Fury

by E. L. Todd

  “Okay…so he is your type?”

  “I think he would be a good husband and a good father, if we were given permission to do that, but we’re better as friends.”

  “Is there someone else you’re into?”

  She lifted her chin, her eyes narrowed.

  “Sorry,” Cora said quickly. “I’m not trying to interrogate you. I haven’t had girl talk in a really long time.”

  “Girl talk?”

  “You know, when girls talk about the guys they’re into.”

  She gave a slight nod in understanding. “No, there’s no one else.”

  “Then what am I missing here?”

  She set her tea aside and interlocked her fingers on the table. “Is girl talk confidential?”

  “That’s the foundation, yes.”

  “Alright.” She looked away for a moment and cleared her throat. “My father has been very clear about this. He has no influence in the elf I choose for my Wor-lei, and if I choose to remain unmarried for my lifetime, that’s an acceptable decision. But his one request was…that I do not choose someone who serves in the army.”

  “Why?”

  Her eyes dropped. “Because he lost my mother…and his daughter should never know that sorrow.”

  “Oh…”

  “My mother was one of the best. General Callon trained her himself. But she fell anyway, cut down by some monster. It was very difficult for us to retrieve her body, but my father made it happen because he couldn’t go on and never feel her spirit again. I understand his request, and after seeing that kind of grief firsthand, I think it’s a reasonable one.”

  Cora felt Callon’s grief the moment she was in his presence. It was in his eyes…his sad eyes. His happiness had improved in recent weeks, either because he could speak to her when he wished, or his relationship with Cora filled the void that his family left behind. But that grief was permanent. Just better on some days…and worse on others. “Is that the only reason keeping you apart?”

  After a quiet stare, Peony gave a nod.

  “Well…if he dies in battle…won’t you be sad anyway?”

  “Yes, but that would be losing him as a friend rather than a Wor-lei. It will hurt much less.”

  “But won’t it hurt more knowing you could have been more…but it never happened?”

  Her stare shifted away.

  “I know Callon wouldn’t have chosen someone else…even if he’d known he would lose Weila.”

  Peony continued to look away.

  “It’s not my place to tell you what to do, to go against your father’s wishes, not when we don’t know each other that well. But if you have the opportunity to be together, even if it’s going to end, I think you should take it. I know I would…” Firelight. Shadows. Embers. Starlight. Mist. A smile both boyish and arrogant. Big hands on her body. Kisses against her lips.

  Peony grabbed her cup and pulled it close once more, her eyes still down. “What about you?”

  The memories were shattered by the question. “What about me?”

  “Do you have someone?”

  Her eyes shifted away, unsure what words to speak, what to even think—especially with Ashe there. “I did. But…it didn’t work out.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, it’s been rough.”

  “I’m guessing this isn’t an elf, then?”

  She shook her head.

  “Maybe you’ll find someone here, when you’re ready.”

  “I’m not really looking, so…”

  “You have a long life to live, Cora. The heart aches for a long time. But it heals—eventually.”

  “Yeah…we’ll see.”

  Guess what?

  You think I have time for guessing games?

  You have time to hang out with goats all day, so you tell me.

  He gave a deep chuckle. You made some friends?

  Yep.

  Did you throw a rock at their head or…?

  No, asshole.

  Bribe them?

  Didn’t have to do that either.

  Hmm…General Callon pulled some strings?

  Shut up. I’m a very pleasant person.

  The scar on the back of my head says otherwise.

  She rolled her eyes as she sat up in bed, wishing he could see her do it. Her name is Peony. I helped her and her father speak to her late mother, and then we kinda became friends. She introduced me to some other people she knows too.

  That’s great, Cora.

  Yeah, I really like them. I’ve never really had a girlfriend, so that’s nice.

  Not in your village?

  They were too busy churning butter and making dinner for their husbands or whatever nonsense…

  I’d like to watch you churn butter…

  Shut up.

  Wearing a little apron…things jiggling.

  You’re ridiculous.

  He made a chuckle. You’re on the right track. Keep it up, and pretty soon, you’ll be the queen of that place.

  Okay, that’s a bit unrealistic.

  You fused with Ashe, King of Dragons, and that was even more unrealistic. Come on. When they really know you, they’re going to love you. You’re right. You probably won’t be queen, but you won’t be an outsider either.

  Maybe. Ashe and I think Callon should be on the throne.

  He’d be as good a king as he was a general. But I doubt he’d ever be interested in that.

  You’re right.

  He’s a soldier. He wants to serve—not lead.

  What’s going on with you guys? I’m guessing you haven’t found the dwarves because you would have told me.

  We found a tunnel, went pretty deep into it, but then it was a dead end.

  Are you sure? Maybe there was a secret doorway somewhere.

  No, we’re certain. And it was Flare’s idea—so I’m giving him shit.

  Is it really that hard to find these guys?

  Have you been to the mountains?

  Well, no.

  Then you have no idea.

  She left Eden Star through the secret passage and emerged into the wildlands outside the forest.

  Finally.

  Sorry. I know it’s been a while.

  While you got to enjoy a feast at breakfast, my stomach growled for a bear.

  Bear is Flare’s favorite.

  Bear is a staple in a dragon’s diet.

  They emerged into a clearing with ample space for them to unfuse.

  Are you ready?

  Maybe I should just lie on the ground for this.

  You need to get used to this, Cora.

  Fine.

  Ashe unfused, separating his black body from hers.

  Cora ended up on the ground—again. “Makes me sick every time.” She opened her eyes and looked at jagged teeth and gray eyes. His breaths blew over her face. “But it’s nice to see you in the scales. You’re beautiful.”

  I know.

  She gave a light chuckle. “Have fun. You know where to find me.”

  He gave her a slight nudge with his nostril. You’re beautiful too, Cora. On the inside as well as the outside.

  “Thanks…”

  He walked away in search of his meal.

  Cora sat up and dusted all the blades of grass off her clothes. It was an overcast afternoon, but spots of sunshine would break through and warm her skin. She crossed her legs and looked at the trees as she waited for Ashe to return.

  Then she heard it.

  A whine mixed with a growl.

  It sounded like an angry horse trying to get her attention.

  She turned to the sound and gasped when she saw him.

  With black fur, gnarled teeth that extended outside of his jaw, and big black eyes with white in the center, he was exactly as she remembered.

  And he still had the flower behind his ear.

  “Honey, is that you?” She got to her feet and approached him with an outstretched hand. “I thought you fell. I’m so glad you’re okay.”


  He hurried over, drool dripping down his sharp teeth to the grass.

  “Okay, easy with those.” She backed away so his teeth wouldn’t rip through her clothes and flesh. “Thank you for helping us before. We might not have gotten away if it weren’t for you.”

  Images flooded her mind—of herself. Of feeding him flowers, tucking one behind his ear, smiling at her, riding on the back of Flare in terror.

  She placed her hand on his flank and ran her fingers through his fur.

  He seemed to like it because he smiled—sorta. His eyes drooped a bit, and he twisted and turned his head so her fingers could get deep into his neck. Anytime she stopped petting him, he gave a snort and demanded she continue.

  She chuckled. “Alright. That seems fair considering what you did for me.” She petted him for a while, until he was finally satisfied. “So, what are you doing here? Just visiting? Where is home for you?”

  An image came into her mind—a very disturbing one.

  Dead trees with no leaves. Fog thick as smoke. Eternal darkness. The images were so fast that she barely captured their essence.

  “That’s home?”

  He gave a nod.

  “It’s…nice.”

  He moved into her and nudged her with his horns.

  “What?”

  He did it again, along with a growl.

  “What are you trying to tell me?”

  His hooves pounded against the ground as he stomped backward, his eyes locking on to hers. His mind connected with hers, and a flood of images appeared.

  A line of Shamans flying on steeds. More than just three or four. There were dozens, their features invisible under their cloaks. Under cover of darkness, they flew, over a dark ocean. The image changed to trees, thick and green trees with curling branches. An endless forest in sunshine.

  The vision faded.

  She tried to process what she’d just seen. “I…I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me.”

  He gave another growl.

  “Shamans…ocean…forest.”

  He dropped his head and nudged her in the side, careful to protect her from his teeth.

  “Okay, a bunch of Shamans are flying across an ocean…toward a forest.”

  He pulled away and gave her a hard stare.

  “Is…that forest Eden Star?”

  He stared for a long time.

  Cora hoped her assumption was wrong, that this was just a misunderstanding.

  It wasn’t—because he nodded.

  Are you certain that’s what he meant?

  As certain as I can be given the circumstances.

  Why would a steed loyal to the Shamans betray his master and tell you this?

  Because I gave him a flower. She hiked back through the passage to return to Eden Star as quickly as possible.

  A flower?

  It’s complicated.

  He betrays his people because you gave him a flower…? That’s not complicated. It’s senseless.

  I can’t explain it, but we’re basically friends. He gave me a ride to Rock Island and attacked the Steward of Easton’s dragon so we could get away. I guess he must have come here from wherever they’re from to warn me.

  For a flower?

  Just forget that part, okay? We’re friends. End of story.

  What do we do now?

  I guess tell Callon.

  Yes, that would be wise.

  She returned to Eden Star and headed straight for his tree house. It was close to sunset, so he’d probably just made dinner. She ran up the vines and made it to his front door, but she saw that his home was empty. “Callon?”

  He’s not here.

  She turned back around. Then where is he?

  Cemetery of Spirits.

  You’re right.

  She left the tree house and headed to the other side of Eden Star, plunging into the mist, the sea of fireflies, the land of grief.

  Callon was on the bench next to the graves of his family.

  His head was bowed, his hands together, eyes closed.

  Right beside him was the outline of a man. Muscular like his father, poised like his mother, his head bowed in mutual grief. His blue outline showed the same sharp jawline that Callon possessed. He had the same shoulders too, wide and muscular.

  She didn’t need to see his face to see their likeness.

  She approached the bench, the news she came to share forgotten. “He’s next to you.”

  Callon gave a small reaction, like he heard Cora even in his trance.

  Turnion turned his head to regard her.

  She met his look—at least where his eyes would be. “I’m Cora—your cousin.”

  He remained quiet.

  Callon inhaled a slow and deep breath. “Not a day passes when I don’t think of you. The loss of your mother has broken my spirit, but the loss of my son has broken my heart. I failed to protect you. I failed as a father. I failed as a husband. I failed…both of you.” The tears came, rivers down his cheeks.

  Cora looked away because it hurt too much.

  Turnion remained quiet.

  Callon cried quietly to himself before he wiped his face with the back of his forearm, giving a loud sniff before he brought himself to calm.

  Turnion still didn’t speak.

  Callon waited, his quickening breath showing his impatience. “Vin-lei.”

  Nothing.

  “Why do you not come to me? Why do you not speak?”

  Turnion was still, his eyes still on Cora.

  Callon’s voice came out as a whisper. “What have I done…?”

  Turnion finally turned away from Cora, focusing his stare on his father. “A father should never have to outlive his son. But a son should never have to watch his father grieve his death. Your sorrow…is just too much for me.”

  Callon turned to look at his son, where he imagined he would be, his eyes red and wet.

  “I don’t want to feel your sorrow, Kul-lei.”

  Callon pressed his lips tightly together, forcing back the flood of tears that wanted to break through.

  “I gave my life for my people. I died with honor, and I would die a million times to keep Eden Star safe from evil. I’ve found peace—and you need to find it as well. Honor me. But do not grieve me.”

  When he blinked, fresh tears came. “You’re my son…”

  “You will see me again, Kul-lei.”

  “You have no idea how much I miss you…”

  “I do.”

  “I should have protected you.”

  “I was just as skilled with the sword as you—but it was my time. Do not carry this guilt. Do not carry this sorrow. I can’t come to you and see you this way. I want to feel the presence of my father, the general, the strong man with hands that never shake. This…is too much for me. It breaks my heart to see you this way.”

  Callon inhaled a deep breath as he wiped away his tears with his palm.

  “You suffer when I suffer—as I do with you.”

  He gave a nod.

  “No more.”

  He took another breath before he gave a nod.

  “Rein-Lei-Vu, Kul-lei.”

  His entire body started to shake, his bottom lip trembling, the moisture on the surface of his eyes growing until the surface tension wasn’t enough to keep them in place. “Rein-Lei-Vu, Vin-lei…”

  Turnion faded away, his outline replaced by mist.

  When he was gone, Callon let the tears come freely, his palms cupping his face.

  Cora felt her own fall.

  She moved to the seat beside him and placed her arm around his shoulders before her face rested against his arm. Her tears soaked the fabric of his shirt every time his chest heaved and he vibrated against her. “I’m sorry, Tor-lei…”

  Callon opened the cabinets and grabbed two cups for the tea brewing on the stove. His eyes were bloodshot but dry as sand.

  You need to tell him.

  Now is not the right time, Ashe.

  Cora, this is impo
rtant.

  He’s grieving.

  His son is dead. He will always grieve.

  Callon carried the two mugs of tea to the table, and they sat together. His hands cupped the mug like he needed warmth on a cold day. His eyes remained on the liquid, even when he brought it to his lips for a drink.

  “How are you?”

  His eyes remained on the tea. “Unwell.”

  “Your son wants you to be happy.”

  “Which is impossible. The loss of a child…you don’t recover from that.”

  “But you can make your peace with it.”

  He lifted his gaze.

  “Your son wants a relationship with you. But your sadness brings him sadness. It’s infectious—just like laughter and joy.”

  He gave an almost imperceptible nod.

  “I know it’s hard. I can’t even imagine. But…I understand what he means. The people we love most…we never want them to hurt. Because when they hurt, so do we.”

  He took another drink.

  “When you hurt, he hurts.”

  “Grief is like a disease. Once you have it, it’s permanent. You manage it, and some days are worse than others. It’s a lifelong illness that doesn’t get better—just changes. But I will try to find peace with his death so I can continue my relationship with him beyond the grave.”

  She drank her tea, her eyes on her broken uncle across the table.

  When his mug was empty, he pushed it away and looked out the window instead. “I’m glad to see that you’re building relationships outside of the one we share. Not just to reach your goals, but for your own well-being. I know the elves have been unkind to you, but they are great people.”

  Now is the time.

  “I know they are.”

  “And maybe you’ll meet a partner as well.”

  Her eyes immediately dropped back to her tea.

  “Callon, there’s something I need to tell you.” She lifted her gaze and met his.

  His bloodshot eyes immediately turned serious. He was still and focused, his head slightly cocked.

  “I wanted to tell you earlier today…but it wasn’t the right time.”

  “What is it, Cora?”

  “When I left Eden Star so Ashe could hunt, I saw the Shamans’ steed. The one that flew us to Rock Island.”