“Took you a while to recognize me,” I replied dryly, my nerves frayed and exhausted, sensitive and impatient.
“I haven’t seen you since the Blackout,” he said, his voice faded. “It’s been a long time. Besides, I was under the Hermessi’s influence last year. My mind is still a little blotchy upon returning from the dead, to be honest.”
“Most of us are like that,” another guard chimed in, the atmosphere suddenly relaxing around me. “You’ll have to forgive us.”
“No harm done,” I offered. “If you could just take me to Taeral, that would be much appreciated. Oh, and I’d be most grateful if you tell no one about my presence here. I’m on a secret mission.”
“Discretion advised?” the first guard asked, and I nodded briefly. “So be it,” he added, looking at the others. “You heard the swamp witch. No one can know.”
The guards stood back, watching me quietly as I followed their colleague through the back gardens. Everything here had been rebuilt and regrown, probably with a little bit of magic from the Witches Sanctuary, too, after the Hermessi’s attacks. In the back of my head, I could still hear the Shills roaring and screaming, tearing into the fae…
It was quiet inside the palace. I would’ve liked to say hello to Sherus and Nuriya, but I had an important mission ahead. The guard brought me to the first floor and all the way outside Taeral’s study. He bowed before me. “You’ll find him inside. The prince has been spending most of the day here,” he said slowly. “It’s good to see you again.”
I found his words surprising and raised an eyebrow. “Why? I don’t really know you; you certainly don’t know me.”
“Your appearance is always auspicious in our world. In the darkest of times, we’ve had you to rely on,” the guard replied, hands behind his back. “I never had the chance to thank you personally for everything you did, but if it weren’t for you, and His Highness, the prince, and all your GASP friends… we would’ve all died. So, thank you.”
For a moment, everything that had made me get involved with GASP in the first place came back to me, fresher than ever. The fire in my chest. The determination to do something right, to change the course of history, to save lives and build better worlds. It was for people like him… this guard whose name I didn’t know, whose name I’d likely forget, anyway, given how many people I met on an almost daily basis. This guard was alive because of my work. Because of our desire to do good.
Acantha had died so that he may live, in a way. I wondered whose lives Nethissis had indirectly saved.
“You’re too kind,” I whispered, my eyes stinging.
“It is the least I can do,” he replied, then bowed once more and left me standing outside the study door. My gaze settled on the brass handle, my hand itching to touch and turn it. I was already moments away from doing something that Derek would’ve certainly frowned upon—but all I could do was hope I’d be discreet enough to get away with this.
I went inside, finding Taeral behind his desk, poring over papers. To my surprise, Eira was sitting next to him, double-checking the same papers before rolling them and tying them up with gold thread. Each of the pages was tagged with a series of handwritten numbers, which Eira then recorded in a massive leather-bound logbook.
They both raised their heads, their eyes lighting up at the sight of me.
“Lumi!” Taeral gasped, a broad grin stretching over his handsome face.
Closing the door behind me, I smiled back. “Tae. Good to see you again.” I looked at Eira. “And you, Miss Dorres. It’s a pleasure to find you here, on the Fire Star.”
Eira got up and rushed to hug me. I welcomed her embrace, the physical contact relaxing me, ever so slightly. She was always a sight for sore eyes.
“Well, Eira has become quite a staple of the Fire Star.” Taeral chuckled.
“I take it you two are doing well,” I replied, looking at her, then at him. They both nodded, love glowing between them—an invisible yet powerful bond that could not be denied. The Hermessi had brought these two together in ways they’d never thought possible.
“I’ll be honest, I like it here more,” Eira said, her cheeks blushing pink. “I miss Cerix sometimes, sure, but I’ve found a true home on the Fire Star.”
“The irony of which does not escape me,” Taeral said. “Who’d have thought? A semi-water elemental settling so well in a fire world.”
“It takes water to temper the flames, doesn’t it?” I replied, smiling.
He nodded, as Eira joined him back at the desk. There was another chair in front of it, for guests. Taeral motioned for me to take a seat. “It most certainly does,” he said. But the joy quickly left his expression as he remembered our shared loss. It was easy to tell that he’d been forcing a happy face, and that it was wearing him out. Only now was I seeing his true self. “I’m sorry about Nethi,” he added, sadness darkening the amber pools of his eyes. “I wish we could do something to bring her back.”
“Tae,” Eira cut in, frowning at him.
“I know, I know,” he grumbled, shaking his head. “I can’t use Thieron to revive her, anyway. I don’t have that kind of knowledge.”
“Plus, Death would be furious,” I said. “Thank you for the kind thought, though. I figured you’d have considered it by now, but it wouldn’t be right. We cannot go around reviving people, no matter how much we love them.”
“The natural balance, yes. I know that, too,” he replied, leaning back into his chair. “It’s just so unfair. After everything she went through…”
Eira sighed. “She will be missed, for what it’s worth. I’ve rarely met creatures with strength like hers.”
It became increasingly difficult not to cry again. Whenever I thought of Nethissis, my tear ducts got out of control. Taking several deep breaths, I willed myself back to calm nonetheless.
“How have you two been?” I asked, not yet ready to get down to business.
“Good, actually. I’ve been given more royal duties,” Taeral replied, briefly glancing at the papers before him. “I’m signing invitations to join the fae army. They’re personalized, and Eira’s helping me keep track of them.”
She pointed at the logbook. “This is a list of qualified fae who’ve recently turned eighteen. We’re sending a scroll to each of them. It’ll take us a day or two to get all of them ready.”
“You’re strengthening the Fire Star’s army,” I murmured. “Good. A solid defense is never a bad idea.”
“Yeah. I’m training the new recruits myself, which is why my father thought it would be a good idea for me to sign the invitations.”
“He’s asked me to help,” Eira replied, trying not to smile.
Taeral shrugged. “You’re a wicked soldier. It would be a crime against the Fire Star not to have your input.”
Eira put her hand over his, squeezing gently. “Aw… You flatter me.”
“Just telling it like it is. Why should I be the only fortunate one to behold you every day? I’m sure the recruits will love you just as much.”
“I doubt they’ll love me as much as you do,” she replied.
