The Coin of Kenvard by Joseph R. Lallo

Author:Joseph R. Lallo [Lallo, Joseph R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joseph R. Lallo
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

An icy form stood like a lonely sentry on the frozen surface of a lake. At Myranda’s behest, Ether had been whisking through the three kingdoms to survey the supposed sites of curious events that had plagued the world in recent days. There was little here to suggest such an event had already happened. Now she waited, senses alert, to see if one would occur.

There was wisdom in Myranda’s request. To observe one directly, from beginning to end, could indeed provide useful insight into their nature. And though it was a stretch, the locations along the journey of the Chosen were as good an indicator as any of those sites that might suffer an attack. Before arriving here, she had taken what had become a very familiar, and very comfortable trip to Celia’s home. It was important to her that the woman be safe. Her health had improved, and the place had yet to see any flicker of disturbance. With that concern set aside, Ether was free to enjoy the solitude and vigilance that had defined so much of her existence. As a statue of ice, she watched the sky.

She remembered this place every bit as well as Myranda and Myn did, though not for the same reasons. For them, this place was a black stain in their memories, a place where they very nearly lost one another. At the time, Ether had yet to have truly embraced her allies and hadn’t come to see the value and essential truth of emotion. Looking back upon that moment after having experienced the sort of loss that was all too common in the life of a mortal, she almost felt a pang of guilt for her callousness over the apparent death of Myn. She had changed more since that day than she had in the thousands of years before it. She had grown as a result of her alliance, her friendship. She never could have predicted such a thing, and a part of her feared what might have become of her if she’d not allowed it to happen.

The moment of self-reflection was cut short as a new sensation crackled through her mind. Something was happening. She focused all her senses upon this curious new feeling. There was no hint of magic behind whatever was twisting the world around her. No will guided the change she detected, no focus aided it. This was something more basic, more fundamental. It was closer to a sudden shift in temperature than a spell or curse, just a part of the world changing in a very natural way. But it was a part Ether had never supposed could misbehave in such a way without an outside force. Time was shifting. The fabric of the landscape was twisting, curling and drawing together. She swept her gaze across the sky. Black forms became visible. Dragoyles. She crackled herself free from the surface of the lake and changed to flame. She’d not been thrown back in time. Her place in the world was every bit as solid and secure as it had always been.

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