But the scariest part is feeling my connection to Audra fade.
The pain and pull of our bond lessens with every step and I have to
remind myself that she’s not actually slipping away. I’m the one cutting myself off from the winds.
I wonder if she can feel the change.
“So what exactly is the Maelstrom?” I ask, brushing my hand
along the slowly spinning wall. My fingers sink into the sand, leaving
tiny trails. I’d be tempted to write “Vane was here,” but I’m not sure
I want to leave my mark on this place.
“It’s a special vortex that can only be woven from hungry winds.
They consume any normal drafts that dare to come close, swallowing them into the earth and keeping this place completely sealed off
from the sky.”
“How do you make the wind hungry? Wave a cheeseburger in
front of it?”
Os spins around, his face all tight and twisted. “You dare to disrespect their sacrifice?”
“Whoa, easy, it was just a joke.”
“Altering the essence of the wind is not a joke, Vane. The wind
is our kin. It deserves respect and dignity. Exerting our dominance
over it is a last resort—a reluctant choice I made because there was
no other option.”
“Hey, relax, okay? I get it—it’s a big deal. I never meant that it
wasn’t.”
He bites his lip, like there’s something else he wants to say. But
he turns around without another word.
We walk in uncomfortable silence for a few steps. Then he mumbles, “I know you grew up without your heritage, and that you still
have much to learn. But you are our king, Vane. People will look to
you for guidance.” He turns to face me, grabbing my arm like my dad
does when he wants to make sure I’m listening. “You have to understand, our world has been ruined by Raiden—scattered and broken by
a tyrant who cares only for power. He’ll break and destroy anything to
serve his own agendas. And in this case, I’ve had no choice but to do
the same. But I—we—all of us—have chosen to put our faith in you
because we’re hoping that you’re going to be different.”
Funny, I thought they’d put their faith in me because I’m the
only Westerly left.
I’m about to say that when my eyes find the scar on his cheek. “What happened?” I ask, pointing to the deep red marks. He traces a finger over the lines again.
“A gift from Raiden. He branded me a traitor when I refused to
be his second in command.” He smiles sadly when my eyes widen.
“Raiden used to be my friend, Vane—as he was for many of us in
his generation. We worked in the Gales together. Fought together.
Trained in the might and majesty of the storms, pushing ourselves
to master their power. I thought we were doing it to be better guardians. To better control the forces that were wreaking havoc on the
earth and spare the innocents who weren’t strong enough to fight
them. But it was different for Raiden. The more powerful he grew,
the hungrier he was for more, pushing the lengths and limits beyond
any reason. Beyond what was natural. When I saw what he was
doing, I tried to pull away, but I now wish I hadn’t. Maybe I would’ve
uncovered his mutiny before it was too late.”
He looks away, and I take the chance to study his face, trying to
guess how old he is. It’s hard to tell in the dim light, but he can’t be
that much older than my parents—which feels wrong to me. I mean,
I know the rebellion went down within the last few decades. But I
guess somehow it felt farther away than that.
Could an entire world really crumble in one lifetime? Isn’t that
supposed to take like . . . generations?
“I organized an early counterattack, trying to stop Raiden before
it went any further,” Os says through a sigh. “But we weren’t prepared
for his unfathomable brutality. He overran us without a single loss on
his side. Bound us all in strange winds that dragged us back to him if we tried to run and made me watch as one by one he murdered my guardians. But he didn’t kill me. He told me I should have to watch the rest of our world fall to him and know that I was too weak to stop it. And he’s right—I am too weak. I’ve had to make compromises that shouldn’t have had to be made.” He runs his hand along the wall, whispering something I can’t make out before he turns back to look at me. “But now I have you. You have the power to fix things, bring them back to their natural order. Erase the black marks Raiden
has carved into our history and usher in a new period of peace ” I swallow the lump in my throat.
I have no idea how I’m supposed to be the savior he expects me
to be. But I’m surprised to realize that I want to.
Someone needs to stop Raiden. And if that someone has to be
me, well, then . . . I guess I’ll find a way.
I wonder if my resolve shows on my face, because Os nods, like
he’s pleased with what he sees. Then he squeezes my shoulder and
turns to head down the dark hallway.