Connor stepped into the middle of the group, and the rest of the Edonin turned to face him. Connor's uncertainty was plain. There was a slight tremor to his movements, some of which may have been exhaustion, but Laila knew Connor well enough now to see the fear. The Edonin faced him, waiting. Their frustration was obvious, an outsider stepping into their argument. Nina may have been the only one who truly understood what Connor was.
Slowly the tremor faded from Connor's movements. Laila felt a slight tingle along the back of her neck and recognized Connor's power. In a flash of blue light that lit up the village center as the sun began to set, the Sword materialized in Connor's hand.
The Edonin warriors stared agape at Connor and the blue blade. Connor raised it above his head so that all that stood in the center could see.
"I am the Warden," Connor began, his voice bristling with new confidence. "Your people have been scattered. But you were once part of something greater. Join me, as Warden, and we can reclaim what was once ours."
Nina watched Connor in stunned silence. She understood what he was saying, which added to the amazement that the other Edonin warriors must have felt at the sight of the blue sword. Laila watched Connor stand at the center of the group, Sword held high, waiting for a response. She did not know what to expect. She had learned a little of the history of the Clans through Connor, Icarus, and the legend of Edonin, but she did not know how the Edonin would react to being called out by Connor. The return of the Warden had sparked the series of events that had led to the devastation of their people. Would they still hold their reverence for him now, after everything that had happened? Surrounded by the destruction that the Awakening had entailed?
The Edonin continued to stare at Connor, Nina included. Connor's arm began to relax, unsure of his gambit. Some had their hands on the grips of their weapons, watching. Laila squeezed her hands, instinctively grabbing at her staff, suddenly realizing that it was not with her. She felt a slight tinge of panic run through her. Her heart beat faster. If this did not end well… She needed her staff. Needed it to protect herself.
Another long moment passed, and no one moved.
Nina's mouth closed. She nodded her head slowly and then lowered herself down to one knee. The Edonin warriors glanced between her and Connor. One by one they also lowered themselves to the damp ground, hands no longer on their weapons, until Connor stood alone in a circle of kneeling figures.
He turned back toward Laila and Icarus, an uncertain look on his face.
"What do I do?" he said quietly to Icarus.
"How would your people respond, boy? And what would they expect?" Icarus answered gruffly, though Laila saw the hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth.
Connor seemed to consider for a moment, then he walked over to Nina. The Sword dissipated, and he reached his hand toward Nina, lifting her from the ground.
"I...I do not ask for your service. I request only your aid. There are greater threats in the world. We have seen them." His voice did not have the confidence inherent to his power, but Laila could hear a sense of strength in it that had nothing to do with being the Warden. She felt an odd sensation as she listened to Connor continue. "Help us."
Nina looked up at Connor, an unreadable expression on her face. She then stepped to his side and faced the kneeling warriors. Speaking in her own language, her words accompanied by sharp arm movements, she moved to the center of the group, as Connor had. The warriors nodded in agreement with whatever she was saying as they rose to their feet. Finally she turned back to Connor.
"We will join you! The Edonin and the Phoenix!" she said proudly. The warriors around her drew their weapons and the sound of steel rang out through the village center as they lifted their weapons to the sky as Connor had.
Connor stared for a moment. Laila could tell that, despite Icarus's encouragement, he had not anticipated this outcome. With another burst of blue light, the Sword appeared again.
Connor lifted it to the sky.
The stone houses surrounded Laila as she walked back toward the place of her confrontation with the Manders. She had left Connor in the village center with the Edonin and Nina. They had much to discuss, trying to figure out the best way to proceed now that Connor had the support of the Edonin. Laila wanted to get back to her staff, and then she would rest. The ordeal was over...for now. The Ondine, the Manders, Nuriel, the Aurai. They all hung on Laila's mind, but she had no more energy to make decisions. Her body ached, her side and chin burned, and all she wanted to do was sleep for a year.
Turning a corner, she saw the mound of dirt and earth that covered the house. In front lay her staff. It had not moved. Captain Drachus and a couple of the surviving members of his crew leaned against the wall, talking absently.
"Ah, Laila, you're awake. Glad to see it, friend." The jovial Captain smiled at her brightly.
"Thank you, Captain," she said quietly, moving toward her staff. She knelt down next to it and placed her hand on the stone gently.
A burst of energy ran through the staff and her, followed by the calming sensation of her newfound power. The confidence of the Earth and the calmness of the Water bolstered her, banishing some of her fatigue and pain. She stood, holding the staff close to her. With a deep breath, she absorbed what she could of the magic before, reluctantly, letting the power go. Exhaustion washed over her again, but she was able to hold it at bay.
"I have not had a chance to say this yet, Captain Drachus. But..." Laila struggled to put the words together. "For what it's worth, I am sorry for what happened in the Straits."
A shadow passed over the Captain's face, and the members of his crew glanced at him. There was a moment of silence before he responded.
"I know, child. I'm not going to say that it is all right. But we knew the risks going in. The Straits had never been passed through before. We were foolish to think that we would be different." His normally boastful tone had been replaced by a somber one.
Laila nodded.
"But it would appear that the Storm is gone. Am I to understand that was your doing?" he asked.
"In a manner of speaking."
"That may very well change lots of things about our world, Shi Wardein. That is no small feat."
Laila was not sure exactly how to respond. She could not tell if the Captain saw the Storm's passing as a good thing or a bad thing. So she nodded in acknowledgement and turned to return to the village center.
Two figures appeared around the corner as she did. Wyndam and Dio stepped out of the growing shadows and faced Laila. Dio had an odd look about him. His eyes were downcast and his shoulders hunched. His eyes darted between the ground and Laila quickly, reluctant to meet her gaze.
"Magusari," the Aurai said formally, even bowing slightly.
"Wyndam," Laila responded.
"You have found your way to the Sacred Waters, I understand." His willowy voice echoed eerily off the stone of the houses around them.
"I have."
"Then our agreement has come to an end."
Laila raised an eyebrow. "Agreement?"
"Indeed. We agreed that I would lead you to the Sacred Waters for my freedom once the journey was complete. Said journey has not unfolded the way we might have planned it, but it has been completed. And here you stand, returned from the Sacred Waters themselves, one step closer to your destiny as the Magusari. I humbly ask for your leave to return to my people."
There was nothing humble about his tone.
"I am too tired to argue with you, Wyndam. If you wish to leave, I will not stop you."
The elemental nodded. "I believe your friend here also has a request." He indicated Dio.
Laila turned her attention to her old friend.
"I...I am going with him," he said, fumbling with the words.
Laila was unsure how to respond. "You're what?" She could not keep the surprise from her voice.
"I...I have decided to go with Wyndam back to the Aurai."
"What? His people want to de
stroy Terus, our home!"
"I don't... No, Laila. That is not what they want. They—" He began to explain, but Laila cut him off.
"They attacked Terus. Attacked you. Killed people. You were there, Dio. You saw what they did!"
Dio looked at the ground as though his feet could help him. “I know. But...I don't think they actually meant to conquer us. They want to help—"
"No!"
"No?" Dio said.
"No," Laila said. "No, they do not want to help us. And no, you cannot go with him!"
"I cannot?"
"No."
"Laila, I..."
"You what? You suddenly want to go with the one reminder we have of the dangers facing us. What about us? What about me?"
Dio's anger rose in response. "You! I have been nothing but an afterthought to you since we started this journey. Connor is your focus. You still don't even understand why I came. I came for you, Laila. I want to protect you. Wyndam has offered to give me the strength to do that. I don't think that the Aurai really want to bring harm to Terus...or you. They are opposed to Nuriel, just like you. Why can't you see that?"
"But—" Laila began. Now Dio cut her off.
"But nothing. I am not a child. And you cannot and will not tell me what I can and cannot do. I have made my decision. You cannot stop me!"
Laila opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She did not know what to say. Dio was leaving. Her friend. All she could do was stare dumbly.
"Then it is done," Wyndam stated. Turning on his heel, he headed toward the east, toward the edge of the village. Dio held Laila's gaze a moment longer before turning to follow the Aurai.
Laila watched their forms retreat into the lengthening shadows, unsure of where they would go, or how they would leave, but knowing that they would do so regardless of anything she might do or say in the moment. She watched the shadows grow darker, encompassing the two of her companions before stretching out toward her. The last rays of the sun flashed behind her as she watched them depart, and the world fell into shadow as the moon rose silently on the horizon.
End of Book Two
The Equilibrium Cycle
Afterword
Thank you, again, for following Laila on her journey. Make sure to watch for the next part of her adventure in Flames of the Phoenix (coming soon). If you enjoyed the book, please leave a review, it’s always great to hear from readers that way. Keep track of when the next book, as well as other projects, are coming out by going to www.jasonagilbert.com. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter, it’s always great to hear from readers! Thanks and I hope you enjoyed Heart of the Ocean!
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