Maldows Isles

Chapter Seven

Ash's POV

I don't want to let go of Amaria's hand. I don't want to lose her, I just found her, so I tighten my grip on her hand as we race through the woods to get away from her nut job of an aunt. When my mother showed her the past, I stood to watch. I didn't want any surprise attacks, and when I went to her last night it was for the same reason. I mean that's what I'm telling myself at least.

"I know a place to go. We just have to move quickly. I don't want them to catch up to us, so we will not be taking breaks." Stallin says quickly. He changes direction suddenly, heading west.

"I think I might know how to slow them down dad," Amaria said, and she stops moving.

"Amaria we don't have time for this." I plead with her, my mother stops me.

"Trust her Ash." my mother nods at Amaria. Stallin and I watch her impatiently. Sariyah's warriors start appearing in the clearing that we've stopped in, my nerves are on edge.

"Amaria they will catch us. please let's go" I tell her again, but she won't budge. After a few more moments the ground begins to cave in right at the warriors' feet. I look at Amaria in amazement. "You're controlling the earth element with no training?" I'm over the moon proud of her.

"I think I have one more trick up my sleeve." She raises her hand, and the ground surrounding us lifts into the sky. The tree parts, as a gush of wind, pushes us west, as we pass the trees they close behind us.

"Amaria, this is great." Her father says proudly, "I will tell you how to get to the closest village. Since Sariyah has warriors we can only assume that she has some of the villages backing her. They want her to rule."

"That is correct, Stallin. There are a few villages that have taken Sariyah's promises of wealth. Some remain loyal to the rightful heir. They are who we need to visit first." my mom says.

"We do need to visit them, but we have to make a stop first to prove that Amaria is the rightful heir to the throne."

"Me having control over the elements is not enough?" she asks her father.

"No, it is not. You have control over two elements is enough for the ones who still follow the old ways. The ones who follow the new ways do not care little lily." She nods and concentrates on the directions her father is giving her. I sit close to her, hoping I can give her some of my strength. My mother watches me from her side of the rock, a soft smile settled on her face.

"Mari, I don't want you using too much of your energy. Please we can walk the rest of the way. Your father says we are close." She turns to me then and nods. The piece of the ground slowly falls, fitting into the earth like it was always meant to be there. We all continue on foot.

I slow Amaria down so she can walk beside me. "Amaria, are you sure you're okay?"

"My aunt just tried to kill all of us. So no, I'm not okay." She huffs out, and her face softens as she says. "I didn't mean to say it like that at all. I just don't understand how she could do this to her flesh and blood. It makes no sense."

"It's okay, I honestly don't know how I would behave if I was you." She smiles then.

"So mates huh? How old are you, Ash."

"I am eighteen years old. I was born a month before you. The first time my mother held me she got a vision. She saw us mated. That was how she knew." I tell her.

"Isn't it weird to know who you'll be with before you've even met them?" she asks, before I can respond her father announces that we've arrived at our destination. Looking around I see nothing but a clearing. Stallin takes a step forward and whispers an enchantment. In place of the clearing stood a small village.

"Welcome to Acadia," Stallin says, walking forward without looking back at us.

"Ah, I haven't been here since your grandmother brought us here, Amaria." My mother says to Amaria.

"My grandmother?"

"Yes, Queen Stacey. It seems she is still here, isn't that right Stallin?" Stallin nods, heading towards the back of the village.

"She has been here all this time and you never said, anything dad?" Amaria asked Stallin.

"All of this was to keep you safe away from Sariyah, little lily. You must understand." He pauses in his steps, looking at his daughter.

"Yeah well, that was so helpful huh dad?" He starts to say something and she cuts him off, "Just take me to see my grandmother." Stallin sighs and nods continuing. We round a corner, finally reaching the back of the village.

"Did anyone notice how quiet the village is?" I wonder aloud. My mother stops then.

"You're right, Ash. I just reached out and there's not a soul here whose mind I can feel." my mother confirms my statement. This causes Stallin to reach for the sword at his hips, and Amaria takes a battle stance.

I step in behind Amaria and my mother, positioning them in between Stallin and me, "Amaria you are only to use your elements if we need to escape. Do not waste your energy." She looks like she wants to argue with me, but my mother puts her hand on her shoulder. We continue around the last corner more cautiously now, our eyes scanning our surroundings. Stallin stops, his body moving to block Amaria's line of sight.

"What's wrong dad?" She asks but he shakes his head, "Fine I'll see for myself." She grabs onto my hand and up into the air, we go. Her horrified gasp makes me look ahead of us, in front of us was torched land.