If Jordan had been distraught about the events in Graevale, Niyx had been apoplectic with rage. He, more than Alex’s friends, knew how much everything was taking its toll on her. But despite his fury, he’d again assured her that they would find a way without the Shadow Walkers and the others agreeing to an alliance. He’d promised that everything would be okay.
But Alex knew better.
Nothing would be okay.
Because she had failed.
Not even her session in the Library could lift her spirits, despite Athora setting a task that ordinarily would have been fun, with Alex utilising her ‘Chosen’ status to jump in and out of the Library’s ever-changing paintings. Taking Kaiden along with her, together they travelled from ancient battlegrounds to abandoned fortresses, to tropical islands and even to a perfect representation of the Golden Cliffs overlooking the city of Meya, uninhabited as the portrait version was.
Despite the wonder of their painting-journeys, Alex couldn’t forget what had happened that day, and all too soon she was heading to Draekora to advise her Meyarin friends of her failed mission.
Walking through the settlement in the dark of the night, Alex felt miserable. But after speaking with Kyia and Zain, as well as Gaiel, Cykor and Roathus—who had learned Alex was there and demanded to hear what she had to share—Alex felt even more wretched.
The reactions from the Meyarins were both expected and unexpected. Zain and Kyia looked as defeated as Alex felt, though they also assured her all was not lost. Roathus appeared sombre but otherwise kept his dire thoughts to himself. Cykor seemed indifferent—but given Niyx’s less than stellar opinion of his father, not to mention Maggie’s hints about the lacking nurture from both their parents, Alex wasn’t surprised by the Raedon patriarch’s limited concern for others.
All their reactions had been anticipated, but it was Gaiel’s response that baffled Alex. There was no yelling, no accusations and no blaming. In fact, he was almost supportive with his seemingly genuine compassion. Like Kyia and Zain, he claimed that it wasn’t as bad as it seemed and they just needed to come up with a contingency plan.
‘Contingency plan’. Those were the words he used. Like they could calmly and rationally solve their Aven problem, when, from Alex’s experience, Gaiel was normally anything but calm and rational.
She couldn’t help wondering if perhaps he’d been drinking something stronger than laendra before their meeting. If it hadn’t been for his calculating eyes watching her with clear, intense focus, she would have been certain he was drunk—and a happy, friendly drunk at that.
Eager to escape to the sanctuary of her bed and sleep away the misery of her day, once Alex said all she had come to say, she turned down Zain’s offer to escort her back to the return doorway, not wanting to hear further encouragement. Perhaps in the morning she’d be able to look ahead with a more optimistic outlook, but right now, it was an impossible task.
After agreeing to come back the next day when they’d all had a chance to consider what to do next, Alex left Roka’s tent. She kept her pace brisk as she weaved between the makeshift dwellings of the free Meyarins, none of whom had caused her any problems since her first visit. Still, she always remained vigilant.
She was halfway to the doorway when Gaiel arrived on the Valispath, coming to a stop a few feet in front of her. Body tightening, Alex prepared to summon A’enara, but he raised his hands in a surrendering gesture.
“I just want to talk,” he said quickly, his eyes steady on hers.
Regardless of his uncharacteristic amiability all night, Alex couldn’t help treating his words—and his actions—with suspicion.
Seeing her wariness, he quietly said, “I owe you an apology.”
That brought Alex up short. She was certain her shock must have been plastered all over her face.
“Do you mind if—” He cleared his throat and waved a hand in the direction she’d been heading. “May I walk with you? And explain?”
The last thing Alex wanted was to spend more time with Gaiel, but she was curious about his odd behaviour. Tentatively, she nodded. But as they walked along the icy trail, she was careful to keep a cautious distance between them, hyperaware of his every move and ready to summon A’enara at the slightest hint that he was about to try attacking her again or whisking her away on the Eternal Path. All the while, he spoke… and she listened.
On and on he went, sharing the reasons for his unpleasant behaviour, until finally he finished, “… and so, you see, I’ve been taking my anger and frustration out on you. My daughter is alone in the city and she’s all I have left in this world, her mother having passed on long ago after being scratched by a blade laced with Sarnaph blood. It was a horrible, painful death. It was also avoidable, since the blade wasn’t intended to hurt her—indeed, she picked it up herself, cutting her finger when her grip slipped. A tragic accident for which there was no cure.”
Gaiel’s mention of Sarnaph blood made Alex wonder about Fitzy and his plans to weaponise the Meyarin-debilitating spray. They were coming to the end of his projected two weeks now, so she made a mental note to check in and see how close he was to having a working prototype ready.
“I’m sorry about your wife,” Alex said to Gaiel. “And your daughter.”
“Vaera is strong, she will survive this. She must.”
Alex only half noticed his lowered, determined voice because she was stuck on the name he’d shared. “Vaera?”
Gaiel peered across at her as they walked, catching the tone in her voice. “You know my daughter?”
“Not well,” Alex said, thinking of the few times she’d crossed paths with the steely-eyed Meyarin: in the past as an ambassador and interpreter for the humans, and in the present as one of the palace guards. “But she certainly does seem strong. Once we figure out how to save everyone from Aven, you’ll be back with her in no time.”
Alex wasn’t sure where she’d managed to pull the optimism from, but she was somehow able to make it sound sincere.
Gaiel seemed grateful and apologised again for the way he’d treated her since first arriving in Draekora. But despite his request for forgiveness and his pleasant enough company, Alex still felt on edge around him and was relieved when they reached the end of their journey. She swiftly summoned the return doorway, keen to be away from the now congenial Meyarin. With his separation from his daughter, his excuses for his hostile behaviour were justified, to a degree, but he still wasn’t Alex’s favourite person, and she doubted he ever would be.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said.
After a nod from Gaiel, Alex stepped towards the doorway, desperate to get back to the academy and cuddle up in bed with Soraya.
“Oh, Alexandra, one last thing,” Gaiel said just as Alex had one foot through the door.
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Ye—”
He blew a handful of dark powder straight into her face, and before Alex could finish speaking, let alone figure out what had happened, she collapsed to the icy ground, out like a light.
Thirty