A Shield of Faith (BOOK 4)

Chapter 41

MARIA

Alchemical concoctions bubbled in the small cauldrons along the station and fed into the glass tubes. Along the translucent procession, it fed into small squeezers to fill phials full of Yuven's medication; extra for if she took longer than Neven expected for them to take. Her own supplies sat at her feet at her last minute preparations, and a heavy fur cloak hung on the rack to her small workstation. Mother's dissatisfaction at her Naveera excursion echoed out of the last letter she sent, ringing clear with frustrated worry — after all, Mother ran away from Naveera for a better chance, a better life away from the cold. Nonetheless, her advice was precious for a longer stay compared to the operation from before. Dried hazebulbs packed into an extra box for Fenrer's crippling chronic insomnia, she heaved up her bag, grabbed the fur cloak and off she went.

Good thing Yuven and Fenrer will see us off, that makes my job easier. Maria kept a bounce to her step as she went to the center of the citadel, where a pillar from the core spread out power and energy. It touched into the plane, though it could only be activated at the thermal breath of their home. The world's pure magick. Walls unraveled when she came closer to reveal those who were to be the Outpost's Wardens, and those who came to bid farewell, with Yuven and Fenrer among them, speaking to Neven who stood on the boundary of the Umbral Gate.

"I'm ready." Maria came to Neven's side, who inched to give her space. "Yuven, for you." He took the phials without complaint, though when she whipped around to give the box to Fenrer, he raised his hands in confusion. "Dried hazebulbs for a certain Hanekan. They'll keep. Instructions inside." It took all five of her fingers plus her palm to shove it into his chest, for him to accept help for once, albeit ruefully from the way his face scrunched.

"Thank you, Maria," he said with a tightlipped smile. "You shouldn't have."

"You can thank me by actually taking them," she replied to his reluctance in return. "And not—" She raised her finger to his chest when he went to put it aside, prodding it firmly against his solar plexus. "Ignoring the fact that you need it like I know you're thinking of doing right now." One more poke for good measure, she pushed him with her palm, and he took a step back with pursed lips. "Take care of yourselves since I won't be here to do it for you." Tongue out, she beamed at her friend and the light of her own life when Yuven hooked his fingers in his riding belt, feathers twitching on the ends. Gemstones bubbled within the aqueducts, creating a circumference as the Irimount Storm Wardens prepared themselves.

"Be careful," Yuven rasped out, causing Neven to rejoin her before they both stepped into the pillar of astral light. "I know we cleansed the Corruptor, but we can't trust the people within Naveera." He stepped to the boundary line, though the border raised to keep him separated from her. His hand touched the weave of stars, and he pulled it back with a small hiss from his nose. "Just... get it finished and leave. Do not waste time there. Get the Outpost set up and return before the Umbral Sea is shut." He rapped his knuckle at Neven, whose lips quirked into a warm smile. "You hear me, Miesero? You enjoy meandering too much."

"I hear you." Neven stepped up to the starlit boundary. He tapped the wall which kept him from his two charges with the bridge of his pointer. "Always."

Yuven's hand dropped loose to his side as he scowled, then huffed his way back to Fenrer, who waved. Maria smiled when Neven bounced his palm against her shoulder, and she followed him into the Umbral teleporter the volcano opened with its own natural might.

From the warmth of their home, to the biting cold against her cheeks. Gemstones turned into cracked marble streets paved with old blood and bones. The destruction Evyriaz wrought left large pieces of debris scattered across the city battlefield. Spires broken from the firmament. Waterfalls of snow mixed with dust hushed into swirls at their feet. Neven twisted around to their small group, with Maria heading the chosen few of Outpost Chirurgeons and alchemists. I guess the Warden-Commander wants to eventually turn this into the size of a lodge...