Page 81 of Kingdom of Spirits
Wool and thorns cocooned Tahlia. Her lips wouldn’t part because her tongue was so dry that it stuck fast to the roof of her mouth. Her eyes refused to open even a crack. She heard the rumble and lilt of male and female voices, but the thorny wool enclosed her head and ears, too. She couldn’t make out any words. She longed to shout for them to take this off of her, to pull her free…
Dreams and nightmares twisted through her mind. She fell through the clouds. Lija shrieked. Fara called her name. Marius ordered someone to stand down, to back away. None of it made any sense. Her mind swam and her stomach rolled. A bitter taste hit her tongue.
Her eyes flew open. Threads of connection flickered here and there, but they were faint, like ghosts of what she’d seen during the fight with Ophelia.
Fara was there, mouth dropping open. “You’re not dead! Woooo!”
Tahlia gave a weak laugh. “What’s happening?” Light stone walls surrounded her. A long window let in the soft glow of maybe sunset?
“You’re home. I mean, at the order’s keep.”
“Is Marius… Lija?”
Fara held out her hands. “They’re both fine.” Her features had gone flat, her usual fire dimmed for some purpose—perhaps to calm Tahlia.
“You’re not telling me something.”
Taking a breath, Fara gripped Tahlia’s fingers lightly. “Healer Albus is worried that Lija will, um, take a long time to fly again.”
Tahlia squeezed Fara’s hand. “But she will fly again?”
“He’s not sure. Now, be still. I need to mix up a draught for you.” Fara went to the long table at the far side of the room and banged about with a mortar and pestle. She whistled as she worked.
Tahlia closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to slow her heart.
Lija?
Ah, rider. You’re awake.
It’s so good to hear your voice.Understatement of this eon.Tahlia didn’t want to bring up the flying issue.Can you sense my Weaver magic?
Yes, but it rests. You don’t need it at the moment. I believe it will rise if you call to it.
I have no idea how to do that.
I assume whatever you choose to do to call that power forth will work, as you are its master.
Thanks, Lija. I’m just so happy you’re all right.
I am angry but alive and grateful, too. But I to go into battle with you properly. Don’t say that won’t happen someday.
I don’t think that will be a problem.
Fara returned with a tiny crockery cup and held it out for Tahlia to take.“So glad you’re not dead.”
Tahlia finished the cup and set it on the side table. Fara gulped a sob and lunged, landing a hug on Tahlia that could have beat every hug in history.
They cried together, laughing too, and trading words that made little sense to the world but everything to them.
A soft knock sounded at the open doorway. Fara moved away and there was Marius. A shuddering sigh left Tahlia. He was whole. His eyes were his eyes. The curse was gone. She could leap from one mountain to another. Nothing was impossible if she had Fara, Lija, and Marius.
“I can come back later if you would like more time to catch up,” he said, his deep voice a warm blanket, a sparkling fire, the best wine in all the realms.
“Oh, no,” Fara said, gathering her bag and a cloak she’d had draped over her chair. “I wouldn’t come between you two for anything.” She pointed a finger at Marius and scowled. “But you’d better not get her all riled up. She needs rest.”
Marius’s stormy eyes twinkled. “I wouldn’t dare.”
Tahlia truly hoped he would.