Page 105 of Omen of ice
We arrive in Ventin just after midday. I hadn’t known what to expect, but an actual town wasn’t among the possibilities.
“It’s been deserted for years,” Benj says. “It was an unaligned village. After the Great Drain, when Fae started turning on one another, the chaos eventually spilled over into the town.”
Delkin spins in a slow circle. “Any idea where in Ventin we’re supposed to meet this high priestess?”
I scan the area. There are a handful of rotting, vine-covered shop fronts and a decrepit square, but there’s no sign of human or Fae life. The decay doesn’t mean Ventin is completely dead, though. The fountain in the center, long dried and cracked, now serves as a container for colorful weeds. Flora I’ve never seen before grows taller than me and attracts all manner of birds and butterflies. While not flourishing like it might have centuries ago, Ventin doesn’t seem as dead as other parts of Derriga.
The road we came in on, leading into the center of town, is lined with tall perchling trees. Since wivryn feed on perchling fruit, as a safety precaution we always cut them down before they go to flower. Here, they flourish, allowed to stretch taller than I’ve ever seen, their branches winding well into the clouds, much like the hilpberry trees in Vey Brill.
“Tania?” My voice echoes through the empty square. The sound bounces off the trees and buildings, fading into an eerie warble.
“There are other ways to get into town. We hiked the most direct route,” Delkin says. “She might not have made it yet, especially if she’s not feeling well.”
“That’s probably it,” I agree. Tania could navigate the woods better than any Fae I’ve ever seen. There’s no doubt in my mind she would have made it here first with time to spare—if she was feeling like herself. “Maybe if we spread out, we can find her. This place isn’t that big.”
I focus on the link, trying not to panic when I feel nothing but an odd kind of static. Since she left, I’ve been doing my best to ignore it. Practicing my magic, talking with Delkin and Benj, overanalyzing the terrain as we went… Shit. Had I really been making things worse for her every time I used my magic? What if it’s already too late?
“I don’t think we should split up.” Benj squares his shoulders and looks from me to Delkin. “There are far too many dangers.”
“There’s no other choice. If we have any hope of finding Tania in time, we can’t afford not to separate.” I glare at Delkin. “I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“All right,” Delkin says. Benj opens his mouth—probably to protest—but his brother shakes his head. “But be cautious. There’s no way to know what kinds of creatures dwell here now. If Ventin looks empty, it’s only an illusion.” As if to confirm, the screech of a wivryn, high above us, echoes to the ground.
I nod, and we go our separate ways.
I walk through the center of town, to the main thoroughfare. It’s overgrown with trees large enough to indicate Ventin has been abandoned for a very long time. The stone pathway has all but crumbled, yielding to persistent foliage. There might be lingering depleted Fae here, but it’s the wildlife that own this town now.
I come to the largest building in the square and pause. The door is missing, and the roof is partially caved in. I take a single step inside. It’s as far as I dare go. “Tania?” No answer. Not that I expect one. I can’t imagine her hiding. If she were here, she’d be standing tall in the center of town, quietly gloating because she’d gotten here first.
The next three buildings are more of the same. After that, I search the alleyways and find no evidence of anything other than animals that might have passed through at one point. There are no birds, no bugs—even the wind seems to have abandoned this section of Ventin to the forest. Maybe this is why the priestess wanted to meet Tania here. This town once thrived under Fae rule. Now, the forest has reclaimed it.
“Valen?” a familiar voice calls as I round the last corner. My aunt runs toward me. “Thank the Gods!”
“Liani?”
She throws her arms around me, and I return the embrace. Gods, I wasn’t sure I’d ever see her again.
“What are you doing here?”
I’ve never seen her wear anything but the most fashionable gowns and expensive jewels, but the Fae standing in front of me now could pass for common. Her long hair is knotted into a simple braid that hangs over her shoulder, and her gown has been replaced with simple traveling leathers of black and gray.
“I’ve uncovered an awful truth, Valen. The Aphelian is plotting against us. She plans to have her priestess break the link, then take you hostage. She plans to use you to get the tear back. I see you told her the truth…”
“What?” That’s not possible.
“I told you telling her the truth was a bad idea.” Tears gather in the corner of my aunt’s eyes. “I fear what will come of this now.”
“The Aphelian has no intention of harming me. We—we had a falling out, though.” I sigh and pull away. “We separated, and she agreed to meet me here to break the link, but she hasn’t shown yet.” I shake my head. “How—how do you know this?”
“She’s here. We found her on our way up the peak and took her into custody when she couldn’t tell us where you were. She…she attacked me, Valen. She attacked me, then told me what she planned to do.” Just coming over the ridge, on the other end of the square, are ten estate guards, five on either side of Tania, who is bound in chains.
Oh Gods—
“I feared the worst, Valen. I thought she’d already… No matter. She’s paying for what she planned to do.”
“You misunderstand, Liani. She does know the truth, but she would never…” Another, longer look at Tania, and my chest contracts. She looks horrible. Too pale. Gone are the confident stride and bright eyes. Posture that was tall and proud is now stooped and haggard. She shuffles forward between the guards, her movements slow and unsteady.
“Don’t look at her with pity! She isnotyour ally.”
