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She pushes a loose strand of white hair that slipped from one of her braids behind her pointed ear and moves her eyes between both Gods. "I will be putting myself at risk, traveling through a shadow vision and risking encountering Himureal, to pull two fae from Ytopie who have seen what the Frostweaver is doing. When they arrive, I will summon Amaryn, and all of us will be developing a plan to get rid of him."
Solarius begins to speak, his eyes dancing with fire, and Viola shoots a thin stream of Water into his face. He sputters, too shocked to do anything but gape at her. "I will hear no argument to this. If we are to have a safe, comfortable world for everyone, Himureal has to go." Her voice wavers a bit, and I know there is still that small part of Viola that wished Himureal could have been a father figure gasping for breath beneath her stoic surface.
She adjusts the light blue blouse that is tucked into her black trousers and places her hands on her hips. "I expect you both to have a plan for how to get rid of him. I cannot imagine it's easy to kill a God."
With that, she stalks out of the room, and I follow her, fighting back a massive grin. "You just sprayed Water in a God's face."
She laughsdryly, shrugging. "I did. He deserved it." The sun has set and the orange glow of the moon is partially obscured by clouds, leaving Rainworth more shadowed than not. Viola looks exhausted, the day's ritual and revelations wearing on her, but still, she holds herself with grace as we continue through the village. "Has Plume gotten word on where they are?"
As if summoned, Plume comes rushing up to us, panting, hair wild and face red from exertion. Mace is not far behind her. "They sent multiple messages to different places so it wouldn't be intercepted," she says between pants, "but I caught them all. They're in the winner's village, hiding."
"I know what it looks like," I say to Viola.
"Thank you so much, Plume. Please tell the others we are leaving now," she says, pulling Plume in for a light hug. Viola Mistflow willingly hugging someone is not something I ever thought I'd see, but I cannot say it is not a welcome change.
Mace wraps Viola in his arms and kisses the top of her head, whispering something in her ear before pulling away and cupping her cheek. "Be quick, numen."
Divine being. It's a fitting pet name.
"Of course," she says, waving him away and turning back to me. "Tell me all about the village," she demands of me as Plume and Mace leave the green space.
I describe the small building Cirrha and I waited in as we sent our message to Plume, both the interior and the exterior. Viola closes her eyes as I speak, attempting to visualize the place.
"I don't like going somewhere I've never gone before," she admitsquietly. "And what if Himureal joins the vision?"
"How would he know you're in the vision?"
"I think it's something to do with my magic being of his. He's always found me." She pushes errant strands off her face again, but they seem determined to stick in the thin sheen of sweat she has amassed there.
"Can we Shield it?" I ask, dropping to the grass. I dig my bare feet through it, focusing on the feeling of blades between my toes. "Have you combined Shadow and Shield before?"
She wrinkles her nose and shakes her head. "I don't think I have, but it's a good idea. If the Shield can strengthen the vision enough that he cannot penetrate it, we can get them and get out, provided he doesn't know where they are and is waiting for us." She paces, her snake creeping from the shadows and weaving between her feet as she does. Never once does she trip or step on him, the two working together seamlessly.
"Would that make a difference? If he has the potential to be there, would that stop you from trying to extract them?" The question may as well be rhetorical because, for all of Viola's faults, she would not leave two people who have shown loyalty to her and helped her with such indifference to the consequences they would suffer.
"Of course not," she answers, waving her hand. She sits on the grass in front of me, and Shadow slithers over to us, climbing her body and wrapping around her wrist, placing his head in her palm. "Are you coming with me, Zeph?" she asks, tilting her head to theside.
"Maybe we should ask Avidor or Solarius for help again? Just in case?" I ask, looking around the village.
"They won't, and you know it. Plus, I am not sure I could transport everyone."
I take the hand Shadow has not claimed and nod my head. "You're right. Let's go get our friends."
Quiet magic swirls around Viola, and we are plunged into a shadow vision. It looks different than it did the last time I was in one with her. The edges shimmer with an iridescent sheen.
"The Shield," I say quietly, walking towards the glimmer. I reach my hand out towards it, and it is firm, impenetrable. "You did it, I think."
"Well then, let's move fast," she says, dragging me to a door at the edge of the vision. It's weathered, the wood buckling and soft in places. She wrenches it open and we step into a small room to sounds of shock.
Before my eyes can even adjust to the light of the space, warm arms wrap around my waist, and hot lips kiss me passionately.
Cirrha.
"You came," she says quietly, mouth still pressed against mine.
"Of course I did." I pull back to look at her, her deep brown eyes shining with unshed tears, and grab her face with both of my hands. I did not realize just how much I missed her presence until now. How could I ever have thought the feelings for Viola were this?
"This is cute, but we have to move," Viola's voice says sharply. "I'm not sureif he'll detect the surge of my power or not."
