Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

T he newly confirmed Compass Points entered the lavish Norden house library. Rich, leather-bound volumes covered the walls. No fire was burning, but the fireplace held ashes from recent use.

Carter strode to the western seat of the circular table. Juliette, to the drink cart. She must have realized that more information was coming, and it wouldn’t be good.

Luc sat in his traditional southern seat, and Arie perched on his shoulder.

“Did you get a new familiar, Luc?” Juliette asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Something like that.” He shrugged. Arie’s feathers ruffled, and he poked Luc in the face with his wing.

Carter’s gaze was fixed on the bird—Rose had seen him watching Arie at the beach meeting as well. How well could Compass Points sense their patron god? She’d never had occasion to think about it.

Rose barely took time to appreciate this as the momentous occasion that it was—her first meeting as Norden Point. She surveyed her new partners in what she knew would be no easy task. “So, how do you want to do this?” she asked, looking at Arie.

“ Why don’t you two get us started, and I’ll add commentary where I feel necessary,” Arie spoke into Rose and Luc’s minds, the other Compass Points still in the dark about his true identity.

“ We’re telling them everything?” she asked, choosing her words carefully for those listening.

“ Technically, the continent is doomed if you can’t figure out how to work together, but I guess it’s up to you. The good news is…there’s almost no way for the Compass Points to trust each other less than they currently do.” The bird flapped its wing into Luc’s face again.

Rose gave Arie a look that suggested his motivational skills could use some work.

Carter tracked the interaction. His head moved back and forth as if anticipating that someone—or something—was responding to each of her questions. He knotted his fingers together on the table before him.

“Why don’t you start from the beginning,” he suggested.

The unease was heavy in the room. Though the Compass Points had stood together against the Norden elders, Arie was right, they were far from trusting each other. Rose understood on some level. Revealing her magic to Luc had been its own struggle, but as Arie also pointed out: They were short on time.

“The distrust among the fae courts is something I’m all too familiar with,” Rose said. “I want to start my tenure as Norden Point differently. With that, I think you should know some things.”

Looking at Luc, she paused. She wasn’t sure how much detail of his side quests for weapons masters he wanted to reveal to the Compass Points. She would tell her story, but she didn’t need to tell his. He caught her hesitation and picked up her thread seamlessly.

“ We think you should know,” he echoed.

Rose swore she felt a reassuring squeeze of her hand and the faint brush of his touch slide up both arms as he emphasized they were united. It sent chills down her spine. It was also impossible since Luc was sitting directly across from her, but pine and cinnamon lingered in the air as the warmth left her hand. She smiled as his magic retreated. It would reassure her when he could not.

“I found Rose when searching for a rumored magical weapons master. I was looking for my own solutions to the mist plague when I felt the Compass Points were no longer taking my concerns seriously,” Luc continued.

Carter’s gaze was mysteriously focused on the books on the wall now. This was off to a good start.

Juliette tapped her fingernails on the large wooden table as she finally took the eastern seat. “We knew that, Luc,” she said. “Though I guess we didn’t know that’s what Rose was when you brought her back. You played your relationship a little too well.” Her gaze lingered between them.

“Yes.” His eyes met Juliette’s. “That’s not really what we are discussing.”

Juliette’s lips set into a thin line. She looked like she would say something, prying further into the alliance created between the Norden and Suden Points through Rose and Luc’s not-so-fake romance.

“We’re getting off track,” Rose said. She did not doubt that the Osten and Vesten Points would worry about such an alliance, especially given the depth of power the Suden Point possessed.

Power was coveted in the fae courts. While those at the table now didn’t seem like they would burn the world for more of it, she would never underestimate a Compass Point. It was no accident by which they came to their positions, and she was sure they would do whatever was necessary to maintain them.

“The mist came for the village of Bury the same afternoon that Luc found me. We realized my blades could stop it. They can’t reverse the damage already done, but they can be used to fight the mist-born beasts and prevent wielders from succumbing to the mist plague.”

“That’s the only way I got her to return with me,” Luc commented. “When she realized she held the key to averting more loss by the mist, she couldn’t ignore my request to return to Compass Lake.”

Rose rolled her eyes at Luc. “I’m glad we’re calling that a request,” she commented before she could think better of it.

Carter looked up from the calming movements of his fingers. His wide eyes indicated that sassing the Suden Point wasn’t a regular occurrence.

“We’re getting off-topic again,” Luc said.

Rose liked seeing him flustered. He was always so annoyingly self-assured.

“So that’s how you stopped the mist from entering the Compass Lake Village? With your weapons?” Juliette asked. Her cat-like grin told Rose she would return to the couple’s first meeting at a more appropriate time.

“Yes. Though, there’s something else you should know,” Rose said, looking at the Osten Point. She glanced briefly at Carter too. She was really doubling down on honesty—hopefully, it wouldn’t backfire. They didn’t have time to worry about secrets among them. They needed to unite against the mist and Aterra. Leading by example was her only move, sharing her secrets and asking for nothing in return. “I also have Osten fae in my lineage.”

Juliette assessed her in a new light, her head tilted to the side in contemplation.

“So, I wield both wind and water magic. It’s important for this next part.”

Juliette gestured for her to continue.

“Aterra is at least partially controlling Aiden. When his eyes are gray, Aterra is in control.”

Juliette and Carter looked between Rose and Luc to determine whether this was a joke.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how could you know that?” Carter gently questioned.

“Well, first, Aterra told me when we were in the sandstorm on the beach yesterday. And second”—she eyed Arie—“my friend over there”—she gestured to the bird, still on Luc’s shoulder—“is Arctos, Lord of Fire.”

Juliette laughed. “Luc? He may think highly of himself, but he’s no god.”

Rose was right to suspect the Vesten Point’s attention on the black bird. Carter stared, though not at Luc.

“Not Luc,” Carter said. “The bird.” He bowed his head slightly.

Juliette reappraised the animal perched on Luc’s shoulder.

“Arie has been with me for years, but only recently revealed some critical information about his identity. There is more at stake here than the imbalance of the Compass Points. Having the incorrect Norden Point was a problem, but it was not the only problem. We’ve been in the middle of a power struggle between the gods for years, and we haven’t known it.”

Arie nodded on Luc’s shoulder.

“After the Covenant, the gods were forbidden from interfering with the Compass Points. Aterra has done the opposite. While there is likely more to that story”—Rose gave Arie a sharp glare—“we must prioritize tracking down Aiden and ensuring that Aterra is banished from his person. We don’t know the extent of what Aterra has done, just that Aterra’s interference has led to the mist plague on the continent.”

“How do you know the mist is related to Aterra’s interference?” Juliette asked. “I understand your point that Aterra broke the rules, but he’s a god. Who is punishing him if not us? Our positions were created because no one else could hold a god accountable.”

“Well, that’s where it gets interesting,” Rose said. “Have you been around the mist, Juliette?”

“No, I’ve only seen villages suffering its aftermath.”

“And has any of the lingering mist…felt familiar?” Rose asked.

“Just say what you mean,” Juliette said, sipping her drink. It was clear she knew she wouldn’t like hearing whatever Rose was about to say.

“Well, we believe my magic-infused blades work against the mist plague because I inadvertently infuse my weapons with my wind magic. The mist seems unwilling or unable to hurt its own.” Rose looked meaningfully at Juliette. “In this case, its own is strong wind magic. We believe that the mist plague is sent by the Lost God, Zrak, and he’s been trying to tell the Compass Points that Aterra is interfering with the balance that he sacrificed himself to preserve.”

Juliette’s hand tightened on her drink, the glass shattering. The brown liquid seeped across the table. She stared openly at the bird on Luc’s shoulder as if she wouldn’t believe Rose’s claim without a second opinion.

Carter’s mouth opened and closed a few times. No words came out.

Arie’s beak dipped in assent.

“How?” Juliette asked through clenched teeth. Her hand went to a necklace chain that disappeared beneath her dress.

“We’re not sure,” Rose said.

Carter finally found his voice. “If he’s warning us of Aterra, why is he leaving the Suden worshipping villages alone?”

Juliette seemed to regain a modicum of control. “I thought that was simply a rumor because everyone feared the Suden Point.” She gestured to Luc. “Is it really true?”

Rose shrugged. “We don’t really know. Luc and I were looking at a map of taken villages, and honestly, it seems like the mist started further north where there happen to be no Aterra-worshipping villages.”

Juliette looked thoughtful. “But the first village taken all those years ago was in the northeast?”

What was Juliette thinking? “Yes.” Rose nodded slowly. “That’s what the Suden records indicate. What about it?”

“Nothing,” Juliette said, pulling herself out of whatever thought process she was in. “I think to get the real answer about which villages the mist is attacking and why, we’d need to ask the Lost God himself.”

Rose wanted to ask if such a thing were possible. The Osten Point had said at the Solstice Ball that she still worshiped the Lost God. What did that look like? It seemed too personal a question to ask in this setting. Tucking the topic away for later, she said, “I think we should focus on how to stop it.”

“And how do you think we do that?” Carter asked.

“We do what the Compass Points were created to do—keep the gods’ power in check. We don’t know everything he’s done, but we know Aterra is out of line. We need to balance the scales.” She gestured around the table to emphasize she meant everyone in the room. “We need to go after Aterra. We need to ensure his meddling on the continent is done.” Rose looked around the room, a little nervous to ask her next question. “Does anyone know how exactly we stop a god?”

Carter’s gaze fell to Arie before responding, as if deferring to the god to answer. Arie remained silent. “I’m not sure it’s ever been tested,” Carter said. “We’ve not had this type of situation since before the Covenant was established.”

“I was told that our magic would know what to do once we were aware of the situation.” Juliette gestured casually. “But as Carter says, none of our predecessors have had to test it.”

This wasn’t promising, but there was really no choice to be had. “Well, we have to go after Aterra and Aiden and see what our magic can do together as we track them.”

Carter interjected quietly. “Isn’t this no longer a breach of the Covenant by nature of Aiden no longer being Norden Point? Aterra is no longer breaking the Covenant if he’s not interfering with a Compass Point.”

“It’s a good line of thinking,” Luc said. Carter flinched away from his voice, even as it issued a compliment. “Unfortunately, there is more to the story than just the Compass Point interference and the mist plague.”

“Of course there is,” Juliette said. She leaned forward, her elbows on the edge of the table, her head resting atop her intertwined hands. One could mistake her for serene if they had missed her blatant display of rage moments before.

“Yes, I don’t think we fully understand what Aterra has done to disrupt the balance. We know he’s been recklessly pursuing the growth of his own power for longer than the mist plague has existed. Inhabiting Aiden is not his only sin here. He is also holding Aurora hostage.”

Juliette couldn’t hold in a deep chuckle. “I’d call you both liars”—she glanced between Luc and Rose again—“but the things you’re saying are too ludicrous even to make up.”

“I’m not sure this is funny,” Carter replied.

“No. It is not,” Juliette said, getting up to get another drink after using her wind to effortlessly sweep the glass from her last one into a neat pile on the table. “How do we pursue this rogue god, then?”

Rose pulled Aurora’s compass from beneath her tunic. “This will lead us to what I want most on the continent. I want to stop Aterra more than anything. We can follow it to him.”

Juliette stretched her neck, like this might be one revelation too many for the day. “So, let’s go through what you need us to do,” Juliette said, focusing on action. “We need to find Aiden and Aterra.” She gestured with a wave of her hand as she crossed the room. “We must stop a god from further inhabiting a fae’s body. Setting aside, we don’t know how often he inhabits Aiden or what we would do with Aterra once he’s separated…” She lifted the bottle of golden-brown liquid as she continued. “Then, we must determine what else Aterra has done in his quest for power, which at least includes freeing a goddess who has somehow been imprisoned.” She glanced at Rose as she poured a little more of the liquid into a new glass. “And finally, we have to convince the Lost God, Zrak—who’s been missing for five hundred years—that we corrected the mistakes he’s angry about, we’ve maintained the balance, and he can leave the continent alone and return to being lost?” She moved the glass to her lips and asked, “Did I sum that up correctly?”

“ I think you got it all, ” Arie said aloud.