Ishara was putting on her armor. Her aunt had asked her to rest a little longer.
"You're so stubborn. That's exactly why your father exiled you, and you're going to do the same thing just hours after your exile ended?" said Kadihely, swinging her legs in the air while sitting on a polished stone.
"Besides, Ishara, we need you here," added Faezarnah, looking seriously at the young elf. Ishara sighed, resting her hand on the table and feeling the thin leaves covering its surface.
The simple act of breathing in her complete body was pleasurable, yet her mind was focused on other things—to the point of almost forgetting the gift of being whole, of being one. She needed to return to Namar-Khep, find Setarek, and help him.
"You can handle it," she said, smiling as she tightened the leather on her forearm. Faezarnah rose; her black-greenish hair was tied in a low bun, and her expression was stern.
"No!" Faezarnah grabbed her niece's wrist. "Enough of this, Ishara. Enough of making selfish decisions. We are elves; we live for a purpose." She released Ishara and met her eyes with a weary gaze.
"The harphesh is diminishing in our oases. Not only the dragon, but other creatures of chaos coming from the west to confront us are growing bolder. Elves are no longer born from the sacred womb." Faezarnah's eyes fell with sorrow, but she continued: "Our goddess no longer answers us. We are weak—in every sense."
Ishara listened to her aunt in surprised silence; she had never seen her so troubled.
"Your father, Garhlieash, and the others have gone. They will kill the dragon—have no doubt about that. Bialieash and the rest believe he is a source that allows evil to come into existence, denying the good that is present. Once he is eliminated, our problem will be solved," Faezarnah explained, adding: "So focus on your people—the only ones you can help right now. The fallen dunes… that will be our fate."
She nodded, leaving no room for objections, and walked calmly out of the cave. Ishara could never contradict her aunt—not when she spoke in comical aphorisms, nor when she spoke seriously. Kadihely gave her friend a closed-lip smile and shrugged.
Ishara closed her eyes and thought of her father and the other elves who had gone with him; she thought of Setarek as well. She offered a silent prayer and took a deep breath.
"Then let's go to the dunes…" Ishara said, her gaze lowered.
///
Lizhireri stared at her reflection in the cup after drinking a little of the water the servant had brought. Her head ached slightly, but she was improving.
"I was inside the mind of a God," she said with euphoria, happiness, and a faint trace of fear. "I faced his memories…" She felt a sharp twinge on her right side.
"The priestess asked you to eat these special nuts," the servant said, placing the tray on the table. "And to rest more after—"
"She doesn't command me," Lizhireri interrupted loudly, narrowing her brows. In the same instant she recoiled, surprised by her own tone. The servant looked frightened; she had never seen Lizhireri speak like that—she was always a gentle and calm young woman.
"I'm sorry… I…"
"It's all right, it's just the exhaustion…" The Nasndernian girl smiled, clutching the cloth with a closed fist against her chest. "It's true… is he one of the Gods we worship? Why does he look different from our statues?" The girl asked genuinely.
"I think he preferred a more… ordinary form among us?" Lizhireri didn't know exactly either.
"Then why doesn't he look like a Nasndernian from Khemet?"
The girl's questions made Lizhireri's head hurt even more.
"I-I'll leave you to rest… If you need anything, I'll be nearby." The servant left in long strides, closing the door behind her.
Lizhireri's mind was flooded with images of fire and destruction: deformed creatures, beings that flew and spat flames, beings that rose from the earth. She also saw elves being killed, humans being killed.
"Why is this in my mind?" She lay back on the bed, sighing deeply. "Why do I feel this… rage?"
Lizhireri thought perhaps it was a reaction from Krarvathar's divine mind. She had felt dizzy the first time she used her ability on another person years ago.
"It'll pass…" She smiled, feeling quite weak but, in a way, grateful. For the first time in her life, she could see images in her mind—and none of them were her own.