started tracing the tattoo that Cash had seen us get together in his Reading. “My Reading showed me a stone circle, which was split in two halves. One light and the other dark. There were also four markings on the outside of the circle. I don’t know what they mean, but they were evenly placed around it.”
“Do you remember anything else?” Peyton asked.
My eyes flicked to Ezra. “No. Wait, yes. I remember something about six elements. It didn’t make sense at the time, because I didn’t know about Death energy. Could he require the other four elements, too?”
“Can you describe the symbols you saw?” Alexander asked me.
“I think so, or at least close to what I saw.” I closed my eyes and tried to remember the symbols, flinching at the memory of Kaylus smiling at his son’s dead body. I placed my hand on the table in front of me and let my memory guide the energy I was using to recreate the marks I had seen.
When I opened my eyes, the emblem that Alexander had placed on the table was surrounded, a mark etched outside each arm of the cross.
“Those are the symbols for the four physical elements. If that is what you saw, then it is likely they are also required to open the portal.”
“Which means we must get to your family as quickly as possible before my father can capture one of them.” Ezra stood up quickly, while I felt panic settle into my stomach.
“Wait, there is still the matter of rebuilding and — ” Peyton started to say.
“It is more important to prevent Kaylus from attaining the materials he needs to bring destruction down upon us all.” This was from Lena, who stood up with us. “I will come with you. Ian, get what you need to help her cousin. We leave in five minutes.”
The man who had spoke of healing Cash jerked up from his chair and ran out of the room, apparently to do what Lena had asked.
“Why are you agreeing to help us?”
“Because helping you will help my people,” she said, frankly. Okay, so maybe I liked her a little.
“There are Elfennol all around my home. I can’t assure your safety, but I’ll try to keep you safe.”
“With respect, you have enough to protect as it is. I don’t fear the Elfennol.” She grinned, but it wasn’t from joy. More like a predator baring her teeth. “I’ll be at the gate in five minutes time with enough Ambrose to get us through the journey. Luckily, we kept a small store near the entrance for traveling convenience so it was unharmed in yesterday’s activities.” Then she walked out of the room briskly.
I turned to Alexander and Aahana. Ezra was at my side, where he belonged. “Alexander, I need you to go to my father immediately and tell him everything you heard here, and that I’ll need help protecting my family. Tell him to meet me at the hospital.”
He nodded his head, then briefly hugged his mother before walking out of my obsidian room.
“Aahana, please help organize rebuilding the town. Make sure everyone has something to do. I don’t want them dwelling on what happened yesterday. Keep them busy. And keep your ears open for people sympathetic to Kaylus’ faction.”
Panic usually set in after a traumatic event. I didn’t need the remaining Clades to suddenly freak out, overthink things, and decide somehow that Kaylus was the good guy. They needed to be kept busy. I turned to walk out the door after Aahana agreed to my instructions when I remembered the last three Elders were still sitting at the table.
“If the entrance has not already been repaired, do so immediately. Place a watch to ensure that Kaylus or his people don’t try to come back. If any of his allies are discovered, do not kill them. Imprison them, and keep them separated from the others so they can’t sow any of his lies among the rest of the people. Do not let them become martyrs to his cause. I’ll be back.” Then I walked out with Ezra following close behind. Once we left my room and were walking toward the entrance I turned to
“Do you remember anything else?” Peyton asked.
My eyes flicked to Ezra. “No. Wait, yes. I remember something about six elements. It didn’t make sense at the time, because I didn’t know about Death energy. Could he require the other four elements, too?”
“Can you describe the symbols you saw?” Alexander asked me.
“I think so, or at least close to what I saw.” I closed my eyes and tried to remember the symbols, flinching at the memory of Kaylus smiling at his son’s dead body. I placed my hand on the table in front of me and let my memory guide the energy I was using to recreate the marks I had seen.
When I opened my eyes, the emblem that Alexander had placed on the table was surrounded, a mark etched outside each arm of the cross.
“Those are the symbols for the four physical elements. If that is what you saw, then it is likely they are also required to open the portal.”
“Which means we must get to your family as quickly as possible before my father can capture one of them.” Ezra stood up quickly, while I felt panic settle into my stomach.
“Wait, there is still the matter of rebuilding and — ” Peyton started to say.
“It is more important to prevent Kaylus from attaining the materials he needs to bring destruction down upon us all.” This was from Lena, who stood up with us. “I will come with you. Ian, get what you need to help her cousin. We leave in five minutes.”
The man who had spoke of healing Cash jerked up from his chair and ran out of the room, apparently to do what Lena had asked.
“Why are you agreeing to help us?”
“Because helping you will help my people,” she said, frankly. Okay, so maybe I liked her a little.
“There are Elfennol all around my home. I can’t assure your safety, but I’ll try to keep you safe.”
“With respect, you have enough to protect as it is. I don’t fear the Elfennol.” She grinned, but it wasn’t from joy. More like a predator baring her teeth. “I’ll be at the gate in five minutes time with enough Ambrose to get us through the journey. Luckily, we kept a small store near the entrance for traveling convenience so it was unharmed in yesterday’s activities.” Then she walked out of the room briskly.
I turned to Alexander and Aahana. Ezra was at my side, where he belonged. “Alexander, I need you to go to my father immediately and tell him everything you heard here, and that I’ll need help protecting my family. Tell him to meet me at the hospital.”
He nodded his head, then briefly hugged his mother before walking out of my obsidian room.
“Aahana, please help organize rebuilding the town. Make sure everyone has something to do. I don’t want them dwelling on what happened yesterday. Keep them busy. And keep your ears open for people sympathetic to Kaylus’ faction.”
Panic usually set in after a traumatic event. I didn’t need the remaining Clades to suddenly freak out, overthink things, and decide somehow that Kaylus was the good guy. They needed to be kept busy. I turned to walk out the door after Aahana agreed to my instructions when I remembered the last three Elders were still sitting at the table.
“If the entrance has not already been repaired, do so immediately. Place a watch to ensure that Kaylus or his people don’t try to come back. If any of his allies are discovered, do not kill them. Imprison them, and keep them separated from the others so they can’t sow any of his lies among the rest of the people. Do not let them become martyrs to his cause. I’ll be back.” Then I walked out with Ezra following close behind. Once we left my room and were walking toward the entrance I turned to
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