Rayna's Sacrifice (The Katori Chronicles Book 3) by A. Lombardo (intellectual books to read .TXT) 📗

natural. Her powerful connection to plants called to her soul. She loved pushing her hands into the soil. To her, it seemed like being able to touch the sun.

The memory of pushing tiny seeds into the ground and coaxing them to grow brimmed with delight inside Rayna. The morning sunshine felt warm on her face. “Jayla,” she said as she stopped to kneel next to a young sapling. “The more I work with the plants, the more I see the magic they hold. Helping them grow seems second nature. I feel and see the sun’s power inside the plants.”

Jayla knelt at her side. Her short blonde hair fluttered around her head. “Working with the plants teaches you how to harness power from your surroundings. Magic exists in every living thing. We only move it about, never taking too much. The soil has much to give with its depth and variety of minerals. It is best to take from the dirt, but you must be sure you don’t harm the other plants.”

Rayna swept her long brown hair to one shoulder. “What are we learning today?”

“Today, you will coax the sapling to grow. Restore the apple orchard with a new tree. Make it grow and produce blossoms. We talked about using sunlight and soil last night. Let’s see what you remember.”

The tiny tree was only three feet high. It had taken a great deal of energy to create the tiny thing, now she would turn it into a full-grown tree with fruit. “It was all I could do to make this little spindly thing. How can I make a tree large enough to bloom?”

“You know what a full-grown tree looks like,” Jayla said, “and how the fruit tastes. Start there. Close your eyes and picture the finished tree.”

The idea of getting a seed to grow into a plant within seconds would have seemed impossible until a few days ago. But planting an entire garden in a day gave Rayna confidence. Now she was going to encourage her first tree. Digging her hands into the soil, she could feel the bits of old bark from the tree struck by lightning a month earlier.

Deeper into the soil, she sensed worms and bugs. Deeper still, a layer of rocks and moisture. Around them, Rayna felt the other plants and became aware of their needs on the land. She narrowed her connection to the earth to ensure she did not pull from the other flora. “I am ready,” she said, accessing the magic within her and her green crystal.

“Close your eyes, Rayna. Think about every detail of your tree. The curve of its trunk, its bark, and the color of the leaves. Let the sweetness of an apple refresh your tongue.”

The apple orchard in Diu sprang to life in Rayna’s mind. She had spent many hours walking with Kai and eating apples over the years. The smell of their blossoms and the taste of their fruit lit up her senses. Now she pulled the energy from the soil, and it started to pour into her. Sunshine warmed her cheeks, and its power flowed through her veins. With the power instilled within her crystal, she blended the two forms of energy.

Feeding the sapling, she sensed the roots spreading underground. The trunk expanded, and new branches and leaves unfurled. Not wanting to take too much from the soil, she pushed back against the flow to restore the land beneath the developing apple tree.

“Ease back a little, Rayna,” she heard Jayla recommend. “The tree will split if it grows too fast, and you will lose valuable sap for the apples.”

Heeding her teacher, Rayna held back the flow of magic.

“Don’t forget to breathe, young Kodama,” she whispered.

Rayna eased and let a breath seep from her lungs. Jayla’s warm hand touched her arm, lifted her hand out of the soil, and slid it up the tree. “Now, use the sap and your remaining strength to create the blossoms.”

The golden sap within the tree trickled through the trunk. Infusing sap with her magic, Rayna thought of the sweet apple blossoms. She opened her eyes and the tree was filled with white and pink flowers. Delighted, she hugged herself.

“Well done.” Jayla stood and pulled Rayna to her feet. “How do you feel?”

“I feel good! Not lightheaded at all this time.”

Pleased with her tree, she stepped back to look at the restored apple orchard. Each tree was filled with blossoms of their own. Bees buzzed around her and flitted around her new creation. She was happy.

◆◆◆

On her own, Rayna ventured outside of Hiowind. The hillside rolled outward, and she imagined Kai taking this route to follow Ryker. An afternoon breeze tugged at her green dress and played with her hair. In the distance, she gazed at the foothills and the Matoku city where her sister Imani lived. She wanted to see her, but the fear of rejection held her back.

Tall willow trees swayed around her. The smells of the forest welcomed her, and she continued. Birds sang from branches. This was the farthest she’d ever gone on her own, and her newfound independence grew with each step. Katori was beginning to feel like home.

The farther Rayna walked, the thicker the trees became, until black rock formations changed the landscape, pushing back the fatter specimens in exchange for shorter, spindly varieties. Spotting a large arch cut in the rocks, she ventured inside to find a tunnel.

Curious, she stepped through and found herself in a beautiful clearing. Sunshine kissed her face. Wildflowers swayed in the breeze. Pleased with her surroundings, she let her delicate fingers tickle a few flower buds. New blooms popped at her touch. She smiled, pleased with her work.

Behind her, she heard giggles. Before she knew it, the oak sisters had encircled her. Senina, Ciera, and Linnea flitted around the wildflowers and glared at her.

Senina took hold of her hand. “Dear Kodama, sister. How did you discover this meadow?”

Ciera pushed at a branch near her head, commanding it to move away. “This is