by Anna LaVerne
He is polite and knocks on the door. Bee opens it and smiles a little smile that looks more like an apology towards me. I am about to be pounced on by everyone at once. I take a deep breath and step into a room almost identical to Gabal’s with one exception. This is not a bedroom. Instead, there is a platform on one side and chairs scattered throughout the room. My mother is sitting in a large wingback style chair with her feet up on a dainty small ottoman.
A woman is walking around with a pitcher of wine filling everyone’s cups. The old man from my vision is sitting next to my mother dressed in all black and gold robes. Tivian is the name Gabal had used just moments before. I am guessing this is everyone that needs to be here for now. Trey, Rhett, and Manu are all back against the wall, eyeing Gabal. The magic between our markings will make them accept him as they did Manu.
I ignore my mother at first, and go give each of my three men a hug to let them know I am okay. “The Queen is annoyed. Our arrival didn’t go as planned,” Trey says under his breath during our hug.
I chuckle, “That is an accurate assessment.”
I move on to Rhett, and he whispers, “Will you let us watch you with Gabal, too?” He then gives my ass a quick pinch. Pulling back, I give him a playful punch on the chest.
I lean in to hug Manu, and he adds, “I bet he is hung like a horse.”
Losing it, I laugh out loud; a short, hysterical burst of laughter. Everyone stops and stares. I keep my hand over my mouth in an attempt to push the laugh back in. Gathering my composure, I step away from my men and go to greet Queen Maris, Vex, and Tivian.
“Tivian, I would like you to meet my daughter, Princess Dina, heir to the Aster throne, and the first female mage in centuries.” My mother keeps her composure as she introduces us. She still has waves of annoyance emanating off of her, but she is hiding it well in this moment.
“It is a pleasure, Tivian. I only wish we were meeting under more pleasant circumstances.”
“The pleasure is mine, Princess. Although, you visited once before, right?” Tivian raises his eyebrows to emphasize his question. He appears ancient, and I wouldn't be surprised if he is older than my mother. I can see how this man is a trusted advisor to Gabal. He smells of books, and candles. His hair is a thick, messy, white blob on the top of his head. He puts more into thought than into appearance. I like him already. He is a mage like Vex and I, but something is different. It is almost like his aura is a different vibration.
“Are all mages connected to fire?” I ask before giving any thought to my words.
“Ah very perceptive of you, Princess. The answer is no. I am a water mage, a particularly strong one, which is why you noted the change. Where your heart is fire, mine is water.” I look at him thoughtfully.
“Then what is Gabal?”
“Air prime, although I have an infinity for them all to some extent,” Gabal replies. He hasn’t been able to take his eyes off of me. I work hard not to return his intensity.
“The wind that fuels the flames. Isn’t that fitting Queen Maris?” Tivian asks.
“Oh, my dear Tivian, Gabal must be careful because Dina is not in much need for fuel as of late. In fact, we spend more time trying to temper the flame in her heart.”
“Why would you ever do such a thing?” Tivian looks aghast at my mother.
“She puts herself in danger, often opening herself to the nodes without proper protections. It is a wonder she hasn’t gone mad.”
“She wouldn’t go mad from such a thing. She is a daughter of the nodes! A female magi! One like we've not seen in centuries upon centuries. She is a prophecy revealed!” Tivian looks as if he will go mad with his little rant. His hands wave in the air.
“Tivian, mystics can connect to the nodes as well. We don’t know which part of her is connecting.” Gabal goes to mediate between the two elders, but Tivian ignores him.
“Hogwash! If a mystic connected to a node like Dina has, she would have gone mad! They have a propensity to manipulating energy through spell work. They can borrow tiny pieces of node energy. A female magi is born from the nodes like all the magi. The origin story is of our kind walking forth from this very mountain! It is why during the great war our kind returned here until another female was born to lead us out.” Tivian ceases his short rant and gets into my face, “Tell me, Princess, what does it feel like when you are connected to the node now that you are accustomed to the energy?”
That is an easy question, “Home. Lumbai’s node referred to me as her daughter . . .,” my voice trails off as I grasp this new knowledge.
“‘She’ talks to you?” Queen Maris asks.
Tivian is watching me closely, and Gabal looks like he has fallen in love, and I lose all of my confidence. I need to explain it all. I hope they will believe that Celeste is taking from nodes at such a destructive rate that one is at risk of dying, and her eyes are set on Lumbai’s next.
Finally, I manage to nod, “Yes, in Cargil I realized the node has a female energy. The danger in Cargil was not to me, but from me and my inability to channel that much energy and magic. When I connected fully in Lorcan, I saw the ley lines, which correct me if I am wrong this is the energy that most magi pull from?” I pause to give him a chance to answer.
“Yes, Princess, you are correct.”
“I also connected on such a deep level without a connection that I fell ill. The node in Lumbai was sleeping when we arrived, and now she is awake. She welcomed me home when I was within the pool in the cave. I followed her to her core and learned that the mountain is in fact a volcano, and she is now active and transient.”
The surprise on everyone’s faces causes me to pause again. I pull myself back together to continue. “When in Lorcan, the node kept trying to push me along the ley lines again. I refused, not wanting to ‘lose myself’ to the node as I did in the portal room. Once I was in the cave pool, I allowed the Lumbai node to shove me down a ley line. I moved so fast until suddenly I didn’t. The ley line became sluggish and sick. I continued to follow it until I reached the node.
The node is dying, and it is near to this one. I saw it hemorrhaging energy, so I followed the energy that was rushing forth. I found it was all channeled through three giant crystals surrounded with symbols I don't recognize. The crystals splintered the energy more. I followed the larger threads first and found them around the necks of my sisters, Gayla’s daughters, and King Maddox.”
My mother’s face goes white. She is as pale as a ghost. Vex pushes her large chair behind her, so she can fall back into it. One of her dainty hands is resting over her heart, and the other is covering her mouth.
“Mother, please remember that they were corrupted by power and the promise for more. Only one who is corrupt could take part in the destruction of a node for collecting energy,” I try to comfort her, but I realize my words are wrong as soon as I say them.
She waves my words away with one hand. “It does not matter the why, what matters is that they did. I am glad your aunt isn’t here to witness this. Please continue, what else did you see?”
“The energy that splinters into even smaller strands goes to people in their army. I don’t think they are powerful, but they have an almost never ending supply. I'm not sure if Celeste told anyone the energy isn't infinite. The node is dying and has no way to stop the continuous flow. Once the node dies, the surrounding area will be nothing but a desert, and Celeste will need to have a new source of power ready.”
Silence follows my words for a moment before I break it, “So, what do we do?”
“Stop this Celeste monster. Isn’t that clear?” Tivian answers.
“I mean how do we do it?” I reword my question for the crazy old man.
“Ah, now the Princess is getting it right.” He gives me a sad smile as he taps the top of my head with his wooden cane.
“What does the node say about it all?” Tivian asks.
“Nothing, other than a few images,” I reply.
“The mountain rumbled earlier.
You had your head against the wall. I asked what you were doing, and you said ‘talking to the node’ and then you mentioned evacuating Lumbai. I said that was ridiculous . . .,” Gabal tells the story to prompt me. I honestly don’t want to admit that the volcano will blow. I hope we can stop Celeste before she makes it this far.
“The node doesn’t ‘talk’ exactly. I get feelings and sometimes pictures. When the mountain rumbled, I was sent the image of it erupting. Lava everywhere. She knows Celeste is coming, and she will blow once Celeste is close enough she can’t escape.” The seriousness of the situation has hit my heart. I wonder if it is because Gabal is my heart, and I can tell his is torn and breaking with the news I share.
Gabal's emotions flash across his eyes, one moment it is frustration, the next moment it is loss, and then, at the last moment, I see determination.
“Well, then we evacuate,” he says simply.
“Lorcan is full, but if the node succeeds, you would not be stuck in Lorcan for long. However, you will need to rebuild all of this. We will help,” my mother says.
I nod in agreement, but then Tivian dashes all of our hopes for an easy outcome. “What we should ask is how to free the captured node and how the captured node became captured in the first place.”
“I agree, but we need to get the evacuation plan moving first,” I reply.
“Yes, that is the easy part. I am not as concerned about it. You said she needed three giant crystals, so she may have three more giant crystals if she is heading here. Also, I wonder how one can capture an awakened node. Can you pinpoint where the node is?”
I answer Tivian’s question, “No, it is southwest of here. Not in Aster.”
“There is no recorded node so close to Aster,” my mother interjects.
“Well then, it is simple, the node must have been in slumber. It happens when they are not put to use, and their ambient energy can keep the world alive, albeit things will grow slower.” Tivian gestures outward, “Just like in Lumbai.” I smile at the old man. He is mad, but I like him.
“So, we need someone here to make sure the crystals are destroyed, or if anyone survives, they can just move on to another sleeping node,” Gabal says.
“Or . . .” Tivian holds his finger in the air, “She no longer needs the node to be sleeping now that she has node energy traveling with her and spread out among hundreds of her own. How would she have known if Lumbai’s node was asleep or awake? I think she would assume it is awake. She wants it next, probably because she thinks you are still in Lorcan and wouldn’t even know she took it.” Tivian swipes his hand through the air as if he is trying to catch a bug.
“I suppose. I guess everything now is speculation. We've no idea what Celeste is thinking and why. What we do know is she is heading to Lumbai first, not Lorcan,” I respond.
“Lorcan is her home, she doesn’t want it destroyed, so she will never capture that node. She wants more power before going there and taking it with ease because we will eventually run out of supplies. Lorcan is the last of her concerns right now. Power first, it seems,” Queen Maris speaks from her chair looking even more fragile than she did before.
“You should return to Lorcan with the evacuees,” I tell her.
“You will need to return as well to open the barrier. I want you to stay in Lorcan, but I know you will insist on coming back, and there is little I can do to stop you.” I nod to my mother. I love her even if our relationship is shaky at best. I have learned more about her in these last couple weeks than I have in a lifetime.
“Gabal and Dina need to be wed before the evacuation.” I look to Tivian with wide eyes.
“What? Why?” I ask a little too harshly and can see pain reflect in Gabal.
“Because you are a fated pair. You should be married in front of the mother node before she sacrifices herself to save her children and other nodes,” Tivian responds.
I shake my head. Not that I haven’t come to terms with Gabal being my fourth. I knew he was a Prince and I a Princess and that means we will most likely bring in a new age ruling together. I didn't realize he was already a king. It is the speed of a marriage to a man I just met. I look to my other three men, only Trey appears hurt by the situation. Rhett and Manu seem to have accepted their role as harem and guards.
“So, what I get married and then leave Gabal to take his people to Lorcan, and then rush back?” I ask.
“I don’t think it has to be so fast. Celeste is still at least two weeks out according to our scouts. There is no way she can portal in as we have put more protections in place than Cargil probably ever had. No offense. Breathe, Princess, we have a few days, and I won’t ever force you to marry me," Gabal tries to comfort me with his words.
“Oh, it isn’t that. I will marry you. This is right." I gesture from him to me, "I never imagined my life to take such a left turn from how I pictured it. Now I will be marrying a king because fate is demanding it of me. My entire being wants to fight it, but I recognize my heart has no fight to give. I will marry you, King Gabal. A friend told me to trust in my stars. So, here I am trusting my stars."
“Fantastic!” Tivian proclaims. “Then if all of you have agreed on a plan, Gabal needs to pick a day for the wedding. Although, I suggest the full moon in three days. Three! Three! Three! The best things happen in three’s!” I look to Gabal who rolls his eyes and shrugs.
“He may seem mad, but he is smarter than us all. I promise.” I stifle a smile. We will get through this. I can feel the optimism growing even in the face of death.
“Very well, I trust you,” I reply.
“I will have Vex take me back to my rooms. I suggest you move around town today with Gabal and meet his people while also spending time with our warriors. Make yourself seen, Dina. The people need to understand you are one of them, and you need their support.” Mother doesn’t even wait for me to respond. Instead, she stands, and Vex takes her arm to take her to her room.
“I will meet up with you in the warrior camp,” Vex says.
“We have an organised training within the hour. I agree with Queen Maris. You should go with Gabal for now.” Trey’s mouth is drawn in a hard line. I can’t help myself. I run forward and kiss him, not caring that Gabal sees it all. Trey’s mouth softens, and he returns the kiss. The sexual energy assaults my senses for a brief moment before I can bring my body back under control.
“I will see you all later, promise.” Each of them says their goodbyes. At the same time, I see Bee and Tim leave with Tivian. I am sure they will be entertained during our stay.
Once everyone has left the room, I turn to Gabal and ask the most important question at the moment. “Are you going to be okay with them?”
Gabal laughs, “You’re half mage and half mystic, would I even have a choice if I want to be with you?”
He has a delicious, deep, and hearty laugh. I smile. I reply, “No, you wouldn’t because I love them all.”
“I know you do, and I know you will love me, too. I trust what this is between us.”
“I do, too.”
Chapter Fourteen
Lumbai is an odd place. The only women I see are surrounded by a swarm of children, and most are boys. The magi use their powers in the open everywhere we walk. There a man loading goods into a wagon using nothing but a strong gust of wind. Mystics are different, we don’t flaunt our power.
“Does everyone here possess elemental abilities?” I ask Gabal.
“Some more than others, most magi can only do basic parlor tricks most of the time. We pull from the ley lines, but we can also burn out. Males cannot tap into a node, nor can we generate energy through–” I watch as his face turns red. I keep getting the sense Gabal may not have much experience with women, and I can see why, considering he became marked for me as a child.
Lumbai is also full of amazing mechanical devices that Aster does not have. I notice that there is electricity everywhere, but the node only just now woke. "How do you get your electricity?" I ask.
&n
bsp; "Through science," Gabal shoots me a simple answer.
I stop walking, placing my hand upon my hip, "So, science is like alchemy?"
Gabal laughs, "No, science doesn't use or need any kind of magic. We use giant windmills in the mountains to harness energy, we then use these lines," Gabal points towards a wire I see running from house to house. "The lines carry the energy to each home where it powers the lights."
"Fascinating. Aster has electricity, but it runs on node power, and we only use it minimally, so we don't take too much from the node."
As we continue walking, I note every device that can also benefit Aster, I would love to bring all the Magi out of hiding and welcome them into our country. I keep visualizing a giant university for all. I pray I can see my dream realized in my lifetime. My focus needs to be on how to stop Celeste before she destroys our world by draining nodes.
A wave of nausea hits me, and I realize it is a knowing of what is coming. I sense I will lose more before things get better, and I have no one left to lose that I could live without. I place my hand on my stomach trying to still the nerves as Gabal leads me down to our warrior encampment.
Aster’s camp is as large as the population in Lumbai. I am not sure how five hundred warriors will even put a dent in Celeste’s army, especially an army that has magic.
People are working on their camps, or training with their swords. I walk by a warrior woman having difficulty getting the cold damp wood to light. I will the fire to start with the tiniest of sparks. She never even realizes it was me who did it.
“That was nice of you,” Gabal observes.
“Eh, she wasn’t even close to starting a fire. The wood is cold and unwilling.”
“I am afraid we cannot contribute much to your forces, I assume you are already aware of that.”
