How Shadows Turn to Ash

Chapter 35: Octavia

They set up camp relatively quickly. Or, rather, Dainn did. Octavia had never spent a night outdoors to know how to prepare for a night in the wilderness. Dainn seemed to be an expert, though. He limped around, carefully setting up a makeshift fort from branches and twine.

"If you have any earth magic, I can help with that," she said, eyeing the blue stains of water magic across Dainn's hands. He glanced at her before wordlessly grabbing her wrist and turning her palm up to show the jagged scarring. Jaw clenching, she yanked herself away. "I can still use magic," she snarled.

Dainn rolled his eyes. "If you could, I wouldn't give you any," he said, reaching into the leather bag near his feet. Octavia's heart sped up as a green bottle appeared, glowing softly in the dim lighting of the setting sun. She reached for it, and Dainn held it away. "You'll disappoint yourself," he warned.

Octavia felt her face go hot with rage. Slapping his arm, she leaned over and snatched the bottle from his hand. Dainn let go, not arguing, as she took off the top with trembling hands. Surely, she had healed enough in the last few days that she could absorb it now.

"You know," she said, voice a bit gravelly from nerves. "I once managed to carve a statue with earth magic." She placed her hand over the top of the bottle. "I was thirteen. My father put the statue in the gardens and told anyone who would listen that I made it." She smiled a little. The memory eased her nerves as she waited for the magic to absorb.

"Impressive," Dainn said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Who was the statue of?"

Nothing. Octavia couldn't feel anything. She pressed her hand harder against the top of the bottle. "One of the servants," she answered, brows furrowing as the glass dug into her skin, almost cutting through her palm. "I always thought he was pretty and..." Her voice faded. "It isn't working," she muttered and closed her eyes to keep the frustration at bay. Grief bubbled up instead. "I... probably just need to heal longer."

Dainn took the bottle from her. "It would be better for you to accept-"

"I just need more time." Her voice came out as a raw fury. She looked at the magic and then turned, feeling a boiling rage under her skin. "Fuck!" she shouted and kicked the fort as hard as she could.

A crack echoed as the sides fell, the entire shelter collapsing in one go. Dainn looked at his work with a blank expression before nodding. "Fuck," he agreed.

Octavia pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes. "I'll fix it," she muttered.

Dainn shook his head, exasperation behind his eyes. "Sit down. You don't know how to fix anything." He shoved her shoulder, so she had to step back.

Part of her wanted to be angry, but the defeat smothered it. Instead, she sat by the fire Kore had lit, unable to deny the truth to his words. Everything felt numb. Empty. She didn't even know what to do. Should she be trying to escape right now? Based on the altercation with the fairy, she might not last long. But what good could come of her staying with Kore and Dainn? They'd take her to Dualis and... then what? It wasn't like anyone would help her find Antonia - or her mother and brother.

She had no idea what to do.

Taking a slow breath, she looked up at the sky, not even noticing when Kore appeared. She gave Octavia an appraising look before sitting down.

"Come," she said to Dainn, voice taut, and patted the spot beside her. Dainn left his newly erected fort to shift onto the ground, watching the flames lick toward the stars. Kore reached out, scooping some into a glimmering hand and placing it in a glass jar that appeared from seemingly nowhere.

"To understand envoys," she said. "Is to understand souls."

Right. Sure. Octavia gave a weak nod, wondering if this lesson would involve any food. Spirits, she was hungry. Her stomach churned at the idea of something sweet, leaving her to shift a bit as Kore continued speaking.