Page 56 of Kingdom of Spirits
“Ah! Right. Thanks.”
“Who are you talking to?” Marius scowled and looked from Tahlia to Trevain and Fara.
Fara walked over on slightly unsteady feet and Lija bent so she could climb on. Tahlia and Marius each gave her a hand up.
“Wait here,” Tahlia said to Marius.
She searched the ground until she found some of the blood-red plant. She plucked a bit and handed it over to Marius, careful not to touch him.
His lip lifted, showing his teeth.
“Shh, you’re fine,” she said, “and I’m fine. I know not to touch you. Now, eat that.”
“Why would I?” Marius demanded.
“Because I told you to.” Tahlia winked.
Fara and Trevain laughed. Marius grunted unhappily, but he shoved the plant into his mouth and chewed. His furrowed brow cleared. His mouth fell open.
“Ragewing?” he said quietly.
“Fara and Lija introduced me to this plant,” Tahlia explained. “It sparks the ability for riders to hear their bonded dragons.”
Marius faced Ragewing and had a hurried conversation, then Marius went silent though he still focused on his Heartsworn. He spun to face Tahlia. “But we can’t speak back inside our minds?”
“We can. But it’s not easy.”
It is worth practicing, though, yes?Lija said.
“Definitely. Lija said we should practice and see if we can manage it after a while.”
The effects should last forever. Once the talent blossoms, it remains. The plant is rare. It only grows in this land. My forefathers once lived here, hidden deep under the land’s surface, where the sea flowed through secret caves.
“That is amazing.”
“I’m jealous of this new thing,” Fara said. “I’ll be the big person and admit it.”
“Why aren’t you stelling me we are going to die from eating it? I’m impressed you’re merely fretting over my friendship with Lija and how it might affect ours. Which it won’t.”
They took off into the sky, heading in the direction Katk had gone. Clouds whisked by, the air cold and sickly sweet with Katk’s disgusting odor.
“Firstly, I’m not shouting warnings because I researched the plant. That’s why I even bothered to tell you about it. Its effects on Fae are established and I have that information. Secondly, well, this is all just too much,” Fara said. “Once you’ve hit this level of emergency, there is little point in warning everyone. We all know it’s likely that death is about to greet us. Will we end up like you, Trevain?”
“I don’t know. I suppose it’s possible, but I died from the natural plague the Mistgold Fae brought. Your kind.”
“Easy, ghost,” Fara said. “Don’t throw accusations at me. I wasn’t alive back then. Not even close. I might be half dead, but I’m more alive than you and I can find a way to teach you manners.” She cracked her knuckles.
This time, Tahlia had put Fara in the saddle’s main seat. She didn’t want her friend falling and it was easier to keep a hold on her from the back.
“Also, why is everyone so mean to Trevain?” Fara asked. “I’m ecstatic you’re here and helping us,” she said to the ghost. “Without you, we would be clueless.”
Trevain glowed brightly and lifted his chin, his ghostly robes fluttering in the wind. “Thank you, Lady Fara.”
“Are you secure there, Lady Tahlia?” Marius called out in his Mistgold Fae voice. It echoed in her ears like drums and she bit her lip, loving the power behind it. She would save him. Somehow.
Trevain streamed along between the dragons. “You will most likely die of the revenge plague and I’ve seen no ghosts of those who suffered that fate.”
Katk’s stone-and-moss-colored head came into view over a tumble of high hills. The stench was overpowering.