She noticed the others had made their way to the top of the hill. “I think we’d better join them.” She extended her hand, then pulled it back. “You don’t need me to guide you.”
“I’ll always need you, Niv.” Shareis took both her hands in hers and kissed her fingers one by one. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 62
The cozy and familiar atmosphere of Dailen’s home warmed with the presence of Niv’s friends. These surroundings brought comfort to her, yet Frasie, Aiden, and Narelle seemed unaffected. She knew Frasie well enough to predict her reactions and was certain she would be in awe of the place. Instead of Frasie’s usual awe of new and interesting surroundings, she remained detached.
Dailen presented a platter with various meats, cheeses, and breads. “I know you are hungry. Please, all of you, take your fill.”
Their mood lifted a bit as they made their plates, but Narelle remained sullen.
“Nivvy healed you, didn’t she?” Frasie asked.
Shareis nodded. “Yes.”
Aiden’s expression changed to relief as moisture gathered in his eyes. “That is welcome news. Shareis, I will never forget your sacrifice.”
“Sacrifice?” Niv asked.
Shareis looked away.
“She saved my life,” Aiden said. “She used magic that revived me at the cost of her eyesight.”
Niv clung to her. “Oh, Shareis…”
“I couldn’t let him die,” Shareis replied.
“Niv is the one who’s going to save the world,” Aiden said. “I’m expendable.”
Frasie took a protective stance and grasped his arm. “No, you are not.” The flash of defense in Frasie’s eyes served to reignite her usually vibrant friend’s emerald gaze. Frasie was in there, she’d just been through a lot. They all had, but Frasie’s response proved some much-needed comfort and growing attachment to Aiden would bring her back to normal.
“None of us are expendable,” Niv insisted. “I am grateful you all gave me the time I needed to prepare to fight Vorea.”
“Lahara’s sacrifice was grave,” Narelle said.
“After we defeat Vorea, we will rebuild,” she replied.
Narelle scoffed. “Selandis is weeks away from here. How do you propose to do that?”
“We can discuss that later.” Shareis said.
“You have a beautiful home,” Olivia said.
“Thank you,” Dailen replied. He looked around. “I am quite fond of it, I must say. I enjoy being surrounded books. Most of the items you see in this room are in some way designed to make reading as comfortable an activity as possible.”
Narelle ate a bite of cheese. “Does this magic have a purpose other than to serve your desire for comfort?”
Olivia frowned at Narelle, but Dailen shrugged it off. “Not that I can think of. There is nothing wrong with wanting a comfortable home.”
“Could this power be used to reconstruct Lahara?” Narelle asked.
“You come right to the point, don’t you?” Dailen asked.
“Well, forgive me, but we dine heartily by the fire while my citizens are dying in the cold streets. It is hard to keep my mind on anything else.”
“We are not builders,” Dailen said. “A mason can build these walls and a scribe can write these books. But this illusion is not just a function of my magic. Our homes are sacred spaces with unique ethereal properties.”
“These items feel real enough to me,” Narelle said.
“We are very particular about sharing our magic,” he replied.
Narelle scoffed and turned away.
“There will always be pain in this world,” Dailen said as he shaved a small stick of cinnamon over Frasie’s mug. “But suffering is a choice.”
“Oh, I see,” Narelle said. “Well, maybe if Lahara chose not to suffer we’d be much better off. That kind of philosophy is easy to dispense while you want for nothing.”
Frasie smiled as she took a sip of hot chocolate.
“Such an odd way to treat a gracious host, wouldn’t you say Narelle?” Olivia asked.
Dailen waved his finger. “No, do not stop your friend. She asks legitimate questions. It pains me to know what has happened in Lahara.”
“But not enough to do anything about it,” Narelle said.
Dailen pointed to himself. “I’ve been busy helping Niv’leana learn how to defeat Vorea.”
“How do you eat?” Frasie asked.
Dailen tilted his head. “What?”
“Where do you get your food? We saw no game coming up here, and the farms are covered with snow.”
Niv smiled as Frasie’s naturally insatiable curiosity continued to return.
“We have buildings dedicated to growing crops, and we form occasional hunting parties.” He motioned around the room. “What you see here is just my home. There are hundreds of us that each play a unique role in our society.”
Frasie struggled to talk as she ate a large bite of cheese. “Just so you know, I’m grateful for the food.”
Dailen chucked. “I know. You are a curious one. I like that.”
Narelle clanked her cup on the table in front of her. “This conversation is nauseating. What are we going to do about Lahara?”
“The city has been destroyed,” Farius said.
“It’s damaged but can be rebuilt. This region depends on our city.”
“We cannot do anything about it until Vorea is stopped,” Dailen said. “And Niv’leana intends to do just that.”
“Finally,” Narelle replied. “What’s the plan?”
“Can we discuss that later?” Shareis interrupted. “We’re all exhausted and could use some rest.”
Narelle glared at Shareis. “No one is keeping you here, Proctor.”
Shareis stood and took a step toward Narelle. “The same could be said for you, Skilla.”
“Perhaps Shareis is right,” Farius said. “We have been on edge for days. Sleep would do us all some good.”
“Except you, Niv’leana,” Narelle snapped. “You’ve been lounging in this luxurious home, safe and secure while my people have been through agony.”
“I haven’t slept well in days. I’ve been worried sick about all of you. I’ve been learning decades worth of magic to prepare—"
“Ooohhh, well, then,” Narelle said with feigned sympathy and gestured around the room for added drama. “I don’t know what I was thinking. You’re right, Niv’leana, you’ve had it rough.” She rolled her eyes. “You have no idea what it’s like to see your town be razed by monsters.” Narelle pointed to her. “You could have stopped them, Niv’leana. You are just as guilty as Vorea!”
Shareis drew her blade. “That’s enough, Narelle.” Frasie, Farius, and Aiden stood next to Shareis.
Olivia tugged at Narelle. “Come outside with me, dear. You need some fresh air.”
Narelle started to protest, but Olivia dug her fingers into Narelle’s arm. “You really need some air.”
Narelle snarled as Olivia dragged her out of the room.
Shareis stood at the door. “She’s a problem.”
Farius sighed. “Narelle can be impulsive and emotional, but this is far from her normal behavior. She has been through tremendous tragedy.”
“We’ve all suffered.” Aiden put his hand on Farius’s shoulder. “Some of us more than others. But none of us are yelling at the woman who will save us.”
She exhaled deeply. “I appreciate your support. I know I would be inconsolable if Brenloh was destroyed.”
Shareis sheathed her dagger. “I suggest we do not discuss any plans in front of her.”
“Agreed,” she said. “Our plan is simple – through a magic ritual, I will astrally project through Vorea’s defenses in Selandis and confront her in the spiritual realm.”
“A wise plan,” Farius said. “Especially since there is no time to physically make it to Selandis.”
Aiden raised his finger. “Wait… are you telling me you’re going to kill her with your…
mind?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes,” she replied.
“When?” Farius asked.
“Tomorrow at noon,” Dailen replied.
“Is Nivvy in any danger?” Frasie asked.
Shareis stepped in front of Niv and lifted her face to meet her gaze. Strong, warm fingers feathered against her cheek. “This is terribly dangerous, isn’t it?”
Niv’s knees weakened under the intensity between them. “It is,” she choked. “I will be vulnerable. If I am killed during the ritual, my body will die.”
“And there is no other way?”
“No. There’s no other way.”
Chapter 63
Everyone left the hut with Niv and found Olivia and Narelle talking in the evening twilight.
As they approached, Narelle faced them, her eyes swollen from crying. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“Grief and shock, I’m sure,” Niv replied.
Narelle looked away. “It’s no excuse. You all have been through so much and yet have managed to keep it together.”
“I said some mean things to Farius when I thought we weren’t coming back for Aiden,” Frasie said. “Olivia helped me to see I was wrong.”
Narelle put an arm around Olivia. “She did the same for me. She’s our voice of reason.”
Olivia flashed a polite smile. It was far from genuine. She was hiding something.
“I am sorry, Niv’leana,” Narelle said.
“Vorea wants us to be at odds,” she replied. “We can’t give her that advantage.”
Narelle straightened her posture. “I will do whatever I must to help Lahara.”
She nodded. “As will I.”
Aiden winced in pain as he shifted his weight. “Dailen, may we trouble you for a place to sleep? My leg is hurting, and we’re all exhausted.”
“Of course,” Dailen replied. “Niv’leana, we have two empty huts for your companions.”
“Aiden and I can take one,” Farius said.
“Narelle and I will take the other,” Olivia said.
Frasie stepped between Niv and Shareis and hooked her arms in theirs. “I guess I’ll bunk with the girls.”
Niv sent a pleading glance to Shareis across the top of her bubbly friend’s head. Even the usually stoic love-of-her-life couldn’t stop a disappointing eye roll. Niv’s intentions for their reunion had not included Frasie between them in bed.
Dailen waved his hand and revealed the other two huts. “All our buildings possess the same magic as my home. They will adjust to suit your needs.”
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Farius said as they all turned to retire.
Niv escorted Shareis and Frasie to her Den’tari guest hut. The detailed illusion of the Jeweled Woods seemed to mesmerize Frasie. Her friend moved with reverence through the room and touched each familiar object. The canopy, the foliage, the glowing mushrooms… each subtle detail that caught Frasie’s attention moved her closer and closer to her usual carefree mental state.
Frasie leaned her head back, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. “I needed this, Nivvy.” Her eyes misted as she took another look around the room. “I miss home. I miss my family.”
“Me too,” she replied.
“That bed won’t fit the three of us,” Frasie said.
“That is true,” she said and tapped her index finger against her lips as she tried to think of a nice way to tell Frasie she wanted to be alone with Shareis. There just wasn’t a nice way to do that to her best friend after all they’d been through. “I can conjure another for you.”
“That would…” Frasie looked around, then settled her gaze on Shareis. The wheels that spun in Frasie’s mind were obvious in her expression. “Hey, Nivvy, I… uh… need to talk to you.”
Shareis walked to the doorway. “I wanted to ask Dailen something anyway. Take your time, Frasie.”
Frasie approached her and spoke in a low voice.
“What’s wrong?” Niv asked.
“Nothing. I… I just haven’t had a chance to talk to you in forever. We used to talk every day.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I hated to be apart from you.”
“I need to tell you something Nivvy, and I want you to listen. No interrupting. I know how you are about interrupting.”
“Go ahead.”
“We used to do everything together. Other than the past few weeks, we have done everything together. But, you know, Nivvy, I got to thinking – we’re getting a bit old for that, aren’t we?”
“I don’t—”
“We are. I mean, we’re old enough to be married. Did you realize that?”
“I—”
“Well, we are. And I’m sure our spouses would get tired of us doing absolutely everything together, right? If Aiden and I ever… well, you know…”
“Get married?”
“Yes. I mean, we haven’t even kissed.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s so stubborn, you know?”
She grinned. “Just like someone else I know.”
“Yes, well, anyway, he probably wouldn’t want you hanging around me every second of the day, you know?”
She nodded. “Understandable.”
She motioned intensely. “But I’m not saying I don’t want to do things with you. I’m not saying we aren’t best friends.”
“Of course not. Nothing could change that.”
“Right, of course, Nivvy. Nothing. So, I should see if Dailen will let me sleep on his couch. Or maybe bunk with Olivia and Narelle. Oh! I could tell them stories all night long. I think they’d love that.”
“I’m certain.”
“So, will you be alright without me?” Frasie asked.
“Just for tonight.”
“Good.”
Frasie turned to leave and stopped.
“I love her, Frasie.”
“I know,” Frasie replied and smiled. “I’m really happy for you, Nivvy.”
“Thank you.”
Frasie removed her bow from her back and held it in her hand. “If she is ever mean to you… promise to let me know. She’s got a mean looking dagger, but my arrows can reach her first.”
She giggled. “It won’t come to that.”
Frasie snarled. “It had better not.” Her expression warmed. “Good night my dear best friend.”
“Good night.”
Chapter 64
Niv sat on the edge of the bed and waited. When Shareis arrived, she raced to the door and kissed her.
“How’s Frasie?” Shareis asked.
“She’s… well… Frasie.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I told her…” she paused, then looked away. “No, I can’t tell you like that.” She refocused and stared into Shareis’s eyes. “I love you, Shareis.”
Shareis smiled and cupped her hand on her cheek. “I love you too, Niv.”
“I cursed myself a thousand times for not telling you that before you left. It was in my heart. But the words wouldn’t come.” She laid her head on Shareis’s shoulder. “If something had happened to you, I would have never forgiven myself.”
Shareis’s hand soothed her. “None of that matters now.”
“I’m going to make it up to you. I’ll tell you every day for the rest of our lives.”
She rested her forearms on Shareis’s shoulders and cradled her head while she pulled her in for a kiss. “And that, my love, was for what you did for Aiden.”
“You would have done the same,” Shareis replied.
She put a finger over Shareis’s lips. “Don’t argue with me. It was brave.” A lump of pride formed in her throat. “It was heroic. I… I wish you could see that.”
“If I am a hero, it is because you inspire me,” Shareis said.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Shareis.”
With tentative steps, she led Shareis by her fingertips to the bed. “I did a lot of thinking while you were away.” She sat on the end of the bed. “Each night I imagined you were snu
ggled under the covers with me.” She pointed at the ceiling. “I can conjure the most beautiful starlit sky, but it means nothing if I can’t share it with you.”
Shareis took her hand. “My imagination was vivid while I was blind. Anytime I felt alone or scared—”
“You? scared?”
Shareis nodded. “Yes. I would imagine your beautiful blue eyes.” Shareis reached out to touch her. “Or your thick, silky hair. Sometimes I would pretend your voice was calling my name. These thoughts never failed to bring me comfort.”
“In my mind, we did more than cuddle. We were naked, and our bodies were close.” She looked away. “I wanted more. But… I had no idea what we would do.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t know much about sex. I mean… I understand how it works. For a man and a woman. But… I don’t know what I’m doing with you.”
Shareis grinned and began to unlace her boots. “Let’s start with the cuddling.”
Shareis’s tender smile took a weight off her shoulders. “That sounds good.”
She removed her shoes and climbed under the covers. Shareis stood on the opposite side of the bed. “There is one thing I will suggest.”
She sat up. “Oh, what?”
Shareis removed her necklaces and set them on the nightstand, then took off her dress and folded it neatly across a chair. Only her black chemise remained. “Getting undressed under the blankets is awkward. Best to get that part over with.”
Her face warmed. “I—"
“If it helps, I’ve already seen you naked.”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t help.”
Shareis removed her chemise. Her beautiful skin, slender waist, and well-proportioned breasts caught Niv’s breath. Shareis walked over to her. Her hands shook as she struggled with her buttons.
Shareis moved toward her and gently clutched her hands. “Allow me.” She eased her nerves with a kiss and removed her dress. She lifted her arms and shivered as the cotton fabric of her chemise brushed across her skin.
Niv'leana Page 26
