Page 139 of In Rising Tides

Maelys had plopped down on the ground in front of them. She was the only one who had the foresight to bring a blanket to sit on. “It doesn’t appear to work the same as Otto’s.”

“Because it doesn’t,” Otto sighed. “She’s drawing magic from the ley line and casting her mind out like a net.”

Ridge shivered. “Spooky.”

Otto followed Jordania’s every step, not once taking his eyes off her. “She’s incredibly powerful.”

Ridge gave up on standing and sank to the blanket, nudging Maelys over. She moved just enough for him to squeeze in, and then she leaned against him.

It was easy between them, and Wilder found himself envious.

“You don’t all have to stay,” Wilder said. “I can pass along the information.”

Maelys shook her head. The wind raked through it, sending tendrils of her golden-brown hair tearing from her braid. “We will stay with you.”

Rocks skittered from the pathway behind them. Dust, Oron, Cedric, and Oak hiked down the path. They had forgone armor, their tunics rolled up over bulky forearms, and their feet bare.

“What did we miss?” Dust asked, his attention bouncing between them and Jordania.

From the dirt on their hands and knees, they had been tending the garden.

“Jordania is trying to see what’s going on in Atlantis,” Otto answered over his shoulder.

Oron came to a halt beside Wilder. “We could always trap one of their scouts and torture the information out of him.”

Wilder fought the grin that threatened to spread across his face. “This will probably be faster.”

“But less fun,” Ridge grumbled.

Jordania stopped, her back to them as she faced the sea. She stood still like a rock against the shore.

The waves crashed against her, but she did not move.

Water raced around her, reaching for them.

“She found something,” Otto said, taking a step towards him.

She turned and began trekking towards them. Her mouth moved as if she were speaking, but no words came out.

The lines around her eyes tightened, and her lips thinned.

“Well?” Wilder asked.

Jordania looked tired all of a sudden. “There are several important pieces of information.” She shook her head. “I don’t know where to begin.”

Maelys patted an empty corner of the blanket. “Start at the beginning.”

Jordania swept her sodden dress to the side before collapsing onto the blanket with a huff.

“It’s not pleasant being down there. And I believe the bargain has begun to take its toll on her.”

Wilder’s boots squeaked as he leaned forward. “Is she ill?”

Jordania paused, seemingly deliberating on how to answer. “She is.” Wilder clutched at his chest, hoping to relieve some of the weight that had settled there. “But she is not alone. Her sisters visit often and have been tutoring her in the ways of her magic.”

It should have helped to know that on top of everything else she was facing, she wasn’t alone, but it did not.

He would not know true breath until she was in his arms again.