Tennon had stopped them at the last easy part of the journey. After that, they fought through bracken, weeds, and saplings, moving closer to the river. Cita thought she could hear water rushing through rapids. Were they going to cross the river? Why not when it had been less turbulent?
Cita wanted to ask questions -- many questions. However, she feared trespassing into areas that Tennon didn't want to discuss, and she didn't want to push that line. Surprisingly, even Urdo held his peace for a change. In fact, he looked pleased, even while the roar of the river grew louder.
They stepped out of the trees at the base of a gigantic bridge that led straight through the heart of a massive waterfall. Cita could not see through the water and mist to the other side, but she had the feeling of a building gathering shadows around it and hiding from the world. The distance and the river made it impossible to make out any details, though.
"He should have started across to meet us," Tennon said. Cita caught a hint of desperation in his face, but he quickly buried that emotion. "I sense nothing beyond the gateway."
"Gateway?" Atora asked with a growing expression of distrust.
"Between here and the realm of the gods," Tennon answered, paying no attention to her worry.
Cita didn't like that answer any more than the rest of her companions did -- however, she had no intention of pushing for more information. The other two fell silent as well.
Tennon turned to her and started to speak. He even changed his mind.
"Let's go, then," Tennon said. He stepped toward the bridge. "The fae built this. It is not as straightforward as it seems."
Cita had never dealt with anything fae-related, of course. Until a few heartbeats ago, she thought they were nothing more than tales for children.
Cita didn't like walking into the mist, even with Tennon and his magic at her side. The white stone surface melded into the water ... but the thunder of the falling river muted to a slight whisper. Cita didn't feel better for it. Cita didn't feel safer walking beside Tennoon. She had no idea of his abilities or his limitations. She wasn't even sure what he might be beneath that human facade. Was now the time to mistrust him?
Cita turned to Urdo -- but he wasn't there. Neither was Atora --
Tennon grabbed her arm just as she started to panic and head back to find them..
"I have them. They are safe." He gave Cita a slight shake. "Be calm. Trust me. We are almost there."
As far as she could tell, they were nowhere. Her friends were gone, and she was lost.
"I cannot say this again: trust me."
Cannot?
Trust him or go off on her own? Cita was not that stupid.
"I trust you." Just not as much as he might want.
Cita realized she had passed a test. Tennon looked both relieved and pleased. He still held her arm, but it felt more like camaraderie rather than command.
Like she belonged.
They broke out of the mist and stepped onto an open balcony that seemed more like a temple. The skeleton of a mid-sized dragon lay stretched out across the floor.
Tennon faltered, and Cita caught him.
"No," he whispered. "It can't be --" Then he stopped and nodded, the fear of a moment ago, gone. "Of course it is not true. He isn't dead."
"He's a skeleton," Urdo pointed out.
"When dragons die, they disappear. And I would have known. His Stone of Being is gone. It is a palm-sized Ruby that sat in the middle of his forehead. Forlyn isn't dead, but he will be hard to find."
(continued)