The Mountains Blade

Chapter fifty nine

Chapter fifty-nine: Surfacing Emotion
Before the wolf king or the sun rose, Elwyn awoke and headed to the library.
She barely realized that Avelina had come in and sat across from her.
Eventually, Elwyn looked up with a frown at her sister. "Stop staring," she demanded, scowling at her sister.
Avelina continued looking at Elwyn, her gaze flickering to the thick bandage peeking through the collar of her shirt. Elwyn's jaw flexed with irritation as Avelina continued to ignore her.
The heir looked at her for a long moment before placing the book she was reading on the table between them.
Avelina flipped the book around and pointed to the chapter title.
"Healing with other species"
Elwyn closed her book with a resounding thud, sliding it away before pulling the healing text towards herself.
"Healing is known throughout the regions of the unknown world. There are various forms of healing, and many names are associated with practitioners of these methods. Titles range from healer, nurse, doctor, medic, shaman, medicine doctor, and curer, among others. These individuals have certain healing abilities related to their species. The most powerful are on Shifter Island, home to shifters and witches alike. The witches on Shifter Island are unlike the born magic ones we know. These witches are forged in dark magic, women and a few men who tested the limits of the unknown world, extracting magic between the unknown world and the human world. Although this is not yet known, they have discovered a way to maintain youth, and with their abilities, have been known to cure previously incurable diseases. However, it is ill-advised to seek out these individuals as they are highly dangerous and associated with shadow spirits."
Elwyn paled at the last line. Associated with shadow spirits... likely the same shadows that plagued the unknown world now.
Elwyn flipped through the front and back of the book, searching for a date. "It's from the Queens Library."
Elwyn looked up at Avelina, a pit forming in her stomach. "Oh, of course," she said. A place she was not allowed, only heirs to the throne. And she was not that, not now or ever.
Avelina chewed the inside of her cheek and tenderly pulled the book back to her side, flipping through the pages.

Elwyn's jaw tightened as she watched her sister flip through the worn pages.
"Here," Avelina said, turning the book back around and pointing to a small cluster of islands East of Goldmoon.
Elwyn leaned forward, grimacing as the fabric of her shirt stretched.
"Shifter Island, home to shifters, witches, and creatures of dark magic."
Elwyn frowned at the skull drawn over the island. "Avey, it's essentially a dead zone."
Avelina frowned at Elwyn. "I know, but they could save mom."
Elwyn's chest pinched at the drop in her voice. "Isn't it worth trying?" Avelina paused for a moment and looked away for a long time. Her eyes were hollow, and she seemed to be in an entirely different realm. "I don't know how much more I can take, Elwyn."
Avelina turned to Elwyn, her eyes glistening in the morning sun's glow. Elwyn sat back in her chair and pressed her lips firmly together. Avelina was shaking. Elwyn could tell that she was thinking of the Elvin Kingdom.

Elwyn watched Avelina's body, heavy as she took deep breaths. "I can't- I won't let them win." Avelina looked at Elwyn with wide eyes. Elwyn blinked at the fear in her eyes.
Without thinking, Elwyn spoke. "I'm sorry," she said. Her voice was thick with emotion. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to save you." Elwyn's eyes flickered to the bandages that held what was left of her wings together. Avelina shifted uncomfortably in her seat, shaking her head. "Don't be, Wynn. I should be saying sorry. I'm your big sister, I'm supposed to protect you, not the other way around."
Elwyn's chest tightened, feeling as if the wind was knocked out of her. "That's what I was raised to do," she argued.
Avelina shook her head reverently, her eyes shining with intent. "No, it was a ruse because you hold power that is stronger than anything seen in the unknown world."

Elwyn opened her mouth again, but Avelina held her hand up and stood breathing heavily. Elwyn's stomach swirled with emotions she couldn't place, her throat feeling dry as Avelina looked at her with thorough assurance. "Don't let our childhood define who you are. You are more than any of us know."
Elwyn paled as her mind drifted to what Kiandra had told her. It was only she and the person she loved most who would have to sacrifice to live. Elwyn opened her mouth again to say this to her, but this time she stopped herself from speaking.
Elwyn turned back to the book, her eyes blurring the map. When she looked back up, Avelina was taking hurried, shaking steps down the staircase. Her movements were choppy, breath unbalanced as she practically sprinted from the library.

Avelina grasped onto the wall outside the library, heaving deep breaths. Her whole body shook as her mind replayed all the scenes that had occurred involving Roman, old memories and new ones blending and meshing, ripping her heart to shreds.
She needed air. She meant what she had told Elwyn. It wasn't her turn to take care of her; now it was up to her.

When the sun was high in the sky, the queen of Goldmoon sat beneath an oak tree in the Palace gardens. The king stood at the edge of the pathway, looking at his wife. Her red hair stood out starkly against her pale skin, her green eyes still lit up when she gazed at him. He smiled back, feet crunching on the gravel as he wrapped a thick parka blanket around her, sitting on the bench beside her. Before them, past the castle walls, streams of smoke, meat, and herbs filled the air as the city slowly breathed a bit of life back into itself. Hope Greywater grabbed her husband's hand, where it rested on her shoulder. She met his eyes, smiling sadly as tears streamed down her cheeks. Asherd cupped her face with his other hand, swiping tears away with his thumb. "It won't be long now," she said, her voice thick. The king closed his eyes, his chin shaking ever so slightly. When he opened his eyes, tears spilled out of his eyes, and Hope cupped his cheek as they pressed their foreheads together. "I know." He whispered. The queen clutched his hand tighter as they both cried quietly.