Page 99 of Of Shadows and Blood

Seated again, Baron places his hands under his chin as he deliberates the plan. Gruyere is an ally, as were all of the kingdoms on the continent. But his kingdom is smaller and less equipped to ally for a battle.

“Rolan has always been,” Baron pauses, thinking about his words, “sensitive.”

“If that’s what you would call him.”

They know him. Or knew him.

Chapter 26

Warmth has always been welcomed but it does not begin to awaken the deepest dregs of magic’s ability like the heat of want.

As we departed Gruyere in the morning, Baron sent us home with many gifts and well-wishes. Even though it is customary for the visiting kingdom to bring gifts, he insisted we at least try some new spices from their mountain mines. It was surprisingly less embarrassing to peel myself from Cedric in front of strangers than I imagined.

The flurry of snow has stopped while we’ve journeyed and I can’t help but to observe the large alps surrounding us. These mountains make Lux’s Rhydian Range look like hills – as if they burst from the earth like blades. Twin peaks mark the summit and at the top of the furthest one is some sort of white structure that reflects the high sun.

“What is that?” I point at the peak with my gloved hand. Luckily the cess lights keep the interior warm. Cedric moves to my window to get a better look. “That would be Senna’s Temple, the goddess of safety and good health. She is the patron goddess of the cess, so your powers are in thanks to her.”

“There is more than one god?” I ask incredulously. We’ve only ever referenced Erees.

“There is a whole pantheon, in fact. Erees is the king of the gods and goddesses. Senna is his sister.”

The temple fades out of view as we enter a narrow pass between two rocky cliffs. Cedric reclaims his seat next to me.

“I did not realize the Ever was so populated with divinity.”

Cedric crosses a leg across his knee. “In a way. Many of the gods are said to walk the lands, taking many forms. Erees is the one who created the vampyr. I imagine he likes to view his creations at a closer level.”

“And Senna?”

“Senna protects the humans. In our texts, her powers were used to oppose Erees’s creation. I imagine her high above us granting good deeds and healing. She wanted her acolytes, the cess, to have the abilities to aid our mortal counterparts. There are other gods, like Sylvine for fertility, or mighty Tothis of the seas. You can find their motifs if you look hard enough.”

I mull this information over in my head. Is Senna still protecting the humans in Duresden?

Cedric opens the carriage window and waves his hand out of it, signaling the driver to slow down. He pulls us over to a side curve where the snow is untouched as it meets the forested terrain.

“Grab that blanket,” he instructs, opening the door and letting the frigid air into the space.

“For what exactly?” I manage as I slide out with a knitted wrap around my shoulders. The mountains loom devastatingly high above us with their many ledges and small caves.

“Where is your trust, dear Liv?”

“It’s there, but it’s also freezing.”

“You’ll live.”

I snort and follow him through the snow and around the corner of a large rocky mountain face. The guards stay behind, chatting idly with one another as we disappear between a narrow space. Cedric holds his hand out for me and I take it without hesitation, letting him guide me through the rocks.

We exit and the steam nearly chokes me at first. In front of us are three steaming pools of water, the snow around them melted and receding. Small flakes flurry around and the heat emanating from the hot springs nearly makes me jump in on the spot.

“Similar to the lake, these hot springs are a favorite of mine,” Cedric says. I observe the multi-colored bottoms, no doubt from the heat and minerals.

I turn around and Cedric is halfway disrobed and I yelp, turning away quickly.

Gods. My eyes widen because I know he heard me.

Keep your thoughts to yourself, my lady.

Get out of my head!