So that’s what this was.
Lava.
Dangerous, hot, and deadly, it churned in front of us. This was not good. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that this was especially bad.
The bright red liquid moved at an incredible speed. As if the fire wasn’t bad enough, this particular location looked like a death trap.
I was growing especially tired of those.
There wasn’t a single trace of snow in sight, and the ground here was dark and singed, as though every so often, the lava jumped out of the river and burned the earth.
Delightful.
In all the books I’d read, I’d never heard of this. I shouldn’t have been surprised. High King Edgar had been keeping me to breed, not to learn about strange occurrences such as this. Although judging by the terrain we’d already crossed, it was fair to say that wherever we were, this was a magical place. Well-hidden from the rest of Ithenmyr, evidently there hadn’t been anyone else here for years.
I tried to draw in a breath, but the air burned as it went into my lungs. Steam rose from the unnatural flames, and a sulfuric smell seared into my nostrils. The lava wasn’t contained in one spot. Instead, the river was wide and ran as far as the eye could see.
As if the molten lava wasn’t bad enough, the forest did not continue on the other side. Instead, an enormous mountain the color of raven’s wings towered in front of us. Three times the size of the mountain that housed Vlarone, the capital of Ithenmyr, this one stretched toward the heavens.
“What does the compass say, Aileana?” Xander asked.
The compass. Of course. Thank Kydona, someone was still thinking properly. Reaching into my pocket, I withdrew Olwine’s gift and popped open the lid. The needle spun three times before pointing directly in front of us. I cursed, glaring at the circular object. What were we supposed to do? Cross this spitting river of flames and then… what? Just stand on the shore of the mountain and wait?
Could you shift and fly us over the river?I asked Xander.
His brows furrowed, and he glanced between me and the mountain.Even if I did, I’m not sure it would be safe to land on the other side.
I sighed.That’s what I thought.
The next steps were lost to me.
“I think I know what to do.”
I looked over my shoulders as Kysha dropped her bag on the ground beside me.
“You do?” Daegal and Xander asked in unison.
“Mhmm,” was the halfling’s reply.
Apparently, that was all she was going to say as she bent, rifling through the contents of her pack. She muttered under her breath for a few minutes, shifting through the bag. “Found it!”
The halfling stood, hugging Nonna’s grimoire to her chest. “Tell them, Mai.”
All of us turned to Maiela, who draped her arm across her wife’s shoulders. “Kysha and I had the same dream last night.”
My eyes widened. Shared dreams were practically unheard of. Even I, with my sheltered upbringing, knew they were signs of the gods. They were even rarer than fated mates. To be honest, I’d thought they were the things of myths.
“What was the dream?” Ryllae asked.
The wives exchanged a glance.
“It’s probably better if Kysha just shows you,” Maiela said.
“You might not believe it, otherwise,” the halfling added.
Xander and I glanced at each other.
After a moment, I nodded. “It sounds like this is our only plan. Do you need anything from us?”