Embers to Flames (Fates Entwined #1)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Do you honestly believe Mikyl is being held on Mt. Ero?” Theo asks as he thoughtlessly dresses for the day. I’m not sure why he bothers, knowing he will shred those clothes when he shifts into his Dragon form.

“I have a strong feeling about it. When you piece together everything we already know about Ruvyn and add in the clues from the raven Witches; the Fortress of Silence seems like the most logical location.” I plead with him to trust my instincts.

Theo pauses in his movements, looking at me with a mixture of uncertainty and concern. “But what if we’re wrong? What if we’re blindly walking straight into a trap? ”

I can’t blame him for his worry. Over the past few weeks, we’ve witnessed firsthand the cruelty of those who oppose us. The thought of Mikyl being trapped in the hands of our adversaries is formidable. “I know, Theo. But Mt. Ero is the one place Ruvyn would never expect us to go. And if he truly is responsible for capturing Mikyl…” I can’t bring myself to finish my sentence.

Theo’s brows knit together in thought. “Okay, you’re right. But I swear to the Gods, any sign of trouble and we are flying right out of there.”

I give a smirk and shrug my shoulders slightly, holding my index finger and thumb barely a hair’s width apart, “I’d expect a small amount of trouble.”

Theo releases a long-suffering sigh and looks at me unamused at my attempt to be funny. I stand on my tiptoes and plant a quick kiss on his lips. “Alright, I swear too. First sign of trouble, we’ll hightail it out of there faster than you can say ‘Dragon breath.’”

He doesn’t know my fingers are crossed.

Lord Phirel escorts us outside, leading us down the winding snow dusted cobblestone streets. Theo’s eyes are scanning the crystalline structure skyline of the winter city, searching for any signs of life or chaos. I can tell his Dragon senses are weighing every sound and movement around us .

As we reach the gates of the city, Phirel turns to us, his eyes shadowed with concern. “This is where I must leave you, my friends. The path ahead is fraught with danger. Tread carefully and trust in your strength and wisdom.”

“Thank you, Lord Phirel,” I say, grasping his arm and giving it a squeeze. “You’ve been an invaluable friend.”

“It has been my honor, Princess.” He says with a smile and bow.

Theo’s body shifts and contorts into his formidable Dragon form with a powerful and fluid motion. His muscles ripple beneath shimmering scales as he spreads his expansive wings, ready for flight. He exhales a gust of hot air from his nostrils, the fire within him already burning bright.

I climb onto his back, wrapping my hands tightly around the smaller horns of his neck. Eulee is nestled in his claw, looking small and vulnerable against his massive talons. With a mighty flap of his wings, we ascend into the sky, leaving the city behind us. I glance back and see Phirel watching us with a tense expression on his face.

As we cross the southern borders of Endia and enter into Kaladis territory, the scenery undergoes a complete transformation. The clouds part beneath us revealing the glass dome of the library, bringing a comforting feeling to me as I take it all in.

Theo descends gracefully onto the soft lawn in front of the majestic library, carefully lowering Eulee to the ground. Alyndra bursts out of the building, her eyes widening at the sight of Theo’s magnificent Dragon form. It dawns on me that this is her first time seeing him like this.

“You sure do know how to make an entrance, Princess.” She says cleverly. I dismount and walk over to her, Eulee tagging along at my side. Theo, still in his Dragon form, extends his head towards Alyndra, his scales glistening in the sunlight. She hesitates for a moment before gently placing a hand on his muzzle. The moment lingers, and I know there’s a connection forming between them, one that is both powerful and delicate.

Alyndra takes a step back, her eyes widening as Theo shifts down into his elven form. His wings fold away and suddenly he’s standing there in all his glory, not a stitch on him. Alyndra’s eyebrows shoot up, her gaze dropping southward before she catches herself.

“Well,” she says with a low whistle, “I guess ‘Dragon’ applies in more ways than one.”

I feel my cheeks flush as I hastily shrug off my coat and toss it to Theo. He catches it with a grin, wrapping it around his waist.

“I think I finally understand why Rose is so... cheerful now days,” Alyndra quips, fanning herself dramatically.

Theo winks at me, clearly enjoying the reaction. “What can I say? It’s not easy being me.”

Alyndra clears her throat, gesturing towards the library. “As... enlightening as this has been, maybe we should take this inside? I’d hate for our battle plans to be overshadowed by your... other assets.”

I sneak a glance at Theo, and his eyes widen in awe as we enter the massive library. His gaze roams over the towering shelves, filled with books of all shapes and sizes.

Alyndra leads us to a central reading table made of polished crystal. We all take our seats around it, marveling at its beauty. With a snap of her fingers, a dazzling array of pastries and steaming cups of tea suddenly appear before us.

“I’m sure you’re all famished after your journey,” Alyndra says kindly as she invites us to indulge in the delectable treats. My stomach grumbles in agreement as I eagerly reach for a plump round sweet roll and a delicate teacup.

“And Eulee?” I ask hopefully. She gives me a knowing smirk and snaps her fingers. Suddenly, a large round plate of raw rabbit meat materializes on the floor. My patient wolf immediately pads over to it, sniffing before digging in hungrily. A bowl of water also appears next to the plate, and I gratefully thank Alyndra for her thoughtfulness.

Alyndra begins, “Ruvyn has a penchant for hiding within the most intricate of spells, ones that cannot be easily disrupted. If we are to find Mikyl, we must first locate the entrance to the Fortress of Silence... and that… in and of itself will be no easy feat. He will have it well hidden, surrounded by protective spells and traps.” She pauses, drumming her fingers on the table. “The task ahead of us is certainly daunting, bu t if we want to help your friend, we must be ready for whatever challenges may come our way.”

Alyndra unrolls a worn map, the edges wrinkled and stained from years of use. I lean in closer to study the intricate details of Quillyan displayed before me. My eyes trace the jagged lines of mountains and valleys, taking in the vastness of this land—our land. Alyndra’s finger draws along the southern coast of Kaladis Territory, just south of the towering Temple of Felix.

“We should make our way by foot to the edge of land,” she pauses and looks up at Theo. “We need to reserve your strength as much as possible. But from there the fastest way will be to fly by Dragon back across the Sapphire Siren’s Sea. We’re looking at about a full daylight’s worth of travel.”

I long for the ability to translocate all of us instantly to our destination, but my new-found powers are still in need of refinement, and time is not on our side. Every second counts as we embark on this journey, and I fear my abilities may not be enough to ensure our success.

“I think it would be best to have more daylight when we arrive at the mountain. Don’t you?” I question, motioning toward Alyndra.

“Yes and no…” She responds trepidatiously. “I know it may seem safer in the grand scheme of things, but I really think it would be easier to find the entrance if it were the only light we could see engraved within a dark mountain. ”

I consider the timing for a few seconds before answering. “If we depart immediately, and nothing unexpected occurs or causes any delays, we should reach our destination in the early hours of the morning. This will give us ample time to see the entrance before dawn.”

Alyndra carefully rolls the map up before replying, “Well then, shall we begin?”