Windburn (The Elemental Series #4)(13)

I opened my eyes to see Niah staring at me. I ran a finger along the rim of my teacup. “Have you decided, then?”

She nodded. “We will tell you where a young Reader lives. She was trained by a banished elemental and is quite good at what she does despite her age.”

Griffin tapped his fingers on the table, drawing my attention to him. “Her name is Giselle.”

They stared at me like her name should mean something, so I nodded. “Okay. Giselle. And the elemental who trained her?”

Peta sat up in my lap. As she did so, Niah trained her pale violet eyes on the cat. “Someone Peta knows rather well. But I don’t think you’re quite ready to meet him yet. Is she, cat?”

Peta stiffened slowly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Griffin barked out a laugh and slapped his hands on the table. “Fun. This is going to be fun, I think, yeah?”

“Do you know where Giselle is? Knowing her name is one thing, but I am no Tracker. I need more than a name to find someone.” There was no point in following the tangent they had gone off on. Things happened or they didn’t; either way, I would deal with them at the time.

Standing, Niah beckoned for me to follow her. I did so, and we headed deeper into the hollowed-out tree. She spoke softly over her shoulder as we walked. “She’s in the human city of Bismarck. North Dakota. The land there is empty of magic in many ways, but it is because of what is coming for the place in the future.”

A chill swept through me. “You aren’t going to tell me, are you?”

“No. Right now you need to find Giselle and find her quickly, because you are not the only one looking for the Tracker. Nor are you the only one looking for a true Reader. Giselle is one of few who can truly give a glimpse into what is coming, and already her talents are being noticed.” She took my hand and pressed it between both of hers. When she took her fingers away from mine I turned my hand up. Two items were in my palm. One was a fishhook earring, identical to the one she’d given me before I’d headed to the Deep. I’d lost the first one in a fight for my life against Requiem.

“Why do I need this?”

“It is magic that belongs in the Deep, Lark,” she said. I frowned. We knew my father wasn’t in the Deep. Finley had scoured her home for him, and I trusted her to tell the truth. The other item was far closer to my heart. The seed of a moringa plant. I rolled it in my hand. It would grow in poor soil with almost no water, and was edible, but it was not native to the redwoods, or North America for that matter.

“No point in asking what I need this for, is there?”

Smiling, she shook her head. Her eyes twinkled. “You’ll know when the time comes. I’m no Reader, Lark, but I listen when the promptings of the soul of the earth come to me. I suggest you do the same.”

She tipped her head. “The white stone you took from the Pit. Do you still have it?”

My eyebrows shot up. “Yes.”

“You’ll need it, Lark. When you least expect, that stone will save your life, I think.”

How a stone could save my life, I had no idea. But I trusted her.

Bending, I pulled her into a hug. “Thank you.”

With great care she pushed me away from her. “Don’t thank me, Lark. I am encouraging you to break rules. Rules that have been in place since the mother goddess first birthed our forbearers.”

I shifted my shoulders, then tucked the two items into my side pouch. “Yes, I know.”

“And you realize taboo, when broken, will bring you a punishment you will not be able to stave off?”

There was only one thing for me to say. “Yes. I know.”

“Good.” She tapped me on the arm. “It’s about time someone shook up our world. I’m glad it’s you.”

Her words caught me by surprise and I laughed. “Thank you?”

She pushed me toward where the men waited. “Pshaw. Be off with you now. You have a long journey ahead with several stops along the way. Do not rush, let the journey lead you where it will.”

Her words echoed my own desire and so I clung to them. I would not rush after my father, but go carefully.

At least, that was the plan.

Taking our leave of Niah and Griffin, we headed toward the Enders Barracks.

“I overheard what she said about this being a long journey,” Cactus said.

“And?”

“I mean, how hard can it be? We go to this Bismarck place, talk to a Reader, Travel to where she directs us . . .” He looked at me, but I said nothing. Peta swung a paw at him from my shoulder.

“Prick, you are a fool. The Reader is not going to simply give us directions. More likely some silly game we have to play and maybe require some form of payment. Readers don’t hand out their knowledge for nothing.”

Cactus’s face fell, and with the dimming of his smile, it was as if the light around us dimmed too. I lifted a hand to touch Peta’s side. “Go easy. Cactus could be right, we could end up finding the journey to be as straight as an arrow, and as quick.”

Peta’s mouth dropped open and incredulity flowed from her to me. I pressed a little harder against her, wanting her to understand. Part of what made Cactus Cactus was the joy he gave so freely to others. He grinned at me.

“That’s the spirit.”