She stopped.

The power flowed away from her, and Tal climbed back onto the cushion, trembling, and wiped at his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled, sagging. “I was so close. I was so sure.”

“It’s…” Tal broke off. He couldn’t say it was fine when it wasn’t. She knew how hard the Curse must have hit him, and even if it hadn’t, to be so close to freedom and lose it…That wasn’t fine.

“I’ll find another way,” she murmured, but she didn’t know how. She could see so much energy, feel so much power, but she barely knew how to use it. And if she couldn’t even save Tal, there was no way she could save all of Aredann.

“I know you will,” Tal said. Then, as if he’d read her mind, he continued, “I’ll help. And if you can free me, then you can free Gali and the others, too, and bring water back to Aredann. We’ll find a way.”

He smiled at her, and she nodded, letting some of his confidence seep under her skin. They would find a way. As long as he was there to help her, she could do anything.

Three days later, an advance messenger arrived just past dawn to warn them: Highest Lord Elthis was on his way and would arrive after lunch. Elan thanked the messenger and exchanged anxious looks with Shirrad.

Aredann was still in a sorry state. Though teams of Closest and others had been working almost nonstop to clean and repair the damage, there was only so much they could do. The kitchen had been the first area cleaned, and the teams had fanned out from there. Now the dining hall and the study were somewhat repaired, too. They’d been emptied of all debris, with furniture pulled back into place, all cushions and mats cleaned, but the rooms still had missing tiles and cracks across the ceilings and walls. The corridors were the same. The estate house had been built by a mage, and while work crews could replace tiles, the beautiful, intricate patterns would never look as smooth and well crafted again. Not unless a mage did the repairs, and Jae didn’t seem all that inclined to help.

It was just as well she didn’t. Elan didn’t want her wandering around, terrifying everyone—or worse, losing her temper and lashing out with magic. He couldn’t hide what had happened, and there were dozens of rumors about the quake’s cause, but he didn’t want anyone to know too much about the truth. So, once they knew for sure Elthis would be there within a few hours, Elan asked Jae to stay out of sight as much as possible. His father would doubtlessly want to see Jae eventually, but Elan wanted to put off that clash as long as he could. He first needed to make sure his father understood what Jae was capable of and how careful they had to be.

Sure enough, within an hour after they’d finished lunch, word came in from the yard that a group had been spotted in the distance, drawing closer. Lady Shirrad sent word around the house—the cleanup crews were to get out of sight, though they should keep working anywhere they could, and the Avowed got ready to gather.

Lady Shirrad met Elan at the front gate a few minutes later. She’d changed from a shapeless, stained shift into the same deep red dress she’d had on to meet Elan originally. It was a little shabby, but not tattered, and the gold belt and embroidery were a nice reminder that whatever state Aredann was in now, there had been a time when Shirrad’s family had been wealthy and prosperous.

Lord Elthis’s travel party approached the gate. There were at least a dozen of them, led by Elthis himself, clad in pale tan travel robes over green garments. His features were obscured behind the mesh that protected his face from the sun, but he was tall and broad-shouldered, a large man with an even larger presence. Two Avowed rode behind him, followed by servants who led camels laden with jugs.

“Water,” one of the Avowed murmured behind Elan.

“They have plenty in the central cities,” another said. “They can spare some for us.”

Elan shook his head a little but didn’t bother to say anything. The water wasn’t for anyone at Aredann—it would only ensure that his father’s visit would be comfortable.

Elthis dismounted, and one of his servants trotted over to take his horse’s reins. The Lord faced the gathered crowd expectantly, and Lady Shirrad stepped forward with the same elegant water cup she’d used to greet Elan. She looked away as she handed it to him, and Elan saw a faint tremble in her arm, but Elthis just drank and nodded in satisfaction.

“Thank you, Lady Shirrad.”

“Of course, Highest,” she said, her voice almost as quiet as a Closest’s. “Please, come in and be welcome.”

Elthis didn’t move to enter the house. Instead his gaze caught on Elan, who stepped forward and bowed his head, saying, “Welcome, Father.”

His father nodded a little, but instead of answering him said, “Desinn?”

Desinn joined them, nodding back.

“Lord Elthis, would you care to come inside?” Shirrad asked again.

“No.” Elthis brushed his hands together, wiping off sand and dust. “Don’t think me too impolite, Lady, but the letters I’ve received have spoken of a crisis—and I can certainly see it around me. Before I take off my riding gear, I’d like to visit your reservoir.”

“Oh,” Lady Shirrad said. “I— Of course, Highest.”

Elan helped Shirrad mount, and Elthis dismissed the rest of the travel party. Shirrad rode out to take the lead, since it was her reservoir. She set a slow pace. Even so, it didn’t take them long to get there. The riding trail itself was next to a dry streambed that had once served the estate house, as well as irrigating the fields and orchard. Now it was riddled with debris, stones, and cracks from the quake.

The reservoir still seemed tiny to Elan—at least a dozen of them would have fit into the Danardae reservoir. But despite its size, it was still an eye-grabbing, glittering oasis; a beautiful lake in the midst of the drought-ridden fields and endless, endless sand. Just looking at it helped Elan recover some fortitude. Shirrad, too, squared her shoulders as they all dismounted.

“This is it?” Elthis asked.

“Yes, Highest,” Shirrad answered. “I know it doesn’t look like much, but it has served Aredann very well, even through this drought.”

“Not well enough, I gather,” Elthis said.

Shirrad pressed her lips together in a forced smile.

“Elan, Desinn,” Elthis said, and Elan obediently made his way to his father’s side. The four of them began to walk around the reservoir’s perimeter, far enough out that the mud was dried and cracked, not wet. His father’s riding boots would be dirty but not damp. “What happened to this place?”