fall of unnatural smoke. She couldn’t shake the impression of evil she had felt and its quest to inflict harm.
Signe squatted and twirled the ring Kera had given her. “What?”
“Find me three people capable with the sword.”
A light of hope entered Signe’s eyes. Kera grabbed her friend’s hand before she stood. “I give you no promises. There may be nothing I can do, understand?”
Signe nodded and Kera let go.
All she wanted was to go home to Dylan, but another part of her demanded that she stay. It felt as if her soul were being ripped apart. She closed her eyes, knowing she couldn’t leave. Not yet.
Spinning on her heels, she dashed into the caves and straight to Signe’s quarters and Lani’s clothes chest. She yanked out the garments she needed and stepped behind a screen. When she reemerged, she wore dark- brown leather pants and a dark, long-sleeved linen shirt. Over the shirt, a thick leather vest fit snugly to her torso.
Seeing Reece standing at the entrance to the bedroom, Kera came up short. “You should be in bed.”
“I heard you come in. Where are you going?” he asked.
She didn’t answer, but neatly slid her
