Page 90 of The Starlight Savior

“Portals?” Saige’s eyes widened. “Like what Tiranos used?”

“We’re almost there,” Conor pleaded.

He kept walking down the stairs, not looking back to see if she would follow him. With a gaping mouth and no other choice, Saige continued, just to see what this portal traveling entailed.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

In the belly of the castle, a large mirror with silver edges stood before them. Just like everything else in Etrane, it was adorned with swirls and intricate symbols, forged and faded with age. Saige stared at their reflection. What were they supposed to do? Walk through it?

“Did you ever wonder how you got to Etrane?” Conor asked, meeting Saige’s gaze.

“I-I assumed horseback,” she sputtered. But how would that have been possible? It would’ve taken ages to travel from Denholm to Athalos.

“Portals are strong ancient magic, forged by the deities for convenient ways of traveling for mortals and wielders.”

“So there are some in Brevil?” Saige eyed the mirror wearily. She had stepped through one of those, unconscious and unaware of the chaos stretching out around her.

“Of course”—Conor nodded—“probably one or two in Yethor. A handful scattered throughout the land.”

“I’d think King Brennus would destroy them.”

“He can’t. It takes a handful of enchantments to even transport them. Each one was made for a designated area of Opela. Only the strongest can wield it.”

“So”—she looked from Conor to the mirror—“now what?”

“We activate it.”

“We?” she squeezed out, putting up the hood of her cloak.

“Don’t be scared,” he teased.

“How do you know what I feel?” Saige sighed. “You’re not even touching me.”

His smile was soft. “That cloak of yours is your way of protecting yourself.” He reached out, his hand trailing along the edge of the hood, across the silver embroidery of strange symbols. “I imagine it does protect you in a way, especially with these sigils.”

Saige cocked her head. “I thought they were for decoration.”

Conor laughed, his voice echoing off the dungeon’s stone walls. “That makes sense, considering enchantments and markings will be the last thing you learn in your lessons.”

He stepped forward, pointing to one of the symbols around her cloak’s hood. She had seen it throughout Etrane. “That one right there is for protection. When you wear it, it’s supposed to enhance your safety. It’s not a shield. It can’t prevent you from getting hurt. But it’s an extra layer of caution.”

“It was my mother’s,” Saige admitted, looking down at the symbol, a line with swirling on each end. “She gave it to me before…”

“Ah,” Conor whispered, “that makes sense.”

“What does?”

His hand moved from her cloak to her cheek. Saige didn’t flinch away, allowing herself a moment of touch and comfort. She needed it after the storm of emotions pummeling through her.

“How you stayed alive. This protected you along with your father’s compulsion.” He cocked his head, a tingle of energy zapping from his palm. He was reading her emotions, she realized. “What are you afraid of?”

“Of failing,” Saige admitted, “I barely know what I’m doing.”

“You’ll do fine.” Conor stepped away, dropping his hand. “Now let’s open this portal.” He turned towards the mirror, fingers trailing over the silver edge. “I’ll do the majority of the spell setting. You’ll just need to provide some extra support. Power.”

Saige nodded nervously. She turned her gaze towards the mirror before them. Their image distorted as Conor traced the symbols. Two of the molded swirling runes stood sharp at the top, the tips stained. With blood, she realized as Conor pricked his finger, letting it drip down his nail and wrist.

“What are you doing?” she exclaimed, stomach lurching.