13. Chapter 13

Chapter 13

O nce we were back on the road, I relaxed against him, no longer fighting it. His warm hands rested against my hips to keep me in place as I drifted between sleep and wakefulness, battling the fatigue from healing Caelus's wound. Tingles ran through me at his touch, and the tempest within calmed.

A weight lifted from my shoulders after I'd told Caelus about Klareth. Killing her wasn't right, but it was comforting to know that perhaps it wasn't wrong either. It was for the gods to decide, and they hadn't acted.

But what kind of life had Caelus lived? As a crown's guard, I knew it was inevitable that he'd taken lives, but how many? I wasn't sure of the current state of the kingdom. The temple was uninterested in court politics, making information scarce. Klareth's involvement with Lord Ebonhammer had been the newest information I'd learned in some time.

Until we arrived in Tiruhm, I wouldn't know why or how far their relationship went. Not that it mattered. Finding Teeg and keeping him out of the hands of the kingdom and the Dawn Conclave was my priority. I wouldn't let them use him in the same way I'd been used.

Over the next couple of nights, Caelus coerced me into attempting to create an orb of light, claiming that the Refulgent could do so with ease. Considering their power was light, it wasn't surprising. I envied the ease of their power as opposed to my own tempestuous gift. But I tried to do as he said since there would be little harm involved while we were separated.

At first, I could only make one about the size of a marble, and it quickly fizzled out, but I continued to focus on creating dense balls of contained levin until sweat beaded from my brow. He'd been satisfied with even the smallest progress, offering praises easily.

One night, I'd asked why he chose not to be an instructor. He was clearly suited for it, and before it had sounded as though his friends encouraged it. But he tensed and his tone shifted, becoming somber. He'd changed the subject, stating it was time to sleep, and I didn't pry despite my curiosity.

Caelus had placed his bedroll next to mine, leaving a few inches between us each night since we'd been attacked. He didn't seem keen to allow a repeat incident.

Each day, the Serpentine Mountains grew closer, and Caelus had me practice using a turquoise wolf fang attached to a leather cord he'd pulled from under his tunic. He wanted me to lift it and keep it suspended in the air.

After a few days, the fang floated above my palm easier than it had before. "How did you know about the rose?" I asked, hoping to distract myself from how close we were to Tiruhm.

"I had a paper cut when I touched it," he said.

I laughed and thought back to the morning he'd been in my room. I hadn't noticed the faint light, but I also hadn't been eager to look at or speak to him.

"Your laugh is beautiful," he murmured.

I tensed, and the turquoise fang fell into my palm. "So I've heard."

"And who would go around saying that to the most sheltered Divine in the Kingdom of Valaryn?"

I huffed. "It's hard to go unseen in a tavern."

"You're right. Everyone noticed when you came in that night."

I wrapped my hand around the fang pendant and smiled at the thought of our meeting. "You only noticed because of how perceptive you are."

His hand gripped my hip. "Would you rather I'd noticed because of how beautiful you are?"

I opened my mouth, but words wouldn't come. If I was being honest with myself, I would've wanted that to be the reason. But I couldn't allow him to distract me, and we'd be going our separate ways once I found Teeg. There was no point in fantasizing about something more between us.

As we neared the mountain that held Tiruhm, silence fell between us, and his hand slipped away. I shivered, wrapping my cloak tightly around me.

The city built into the mountain with snowcapped turrets took form in the fading sun, and a light layer of snow covered the northern landscape. We passed carts draped in canvas, vibrant colors peeking out from underneath. A stone path led up to the iron walls shaped into geometric angles. It was cold and uninviting compared to Esteban's tavern.

The closer we got to the entrance of Tiruhm, the harder it became to concentrate on making the fang float. The guards stationed at the gate were not all pure dwarvish. A stocky half-fey woman, her height no doubt influenced by her dwarven heritage, allowed us to pass through the dark-iron gates.

Caelus left me to stable the horse, and I took in the cold mountain city. Several buildings had been constructed with the dark metal, and those that weren't had been reinforced with it. People of all races bustled from shop to shop. A group of dwarven revelers putting up an archway of autumn leaves argued. It was the most color I'd seen, outside of what peeked out beneath the canvas-covered carts as we were coming into the city.

"They're preparing for the Frostfire Festival," Caelus said at my side.

I turned to him and said, "I'm ready to see Lord Ebonhammer."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea. We've just arrived, and the sun is setting. He has no reason to grant us an audience immediately unless it's urgent."

My hands clenched at my sides, and lightning prickled the tips of my fingers, not quite escaping. "Finding Teeg is urgent."

His gaze dipped to my hands, and I fought the urge to hide them like I would have from Klareth. "I agree. But Malik said that the High Houses have no reason to harm him. We have time."

I didn't want to wait. The sooner we found him, the sooner I could get him home—the sooner he would be safe. And how could Malik be sure they wouldn't harm him? "You'll take me now."

Caelus let out a heavy sigh and started walking. "Fine. But keep your expectations low, Tempest."

I frowned at the use of my title and followed behind him on the stone path, surprised it, too, wasn't metal.

Caelus guided us with a familiarity I envied. My time in Tiruhm had been spent with my aunt. Parts of my memory were clear and others smudged away. My aunt and cousin lived in the upper district with the wealthy or powerful, including Lord Ebonhammer.

We stopped in front of the wall surrounding the impractical iron castle. To gather the amount of ore for such an atrocious building would have taken generations. That wasn't even counting the time to construct it; esprit was likely to thank.

At the front gate of the wall surrounding the castle, there were two stocky dwarven guards. Their dark beards hung down to the middle of their bellies. Both were armed with swords and axes.

"I need to see Lord Ebonhammer," I said.

"Do you have an invitation?" the one on the left asked.

"I'm the Tempest," I tried, hoping my title would be a boon. "It's important."

"You cannot see Lord Ebonhammer without an invitation or authorization from King Olbecht."

I shot Caelus a look, hoping there was something he could do.

"I'm a crown's guard of the Sunburst Throne. She wishes to inquire about the whereabouts of a child."

The one on the right guffawed, not even entertaining the request. "A lost child is not the concern of Lord Ebonhammer. Take it up with the Temple of Evryn."

Lightning stirred in my veins, and the wind picked up around me. Did Lord Ebonhammer often ignore requests from his people? Let alone from a Divine?

Before I could say anything, Caelus placed a hand on my shoulder, the warm heavy weight grounding. "We'll be leaving, then," he said, pressing his other hand into the small of my back to lead me away.

I took a deep breath in and waited until my lungs burned before releasing it. Once we were no longer within earshot of the two dwarven guards, I asked, "What am I going to do? He's the only lead we have. Klareth sent Teeg to Lord Ebonhammer, and we don't even know why."

"There are more ways than one to gain information, Eira."

I frowned. "Then what do you suggest, great crown's guard?"

The corner of his lips twitched up. "I have my methods. For now, it's getting late. We need somewhere to stay."

The sun had long since sunk, and the thought of my aunt and cousin surfaced again. "I have family here. They may let us stay with them. That house is too big for the two of them, anyway."

Caelus looked down at me, uncertainty written on his face. "It's worth a try."

I told him what I remembered about the location of Aunt Celeste's villa, and within minutes, he'd led us there. The same stone wall with ivy growing across the top encircled the property. Sweet floral scents from Aunt Celeste's garden that she maintained with esprit wafted into the street. I peeked through the iron gate, and there were no lights. Not even the flicker of a candle.

"They must be out. We can wait for them inside. Lora always stashed a spare key in the plant near the door."

I pushed open the unlocked gate and stepped into the small courtyard. Caelus followed. Flowers and well-manicured hedges surrounded us, as pristine as if it were a temperate spring day instead of the cold of the mountain city. The villa was made of dark stone with iron reinforcements, much like the rest of the city's buildings. Near the large double doors sat several potted plants that Lora would hide her key in when she'd sneak out.

I poked around in the flame azalea to the right. No luck. She must have learned that Aunt Celeste knew where she hid it. I turned to find Caelus poking around in another pot, equally unsuccessful.

After several minutes, Caelus said, "What if we try the door?"

I glanced over my shoulder at him. "It's locked. We'll have to come back or find this gods'-forsaken thing in one of the twenty plants."

"True, but we haven't simply tried the door."

I spun around, hands on my hips. "All right. Go ahead."

He gave me an arrogant look. A light breeze whisked past with the unmistakable scent of citrus. Without so much as resisting, the door pushed open. "I have many talents."

"You can't just pick the lock with your esprit!"

He gestured to the now-open door. "As you can see, I can."

"Does the king know you go around doing that?"

"Would you rather spend all night in the cold looking for that key?"

I snapped my mouth shut and pushed past him into the foyer.

A crooked portrait of Aunt Celeste and Lora greeted us. Their perfect blonde hair had been pulled up and little curls framed their near-identical faces. Lora's features were softer, with big eyes and rounded cheeks.

Tucked in the corner was a sculpture of Maelynn, goddess of night and dreams, covered in a thin layer of dust as though someone had merely forgotten to clean. Everflame lanterns flared to life, illuminating the floral wallpaper that screeched a reminder of times better off forgotten.

I checked the various rooms of the house. A forgotten teacup sat on a table in the sitting room, half-empty. There was an abandoned book on the floor in the den. A disheveled blanket draped across the couch in the living room. Jasmine withering in the kitchen from lack of water. Each a reminder that someone lived here but wasn't present and had left in a rush.

My heart thudded heavy in my chest with each step up the stairs. Something isn't right. I checked their rooms, and the beds were made, just as Aunt Celeste demanded. But clothes cluttered the floor near the closet, and drawers had been left open.

Aunt Celeste wouldn't have left her home in such a state. She prided herself on always keeping it pristine. She'd hire someone to clean while she was away. What was left of my family, as much as I detested Aunt Celeste, was gone like they'd vanished on a typical day.

In the middle of the den, my legs grew weak. A weight fell into my chest so heavy that breathing hurt. My vision blurred, tears welling in my eyes, not yet falling.

Teeg was still with Lord Ebonhammer. And my family was just . . . gone.

And what could I do?

Caelus cleared his throat. "Eira."

I didn't want to hear what he had to say. I needed to leave, search for them. Someone had to know what happened.

His hand wrapped around my arm, forcing me to face him. "Take a deep breath." A flicker of light in his eyes caused me to look down. Lightning arced haphazardly from my fingers and over my arms. I hadn't felt the prickle against my skin or the threat of it escaping.

"Let go," I begged.

His grip tightened. "Tell me what's wrong."

I started to reach for him with my other hand, but lightning was there, too, and I stopped short.

"You're afraid," he said.

Dorian's face popped into my mind, the agony that was smeared across it like a brand in my memory. A moment I'd regret for eternity. All over some stupid, petty argument. "Aunt Celeste would have never left her home like this," I whispered.

He held up my hand in front of me. "If you act out of fear, so will this."

I took in a long, slow breath and released it.

"You won't hurt me." As if to prove that he believed what he said, he took my empty hand covered in skittering blue-white arcs and laced his fingers with mine. He didn't wince or gasp. There wasn't even a flicker of discomfort from him. He smiled, and I stared into those eyes I hated. But I wasn't so sure I really did anymore.