Page 252 of A Sanctuary from Shadow
“She has more thanonekind of fire?”
“Aye, and fire’s not even her only gift.”
Sedge rubbed his forehead. “Aye, she’s a zephyrist too. I recall.”
“She’s more than even that, Sedge. Shorty has three principal powers.Three. And six secondaries, as well. What’s more, they’re undetectable because some ingenious Witch shrouded her when she crossed the portal. So not only is she astonishingly powerful, my friend, but none of her enemies will ken what’s biding in her, so they’llneverbe prepared if they’re foolish enough to challenge her. Which, rest assured, they will be.”
Sedge blinked several times, stupefied.
Pete arched a brow. “Still skeptical?”
“No.” Sedge thought for a moment, his pale face lighting up. “No, I’m actually thinking—I’m thinking Gentian might just meet his match.”
Pete clicked his tongue. “Please.” Dear lord, had he just mimicked Shorty? “Gentian’s no match at all for our Aurora.”
Amy
Istaredatthemost beautiful tree I’d ever seen. Surely the most beautiful tree to exist in time. More than double the diameter of Angel Oak, its heavy branches uplifted outward like a child reaching for its mother. Not a single limb touched the ground. Its rich, green leaves resembled those of a catalpa tree, large and droopy, and served as shade for the myriad of whimsical fae creatures I spied scurrying up and down its knotty boughs. Somehow the tree was both flowering and fruitful. And the fruits—they were big, juicy, ruby-red apples. So luscious they might as well have sported signs saying,Eat me.
Chills raced up my arms as I padded over to Myrrdin. He knelt before the tree, peaceful and introspective. I’d gone looking for him at his cabin, and his clerics had told me I’d find him here if I continued down the path. They hadn’t told me I’d findthisas well.
My fingertips throbbing to touch nature’s ultimate glory, to learn of its everlasting secrets, I stared up in awe. “Is thisthetree?”
Myrrdin’s slender mouth curved. “The tree of the knowledge of good and evil?” He exhaled, his eyes closed. His brown skin seemed to have lost last night’s sallowness. “Yes, Amy.”
I stared at one of the lowest hanging apples, salivating. How long had it been since I’d had any food also found on Earth?
“Feel free to partake,” Myrrdin surprised me, chortling at my scandalized look. “You won’t harm anything, I assure you. We’ve already learned all we can from the tree, anyhow—many thanks to Eve.” When I still seemed reluctant, Myrrdin rose back to his full height and plucked the apple nearest his head. He took my hand and placed the fruit, familiar and smooth, in my palm. “We eat from this tree regularly. The wine at your summoning celebration was made from it.”
I supposed it was only fitting that the wine in Eden be made of apples.
Smiling my thanks, I set the apple in the woven basket I always carried for gathering purposes. Then I sighed and faced Myrrdin, sheepish.
“Sorry I was such a brat to you last night. You were right—I was scared. But then I talked to Pete about it and—” I paused, wondering how to tell him that I planned to bring my human, harbinger lover with me when I ventured to the Spring Palace to wrest the reins of power from my erstwhile fiancé.
“Pete assured you your fears were for naught,” Myrrdin finished for me. He smiled, his eyes crystal omniscience. “Even if I hadn’t seen so, child, I’d have told you that he would.”
I blinked at him, surprised he wasn’t giving me the same stern, judgy look he’d given me the night before. “You’re not going to tell me what a monumentally bad idea it is to bring Pete with me when I go?”
“Why would I do such a thing?” Myrrdin chuckled. “I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”
“But I thought you were upset with me because I was letting my feelings for Pete stand in the way of my destiny.”
“No, I was concerned you were avoiding your destiny for fear of confrontation. With Briar. With your family. With anyone who’d oppose your rule.”
I cringed. “Well—you’re not wrong.”
“I rarely am, Amy.”
I arched a wry brow.
“Will you have an easy go at court to begin with?” Myrrdin posed. “Decidedly not, and likelybecauseof Pete.”
Was it too much to hope that he’d surprise me with an answer I hadn’t expected?
“But I believe you’ll eventually consider the troubles he’ll breed as blessings.”
I wanted to ask him to elaborate on that ambiguous point, but then he inquired, “Did Pete ever tell you the story of how he began this venture? Creating of Eden a refuge?”
