Page 106 of Journey to the Elderoak
“Thank you. It feels like it was so long ago. I can’t believe the journey’s done.”
“Yes. Yes, it is,” he said. “I’m finished. He should wake within the hour. Are you injured? You seem to have quite a bit of blood on you.”
She shook her head. “I was, but the Elderoak healed me. I’m fine, I promise.”
“Alright. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” she said as Kai left.
She scooted her chair even closer, butting it up against the bed. Holding Casimir’s hand in her lap, she reached with her other and brushed a strand of hair out of his face, tracing his jaw with the tips of her fingers.
Moments later, the doors burst open, and Thorne barged in, Raine, Quinn and Jorrar on his heels. “What in The Mother’s name happened?” He looked at her accusingly.
Jumping from her chair, she strode toward her brother. “Don’t talk to me like that.”
He stilled as he noticed her ears, her demeanor. “You did it.” He pulled her into a hug, but she pushed him off.
“Don’t touch me,” she said as she backed away, adrenaline coursing through her again.
Raine placed himself in between them, his back to Ava. “She’s…adjusting…and Cas is hurt…”
Thorne stopped, understanding on his face.
Raine turned around as the other three watched. “Are you alright? Do you need to take a moment?”
She took a deep breath. “No. I’m fine now, I think. Sorry.”
Raine stepped out of the way and Quinn approached, stopped before her, and grinned. “I knew you’d do it.”
Ava smiled back. Her eyes met with Jorrar and he nodded with admiration.
“You stink by the way,” said Quinn.
Ava gave her an exasperated look and returned to the chair next to Casimir’s bed, holding his hand again. The other threegrabbed their own seats and pulled them around the bed, watching her.
“Alright,” said Thorne. “What happened?”
“Well, I made it to the tree. It was…awful.” She didn’t want to tell them the details, especially the visions about the potential future should she fail. She couldn’t bear the fear on their faces if they knew what Andras and Deidamia had planned. “Anyway, that’s not important. On our way back home, we ran into these creatures. Like giant black flying insects.”
Raine cursed. “Are these the same creatures we fought that day in Oakshire?” he asked the others.
“Cas said he fought them before. I think so,” Ava answered.
“What are they doing here?” asked Quinn.
Thorne shook his head. “I don’t know but they shouldn’t be this close to Mosshaven. That’s concerning.”
“One of them bit him on the shoulder and he couldn’t access his magic,” she said.
Thorne turned to the others. “You never told me their bite could nullify magical abilities.”
“We didn’t know,” said Jorrar. “None of us were bitten.”
“How many were there, Ava?”
“Four.”
Raine looked shocked. “The two of you killed four of them? The four of us could barely kill three.”
