Page 142 of The Starlight Savior

Baron rolled his eyes. “Well get started then. Hadeon will realize I’m missing soon, and I don’t particularly wish to be here when they track us down.”

“I’m sorry,” Saige murmured, “about Hadeon.”

A slow exhale escaped Baron’s lips as he cocked his head. A pop sounded from his neck. “He’s hated magic since we were children. Even if you are the savior to this mist, Hadeon would never accept such a cure.”

“Easier to believe the deities will do the dirty work,” Althea sighed.

“Show me the map,” Baron said curtly, pointing to her bag.

With a quick nod, she pulled the parchment from the leather sack. It uncurled onto the floor where the handmaid’s markings were revealed. A black circle was etched where the river met the four kingdoms. Where the tides could push her magic through the land. “We’ll go here.” She moved her pointer finger in a circle. “And I’ll—uh—use some magic?”

“Use some magic?” Baron said blandly. “What does that even mean?”

Saige waved her hands in front of her. “I don’t know how much Althea told you, but my magic can counteract against the mist. Something with it being ancient. So if I use my magic and it travels through the river and tides, my hope is it will counteract the mist in some sort of way.”

“How?” Baron crossed his arms over his chest. He had always been the serious of the two, his sister all smiles and optimism.

“Uhhhh…” Saige averted her eyes. “Heal it?”

Baron turned to Althea. “This is her plan? Are you sure about doing this?”

“It’s a fine plan,” Althea snapped.

“We don’t even know what her magic will do.”

“But she did things in the trials! Didn’t you listen to me?”

“Those were controlled!” Baron squeezed his forehead with narrowed eyes. “This is real life, Althea. No offense, Saige, but this doesn’t seem like a good idea. You don’t even know what it will do.”

Despite all her confidence, there was a piece of her that agreed. She didn’t know what her magic could do or what it was capable of.

What she did know was starlight magic was a direct parallel to the mist. It was ancient, raw, and powerful. Sydera had used it to form Opela, forge the deities, and create her bloodline. It was Cecilia’s own magic that broke down the wards. If it was going to be anyone’s power, it was hers.

She needed to explain this piece to Althea and Baron. Trust was all she could grasp onto. “Have you ever heard of—”

The house creaked above, halting Saige’s words. Baron’s hand went directly to the daggers in his sheath, his quizzical eyes glaring at the stairs. The strange feeling she had sensed hadn’t dissipated. Instead it had grown more intense than in Moore Manor. Air drifted through the cellar, sending chills down her spine.

She took a deep breath in. It was so familiar. As if she had been encompassed by this feeling before. But where? She breathed in again, taking a step towards the stairs.

Suddenly it hit her.

Smoke and spices tickled her nose.

Dropping the map, she leapt towards the stairs, but Baron grabbed her arm.

“Have you gone insane?” Baron hissed

Saige ignored his grumbling as she stepped towards the bottom stair and glared up at the opening doorway. “You can come out now,” she called.

Dust drifted in the air as nothing happened. Althea and Baron stayed quiet behind her. Then they heard the shuffling of boots and the creak of the floorboards above. Dust shimmered down.

Shock and relief surged through her as Conor stepped into the doorway.

Chapter 55

Baron’s body was a blur as he rushed past Saige, barreling up the stairs. He had abandoned his daggers, raising a sword in his hand as he swung towards the intruder. But Conor waved his hand effortlessly, a shield of lightning appearing before him. Baron’s sword slashed through the air, hitting the purple wall. His body convulsed, flying past Saige and slamming into the wall with an oof.

Althea screamed, rushing to her twin’s side.