Dragonlands(20)

She smoothed Tressa’s hair with her veined hand. “Sophia was an inspiration to me. I have gifts for you.”

“No. I have everything I need,” she responded. Tressa leaned over, kissing the woman on her leathery cheek. “Thank you, though.”

The old woman nodded, then with the help of the other two elders, walked away in silence. Tressa glanced at Hazel and her two boys. “It’s probably time for you to go as well.”

“No. My children will see their father leave as a hero. The baby won’t remember, but he will be told the stories to come in the future. He will know he was there, even if his memory doesn’t assure him. His brother will remember, though. I will make sure of that.” Hazel leaned over, kissing Connor one last time on the cheek. “Go now. Know how much we love you. All of you.”

Tressa’s head snapped up at that. She glanced at Bastian. Had Hazel said that only to soothe Bastian’s sadness at the absence of his family?

“Don’t be so surprised, Tressa.” Hazel laughed. “I knew the three of you were a package deal. I accepted that the first day with Connor.”

Tressa reached over, and squeezed Hazel’s arm. If she didn’t have a stowaway hidden in her pack, she might have hugged her. “You’re a strong woman.”

“I have to be to be married to him.” Hazel nodded at her husband. “Now, off with you. Do what you’ve come here to do. This is the least attended leaving ever, but you will be successful. I feel it in my bones.”

Tressa wished fervently she had some sight into the future, like Granna always claimed to have, giving her any reason to calm her pounding heart. Anything to tamp down the fear slowly rising from her toes into her chest.

Connor took Tressa’s hand, softly cradling it in his own. He nodded to Bastian, who took Tressa’s other hand. Instead of holding it palm to palm like Connor, Bastian laced his fingers with Tressa’s and squeezed. She looked up at him, forgetting for just a moment they were about to take three steps into the unknown. Into what was probably the end of their entire existence.

“On three,” Connor said.

“One.”

Tressa held her breath.

“Two.”

She let it out.

“Three.”

She lifted her foot in unison with Connor and Bastian, stepping into the unknown.





Chapter Fourteen


The damp fog crept up her body, starting with the first nibble on her shoes, slowly consuming her body. Tressa’s eyes were shut, hiding her from death’s grasp. Her breath caught in her chest.

She couldn’t hold it in any longer. The air slipped out her nose and her chest screamed for more. Tressa’s mouth fell open, taking in a misty breath that whispered in her soul. Alive. She was alive.

“Bastian? Connor?”

A squeeze to her hands told her they were alive too. Her whole body perked awake, rising from the dream of death. Finality no longer seemed something to fear.

“We’re alive. We’re alive!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.

“She’s right.” Connor’s whoop of joy echoed around her. “But I can’t see either of you.”

“I can’t see you either, Connor. Don’t let go of my hand. Hold on tight. Bastian, are you okay? Say something?”

Silence surrounded them. She swallowed the bile climbing up her throat. Not Bastian. No. He had to be alive. She could still feel his hand in hers.

“Bastian?”

“Holy mother -”

Tressa burst out in laughter, cutting off his expletive. “You half-wit. I thought you were dead.”

“What? You don’t like holding hands with dead guys?” he asked her, joking. It had been a long time since Bastian had teased her like that. It almost felt like old times. Almost.

“Can anyone else hear us?” Tressa shouted again. They’d only taken a step. Hazel wasn’t far away. It would give her comfort to know they were safe. Bastian and Connor shouted the names of Connor’s children, but there was no response.

“Let’s move ahead,” Connor finally said.

“Can you see anything?” Tressa asked.

“Not unless you count dark mist right in front of my eyeballs,” Bastian said. Tressa imagined him squinting, trying to see more just like she was.

“So now what?” Connor asked. “Do you think this is always what happens? Step into the fog and wander forever in blindness until you die?”

Tressa shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Let’s keep walking.” Bastian tugged on Tressa’s hand and she yanked on Connor’s.

“Don’t let go,” she said to both of them. Placing one foot in front of the other, she staggered behind Bastian’s gentle pull. But Connor’s fingers started to slip out of hers. She squeezed, trying to get a good grip on him. “Connor! Don’t!”