The Barren Land was exactly how Eboni had imagined. The scrolls and texts had not lied when they said it was devoid of everything. Waves crashed and tumbled over the broken and jagged rocks that made the land infamous.

Tying the small rowboat to a protruding rock they all sat still, gazing out to the place they planned to end the war on.

"What now?" Iasa asked, looking dubiously out to the lack of anywhere to stand on.

Kas stood up, rocking the boat as he strode out onto the nearest rock.

"I got this." Rolling his shoulders and flexing his hands in anticipation.

"Brother." Atu said wearily as though he knew something she didn't. "Don't show off."

Kas rolled his eyes- turning his back to his brother before opening the vile of earth around his neck.

Eboni gasped as the earth flew from the vile and multiplied in front of her eyes.

In a matter of moments, the barren. Jagged rocks had been blanketed in a thick layer of dense fertile earth.

She stood up on the boat that was still bobbing on the ocean, climbing out to stand by Kas's side finding a better view of how vast the land they would be calling home until the fight was over was.

Looking up to Kas she saw him smiling happily down at her, a sparkle in his eye she couldn't translate.

"Green." He said.

"What?" Eboni replied, confused.

Kas looked back to the brown earth that filled their vision. "This land, it needs green." As he spoke, blades of grass sprouted from the ground, turning from a light fresh green and into a deep luscious emerald.

"Beautiful." She whispered.

"Yes." She heard Kas mumble beside her.

A shriek broke them both from their trance. Turning to the boat they found Iasa gripping the sides tightly as it rocked dangerously side to side, Orlan and Kimi having apparently stepped out at the same time leaving the rowing boat unbalanced.

Bren stepped off slowly before offering his hand down to the Princess. She gladly accepted, hugging herself close to him as they joined Eboni and Kas to look out across the land.

"What comes next?" Kimi asked.

The group stood in silence as they contemplated what to do.

"I guess we need somewhere to live until the Dark Ones get here." Rays suggested.

"I can do that too." Kas said, stepping forward, raising his hand towards the middle of the land.

The earth rumbled beneath their feet as they all looked on in awe- a tower rising from the ground, growing until it seemingly touched the clouds.

Eboni gazed up in wonder. The circular walls were made of dark grey stone, ivy and small white flowers sprouted from the earth, winding and curling their way around the walls.

She counted seven floors, the top two of which were open to the sky providing the perfect lookout to sea.

Atu nodded his head in satisfaction. "A perfect defence tool when it comes to the fight."

Raus too walked forward, rolling his shoulders before placing his hands on the ground. "I can improve the defences." He murmured.

The ground shook again beneath their feet, only this time the earth and rock sunk into the ground, creating a perfect circle surrounding the tower. The vast cavity filling with water, creating a barrier between the land and the tower. Raus turned to the others, a wide, almost boastful smile gracing his lips as he watched them, waiting for their reaction.

"Good." Atu said. Eboni watched as he walked forward to join Kas and Raus, his eyes sweeping across everything in front of him before turning back to Raus. "-but how are we supposed to get across?" He frowned, pursing his lips.

Raus cursed under his breath, his smile falling from his face as his cheeks flamed red in embarrassment.

"I can create bridge that can disappear when the time comes." As Kas spoke a small wooden bridge made of vines and earth wove its way across the water, joining the two areas of land together.

"Shall we go inside?" Eboni said- Raus sending her a grateful smile as Atu still wore a displeased frown.

Walking through a tall archway into the tower Eboni couldn't help but smile as she took in her surroundings.

The grey stone that made up the walls also covered the floor in one great slab, the ceiling stretching high above her head. A solid stone staircase swept up the opposite wall.

"It's beautiful." Eboni whispered as they wandered around the room.

"It's dark" Iasa said bluntly.

There were a few small open windows scattered around the walls but not enough to fill the room with light.

A small fire flickered to life against the wall, spreading until it wrapped up against the curling wall.

"It's still not very light, now it's just warm." Iasa said, pouting.

"Well it won't be like the palace rooms in Rolezal, there are no diamond chandeliers to reflect the light." Bren said, rubbing his thumb across Iasa's pout turning it into a shy smile.

A chandelier? It was over the top and extravagant for her tastes, but it would reflect light, especially if it was glowing in the first place. Eboni thought.

Focusing on the centre of the circular ceiling she concentrated her power. Small droplets of energy began to drip from the ceiling into intricate breads. She heard gasps of awe as they began to group together, falling into mid-air attached by thin invisible energy strings, creating a large glowing intricate chandelier.

"Eboni- it's...it's just perfect." Iasa said smiling at her brightly.

Eboni gazed around the room to see that her glowing sculpture was now also reflecting the light from the windows and fire, light now dancing across the room.

She glimpsed the disappearing figure of Kas heading up the stairs, after he didn't return after a few minutes she decided to follow him.

The staircase wrapped around the wall, stopping to allow access to two rooms, before carrying on up to the next level. Peering into the rooms she saw they were both empty apart from a wooden tub and intricately formed bed frames.

So, this is what he had been doing- Eboni thought.

Feeling the need to add herself into each of the rooms, she created equally individual, small energy chandeliers that reflected the structure of the bed frames. A sharp, pointy sculpture in one room, and a flowing round one in another. Each room she realised, Kas had crafted for each one of them.

She heard the rest of the group begin to ascend the stairs, intent on finding Kas first she continued upwards. Stopping to craft chandeliers in each room while continuing to match them with the personality of the tubs and beds. She finally found him on the last floor.

She stood in the doorway watching as he stood in the middle of the room, eyes closed, focused as vines and branches curled up from the stone floor, forming themselves into intricate designs before the corners spiralled up to the ceiling.

She looked on as small buds grew from the vines, bursting open to reveal the most beautiful lilies she had ever seen- her lilies.

"This is all beyond incredible Kas. Thank you."

He glanced down at her before following her eye line to the lilies.

"This room is yours." he said. Taking a deep breath, he turned towards her, "Eboni, there is something I wish to- no, I need to tell you that-"

He was cut off by the jovial laughter and giggling that had just wandered up the stairs.

Eboni looked questionably back up at Kas who now had a scowl on his face.

"It can wait." He said shortly.

"Kas, this is all so wonderful! I could almost make it my home!" Iasa gushed.

"I did take the liberty of giving the tubs a constant supply of water, so if you see a stream of water flowing the wrong way up the tower then don't be alarmed- empty tubs are not that useful." Raus said, grinning cheekily.

"Yes, well I do not control water, I did think that job was better suited towards you." He replied, rolling his eyes seemingly irritated.

Eboni raised an eyebrow questioningly at Kas, and then Bren as she watched them exchange a knowing look.

Bren cleared his throat, avoiding her gaze.

He knew something and wasn't going to tell her. She narrowed her eyes at him and as he looked at her guiltily she knew it was something he couldn't- or didn't want to- tell her

Perhaps he had been confiding in the fact that he was not going to return to Gods Land once this was all over.

She was not a fool, she knew he had always yearned for adventure and travel was the only way to do that. She wouldn't ask him to stay when she knew he would be miserable.

"Shall we go get everything from the ship? We need the bedding, food and lamps." Orlan said snapping her out of her thoughts.

Bren, Kas, Atu, Orlan and Raus all disappeared back down the stairs leaving Eboni, Iasa and Kimi.

"What should we do?" Iasa asked, playing with the hem of her tunic.

"We could always keep heading up, from the looks of it outside there should be another two levels above us."

"Lead the way." Eboni said, giving one last look to the lilies now in full bloom, before heading up the stairs after her friends.