Chapter 274: An Understanding
"How could it?!" Heila said, staring at Ashlynn in horror. Of all the things that could have happened to her lady while creating a seed for her, if death was the worst then losing her bond with Lady Nyrielle would be almost as bad. To tear apart such a strong bond of love...
"So dat’s what it was," Jacques said as a moment of realization struck him. "Maman, de energy of de ritual went strange and dark on de last day. Leaves fell from de Ancient Willow like it got tangled up wit’ death itself and a chill filled de air. What Lady Ashlyn’s sayin’ it’s no exaggeration."
"How could it, how could it?" Talauia said. "Lady Nyrielle is far away from the Briar. How could the Ancient Willow do anything to her."
"Through me," Ashlynn said, looking to Amahle for confirmation of what she felt to be true. When she saw the older witch nod, she continued. "I have a, a tether that connects me to Mistress Nyrielle," Ashlynn explained, placing a hand gently on her chest. "Our hearts are connected. As long as hers beats, mine will too. Our lives are tangled together and no distance can break that bond."
"I told you, didn’t I little Heila?" Amahle said. "The willow has the power to entangle and restrain or to drag someone down to the depths with its roots. If there was a bond between Ashlynn and Lady Nyrielle, the Ancient Willow could pull at that bond as soon as I created the bond between Ashlynn and the Ancient Willow."
"But the trial was just for Lady Ashlynn, wasn’t it?" Heila said, looking from Ashlynn to Amahle in confusion. "How could it attack her bond with Lady Nyrielle, or even attack Lady Nyrielle? Is the tree just wicked and cruel?"
"Dere’s more to it den dat, ma petite," Jacques said. "Vampires and witches, dey don’t usually mix as well as Lady Ashlynn and Lady Nyrielle do. De Ancient Willow, she jus’ trying to help de way she knows how, non?"
"The Ancient Willow apologized, in its own way, when it saw the truth of our relationship," Ashlynn said, her emerald eyes remaining flinty as she looked from Jacques to Amahle before softening when she looked at Heila. "The willow is a fierce protector with a soft heart. I think it will suit you well," she said with a tired smile forming on her lips.
"Thank you," Heila said. Setting aside the salad she’d been preparing, she rushed across the floor, her cloven hooves clomping as she ran until she was close enough to fling herself into Ashlynn’s waiting arms.
Ever since Ashlynn left to form the seed, Heila threw herself into her studies to distract herself from the increasing sense of worry that formed in the pit of her stomach. One day turned into two, and two into three and even Talauia seemed to feel nervous as day turned into night on the third day.
Now, hearing that Ashlynn nearly lost her bond with Nyrielle in order to form the seed for her, Heila’s shoulders shook with quiet sobs as she buried her head in Ashlynn’s bosom, weeping openly in relief.