Free Baehrly Alive by Elizabeth A. Reeves Page B

together in this sacred place, tangling and rejoicing in such a way that they could never truly be separated again.
    And then I was aware of the warm, dry touch of his lips brushing against the tear-dampened skin of my own. I could taste my tears, sweat… chocolate.
    And humanity.
    Whatever we had experienced-- had been—for a brief moment—it had passed. We were mortal again.
    Humans, frail and uncertain in the wilderness, under the watchful gaze of ancient Magics.

 
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
     
    There were markings here, surrounding us—signs that told us that this was where a great old leader lay, resting, waiting for the world to be renewed. This was a beautiful place—perhaps one of the most beautiful in our world.
    We bowed our heads in respect and left that place hastily. He was not our king, and we would not disturb him or his rest.
    What we were seeking wasn’t to be found there.
    The wind rustled through the leaves of the tress, sighing and whispering around us. I wondered how many of the voices were real, or if they were all just in my head.
    We walked in silence. It took too much energy to speak. We trudge along, pausing to climb over debris here and there—the natural kind, not the man-made kind. I wondered when the last time was that any of these trees had seen people.
    This place was wild, still—we did not see wolves, but we heard them yipping and howling. Donovan and I jumped as an answering cry answered not far from where we were standing.
    I hoped that my Magic would be enough to hold back any creatures who might think of us as easy prey. I didn’t want to spill blood of any sort on this sacred ground—who knew what curses would arise.
    Maybe it was the bear in me, but for whatever reason, I scented the spring before we ever heard or saw it. What did water even smell like? But there was something pure and living about this water. If I had been a Water Witch, perhaps I would have understood its language.
    “I smell water,” I told Donovan.
    He looked at me as if I were crazy. After all—it had been sprinkling off and on all afternoon. What was a little more water?
    It wasn’t something I could explain. I just knew.
    I willingly and gratefully swung my pack down and leaned it against the closest tree. I walked through the small, uneven clearing, kicking at old leaves and roots that made the ground so treacherous. I must have looked like some kind of wild turkey, scratching at the ground with my boots like that.
    The spring, when I found it, was scarcely more than a trickle.
    But there was no doubt in my mind that it was what we were looking for. The temptation sang out at me—demanding that I splash my face and drink deeply.
    But I had grown up around Magic. I knew better. What kind of curses might exist around this place to keep it safe? What defenses might the spring have to protect it from the likes of me?
    A place does not become forbidden if it is open and welcoming.
    Instead, I traced the spring higher up the hill, the trickling path it took through the mud and stones, which were growing slick from the rain.
    Donovan followed me dubiously, carrying my pack along with his own. “Are you sure about this? It doesn’t look like much.”
    I paused triumphantly and pointed in front of me. “See?”
    The water was flowing from the heart of a stone.
    Donovan circled the boulder several times, trying to find some other source for the water, but there was none. This rock was the source of the Magical spring.
    To the Ordinary eye, it was nothing special—just another boulder among many—the same color, the same rough shape.
    But to my other sight, it was blinding in its radiance. I pushed my sunglasses higher on my face as if they could protect me.
    There was power here, all right.
    I just hoped that it would work with us and be able to save my little brother.
    And Gwyn, of course.
    Donovan frowned at the rock, his eyes slightly unfocused—as if he, too, could sense something there.
    I