27. Chapter 27

Chapter 27

W e took several breaks on the way to Thistlewall, during which I practiced more with my esprit. Lightning gliding across my skin was beginning to feel more and more natural, but I avoided using it atop Kast with Caelus in case of a slipup. The breezes I mustered weren't nearly as powerful as the ones I knew Caelus could make, but it was progress.

Next to a flowing brook, I focused on a fist-size rock while lightning coated my skin, trying to move it. Still nothing. I wondered if it was even possible to wield both at the same time.

"You might burst a vessel with how hard you're staring," Esteban said.

I pictured the rock lifting seamlessly. Instead, it shot up in a jerky movement, and the bright azure arcs sputtered away. I groaned. "The labryn won't be easy to deal with."

"This plan . . . refusing Iker's aid . . ." He sighed. "I'm not sure it was the best idea."

"The more people who know about an Abyssal in Marunia likely taking the form of one of the Dawn Conclave, the greater the likelihood of panic. It'd also be good if the people of Tiruhm grew to like Iker."

"People didn't wholly dislike Travok."

"They accepted what they knew. Do you really think they'd love him or his son if they knew he'd been eating children?"

Esteban kicked a rock into the stream. "That's all well and fair. But assailing Thistlewall is rather ambitious, my girl. There could be innocents there too."

"Maybe. But the Golden Child—Teeg—is as powerful, or more so, than a Divine. He's in the hands of an Abyssal. He's young and easy to influence. So if being ambitious is what it takes to get him back before something happens to him, then that's what I'll be."

Esteban chuckled to himself. "You've grown in your time away from the temple."

I scoffed, turning back to the water. "Klareth would have had a field day with those shackles, I'm sure." Even speaking of them turned my stomach. I twisted a hand against my wrist, trying to wipe away the cool phantom sting of the iron against them.

Esteban took my hand. "I'm sorry there wasn't more I could do for you, girl."

I shook my head and focused on the rock again. "It doesn't matter. She's dead now."

Esteban remained with me while I practiced. He knew me well enough to know that despite my words, the memory of those manacles would remain forever embedded in me.

Our break ended and Caelus assisted me in mounting Kast. The forest became denser the closer we came to Thistlewall, the snowy landscape tapering out into thicker green grass. We diverted from the worn dirt road, and howling sounded in the distance. Caelus's hands fell to my hip. Between the warmth of his body and the soothing circles of his thumb, I was lulled to sleep.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed when he shifted behind me and said, in a hushed tone, "You've been spending too much time with Corrin." The soft rumble of his voice pulled me out of my haze, and I shot forward, straightening myself.

Caelus's arm circled me, keeping me steady, as if he was worried I might fall. His grip loosened a moment later, but his thumb started rubbing those small circles again.

To my right, Kenzo laughed.

"What's so funny?" I shot at him.

His grin turned mischievous. "There's an audience almost every time Caelus and I train together. Most women would die to be so close to him. I'm surprised his looks and charms aren't winning you over."

"It takes more than a handsome face," I said.

"But you do think he's handsome." Kenzo winked.

"I—I'm not blind," I admitted, looking ahead in an attempt to hide my flushed face.

Caelus's chest brushed against my back, and I heard his failed attempt at suppressing his laugh. I looked at him over my shoulder. "Would you rather I thought you were hideous?"

His gray eyes met mine. He smirked. There was no way he hadn't known for a while that I found him attractive. Gods, the way I'd kissed him had probably said as much. There'd never been a reason to admit it openly. There still wasn't, but Kenzo coaxed it out of me all the same.

I huffed and faced forward again, and Kenzo laughed, tapping his heels against his horse. He quickly caught up to Esteban ahead of us, leaving Caelus and I alone.

We were quiet for a few moments, but Caelus's hand remained on my hip, thumb continuing those little circles.

I relished the feeling of him against me, breaking up the monotony of travel. Even if it was just his hand. The act was intimate—a closeness that'd built up in our time together. One I'd grown accustomed to but didn't know where it began and ended during our time pretending . I was growing to hate the word. But I didn't make him move his hand like I may have on our journey to Tiruhm. This way there would be little moments to remember after I returned to Dusmir and him to Ryseer.

I bit at the inside of my lip to suppress a yawn.

"You're draining yourself," Caelus whispered, his breath caressing my ear.

"I'm fine."

"You're using esprit every free moment you get. Rest or you'll be of little use when it comes to finding Teeg."

I frowned. He was right. And if Caelus and I didn't have to share a horse due to my own lack of ability, then we could have traveled faster. But we were taking our time to make sure the horses and rams rested enough, and to ensure Malik had a chance to join us. Caelus told me later that he had added a location to the note. I hoped that Malik had enough sense to bring more than himself.

"Don't let what Kenzo said bother you," Caelus said, breaking my thoughts.

"About you being handsome? It was a fortunate benefit of attending a ball with you."

He chuckled. "Fortunate for both of us, then. You were stunning in that dress."

"Oh," was all I could think of to say. Thank you would have been better, but I hadn't been expecting it. My lips curled upward, and my stomach fluttered. I'd known the dress was beautiful, but he thought so too.