fear claws at his throat like a caged animal. he’d reached for silas when the news from pali rang through each and everyone of them. their parents, gone. taken. something strong enough to get through the barrier without setting off any sort of alarm, without damaging it.
leland doesn’t know what to do, what to think. too much has happened in such a short amount of time. he feels his head spinning, feels his stomach twist into knots until he’s doubled over, hands on his knees, almost dry heaving. it’s almost violent, a reaction he didn’t think would wrack through his body.
the cold chill of dread makes the hair on the back of his neck stand on end, like an icy fingertip being dragged along the mountain of his spine.
zeke. his mind goes to his first conversation at the temple of the gods. acceptance. connection. this isn’t the temple, he’s not even sure if it’ll work, but after he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, he falls to his knees and the bedroom floor.
with eyes closed and hands clasped, he begins to pray.
“boreas, god of the north wind and bringer of winter, i reach out to you as your son in a time of need, for us both. i beseech the strength to carry on, the power to influence the tides of war in our favor. i ask for your acceptance as your own, unproven and untested, but with a promise from me stained on my lips and tattooed on my soul: i will prove myself worthy to you but i need you for that. i invoke your name as my own, son of winter to father. give me a sign, show me the way. help me get you and the other’s back.”
he doesn’t realize tears are streaming from his eyes until after the last word falls from his lips. he reaches up to wipe them away, hoping he’s heard for the first time.
