At the Water’s Edge

Faraday watched Silver knelling at the pool’s edge. She bore a frown on her face he couldn’t explain. Not when they’d finally arrived at Valenstar’s refuge.

Striding to her, he knelt beside her and placed his hand on her shoulder. Her eyes held the same concern as before. “Silver, we made it!” He gestured at the chamber. At the stone walls. At the trees, grasses, and flowers growing in mists.

Faraday breathed in, drawing power into himself.

His cheeks stung when her hand smacked him. Faraday raised his fingers to touch hot skin and blinked at Silver. “W-what?”

“Don’t!” Fierceness infused Silver’s voice in place of the softness he’d expected.

“What?” he repeated with less of a stammer.

Silver pointed at the embankment she knelt beside. Following her finger, he gazed at the water lapping the stone. Clear, sparkling, and filled with power. “I still don’t understand.” Faraday peered at Silver in confusion.

“The water is moving.” Silver said.

Faraday shrugged, lifting one shoulder. What difference did that make? Water moved.

Raising her hand, Silver rubbed her eyes. “All should be still in Valenstar’s Refuge. And yet the waters are lapping the stone.”

Faraday sucked in a breath, hissing between his teeth. He turned back toward the water. It did lap the stone, and not because either of them had disturbed it. Neither had touched it yet. Another power worked here.

Even here.

The blight had crept further than they’d predicted.