Lyric’s head jerked towards the door, and she stood, hands flying up with anticipation. “Kell! Come in!” she called.
Kell pushed through the vines in the doorway, smiling tiredly. He looked haggard and pale. There were dark shadows under his eyes, but the blood was gone, as was the sightless stare from before.
Lyric rushed at him, her hands flying around his neck.
Kell caught her, staggering slightly, then pulled her into him. They clung to each other like they’d been parted for days and not hours. Kell’s eyes closed, and he rested his cheek against Lyric’s hair.
Runa shifted uncomfortably, feeling as if she was witnessing a private moment. She considered leaving, giving them privacy, and then was irritated by the thought. If they wanted to be alone, they could leave.
Runa reached for another vegetable from Lyric’s plate and took a savage bite, barely registering its taste.
“I’m sorry,” Kell said as Lyric pulled away to look at him.
“It’s not your fault,” Lyric said, shaking her head.
“You needed me and —”
“Kell, we’re fine,” Lyric said. “We were fine. I’ve been worrying about you. How are you?”
“I’m all right now, I think,” Kell said. “I guess I lost consciousness for a while. The pain was excruciating. When the High Priestess mentioned King Rakarn …” He paused, a muscle flexing in his cheek. “It was like there was a door in my mind. I could feel it, knew that the memories of what happened that day lay beyond it. I’ve always stepped away from it before, listened to the tightening of the spell around my neck but … I wanted to understand.”
“Will it break you again if we tell you what we learned?” Runa asked bluntly.
Lyric gave her an annoyed look over her shoulder.
“No, I don’t think so,” Kell said, his lips quirking. “I’ll avoid opening any mental doors.”
“We saw our father,” Lyric said.
Kell looked at her, his eyes widening with surprise. “Your father?”
“Yes, he was —”
“Rabid, like an animal,” Runa said. She raised an eyebrow at another irritated look from her sister. It sounded terrible, yes, but how else could you describe the state of him?
“Mama was right. Our Grandfather performed the ritual in Thenda,” Lyric said carefully, “and he used our father to power it. When Egan fought against it, against Rakarn, the ritual collapsed, and the Taint was released or created, Laenadara doesn’t know for sure. Our father is like one of those creatures now, on the Shore, but different; still human. Laenadara said he’s been fighting the effects, and only now succumbed to it. He didn’t recognize us.”
Kell ran his hand across Lyric’s back. “I’m sorry,” he said.
Runa watched him and noticed a muscle twitching along his brow. She eyed the tattoo around his throat, but it didn’t writhe like before.
“Lyric thinks we should perform the ritual again,” Runa said.
Kell’s eyes widened, and he pushed Lyric back to stare into her face. “You want to what?” he demanded.
“The Mother Tree told the Ayanarans that dragon fire will destroy the Taint,” Lyric said.
“Aya, the Tree,” Kell said, his voice flat.
“Yes.”
“The Mother Tree doesn’t speak,” Kell said, looking between Lyric and Runa.
Runa pursed her lips. “Apparently, it does.”
Lyric gave Kell a concerned look. “You knew that, Kell. Laendara said the Tree spoke to her while you were there.”
He blinked, confusion crossing his face like a man just now realizing he was drowning. “I’m sorry, I ... it was hard to focus. I felt …” He shook his head. “You’re right, I remember, I just never heard ... well, I’ve personally never been here before.” Kell moved his hands up onto Lyric’s shoulders. “But even if the Tree does speak to them, the ritual destroyed my home, Lyric. It killed my parents and nearly killed your father! How can you even consider trying it?”
“We’d be willing participants,” Lyric said. “We’d ask the Old Ones for help, guidance. It’d be like your story, Kell. The one you sang on the beach? Though distant and sleeping, They’ll return to preserve us. Isn’t that what you said?”
Kell gave Lyric a helpless look. “It’s a story, Lyric. A legend. It could be someone’s fantasy or interpretation of something that happened. We don’t know if the dragons are waiting for us or if they’d want to help us.” He shifted his hands to Lyric’s shoulders, eyes imploring. “Don’t forget, Lyric that the Old Ones were not always charitable and kind. They were fierce and dangerous. They warred with the Seven over who should rule Erith after the Trinity left us. They killed just as many humans as they saved.”
“Yes, but after the Demon War, they stayed when the Seven left,” Lyric said. She put her hand on Kell’s wrist. “The Old Ones helped us recover and rebuild. They mediated disputes, and when they left Erith to us, they first created the Council. Whether or not they were sometimes terrible, they didn’t want Erith to die. They’ll want to help. I know it.”
“She’s nothing if not idealistic,” Runa said when Kell looked at her. “You should have learned by now that Lyric will try to save everyone she meets.”
“Lyric, please don’t do this,” Kell said, framing Lyric’s face with his hands. “It could kill you or worse. I don’t think I could survive if you … if I lost you.”
It was touching the way Kell pleaded with Lyric, heart-breaking and painfully sad. There was a desperateness in his eyes that even Runa could see.
“You’re being selfish,” Runa said. She wasn’t entirely speaking to Kell when she said it.
“I don’t care,” Kell said. He didn’t yell at Runa, just tightened his hands on Lyric’s face. “Lyric, please! If you’re wrong and it doesn’t work; or if it does, but the Old Ones are displeased —”
“I understand your concerns,” Lyric said, “but we’re in a position to ensure no one else has to die from the Taint.”
“We should do it,” Runa said. She felt a shiver of excitement as her words hung in the air. Maybe they’d fail, but maybe taking this risk and returning the dragons would preserve the world. If they walked away, what good was stopping the war, earning their freedom, if death waited at the end? “I still think we should wait for Mother, but if she doesn’t have a better solution …”
Lyric pulled free from Kell’s hands and looked at her, surprise crossing her face. “What changed your mind?”
“I hadn’t decided against it,” Runa said, “but I didn’t want to rush to make a decision. We can’t know for sure if we can trust Laenadara’s word. We can’t verify what she says, what she claims Aya has told her. But, Eleden trusts her, and Mother trusts him, and if the Taint has genuinely spread across the entire continent, then it might be weeks or even days before more cities are threatened. Thenda could be the beginning.
“Can you imagine what would happen if Elae’s Hollow falls to the Taint? Or somewhere bigger, like Rathgar’s Hold or Corsicayna? Can you imagine the number of dead and infected? We barely survived a handful of the creatures on the Shore. What if hundreds descended on a village? Though it feels arrogant and ridiculous to think we can do something about it, us of all people, I’d regret not trying.”
“Your ancestors,” Kell said, his voice hoarse. “Have they shared no words of caution?”
“No,” Runa said, thinking of Elenora’s words about Lyric.
“Gandara has been … distracted since we came here,” Lyric said. “I’m not sure what’s wrong with her, but it’s as if her mind is constantly wandering. I haven’t been able to make much sense of her. I thought she was gone, but she’s been muttering in my mind since we spoke with Laenadara.”
“Maybe that’s a sign. A sign to —”
“I know you’re worried, Kell,” Lyric said, “I am too, but I feel like I can actually do something. With the war, I didn’t see where I’d fit, I don’t know anything about negotiating peace, b
ut this ... if the Old Ones return, if they help us, we can save millions of people. We can save our father. I can save you, remove your silencing. We can stop the war!
“I know we shouldn’t rush into this, decide too quickly, so we will wait to talk to our mother, but I feel this is right.”
Kell groaned and buried his face in Lyric’s hair.
Runa looked away, crossing her arms. There was a certainty in Lyric’s face that she envied. A passion, she wished she could feel.
“Lyric? Runa?” Captain Eleden stepped inside, his face grave. His eyes flicked to Kell and Lyric, who’d pulled apart as he entered with Laerdi.
Sashala and Teaeth stopped in the entrance, watching something outside.
“I’ve heard from Hurlen,” Eleden said without preamble. “Your mother’s been taken.”
“Taken?” Lyric gasped, fisting a hand in Kell’s vest.
“By King Rakarn,” Eleden said. “He was there when Hurlen went to retrieve her from the inn. Hurlen followed them to Rathgar’s Hold.”
“How is she?” Runa asked. Worry sucked the heat from her chest, and she crossed her arms, hands against her sides.
“She was unconscious when he saw her, but alive.” Eleden’s eyes deepened with sympathy. “I’m sorry we didn’t reach her in time.”
“He won’t hurt her,” Lyric said, looking at Runa. Her eyes were worried, but hopeful. “She’s his daughter and heir.”
Runa took a breath, considering. Lyric was right. Rakarn would want to save her, help her. Whether or not he loved Elaina didn’t matter, and perhaps she was better off with him. If they went ahead with the ritual and it failed, then Ayanar might be the least safe place to be.
What could they do, anyway? Stage a rescue? Assault the castle? The Ayanarans had bows and were surely capable of protecting themselves, but would they attack Raendashar? Could they, even if they wanted to? They had no ships, no way to quickly travel long distances.
“Mother is probably safer away from us,” Runa said slowly.
Lyric nodded reluctantly, her fingers leaving creases in Kell’s vest. “Will Hurlen keep an eye on her?”
Eleden nodded. “I’ve asked him to stay nearby and send word if he catches a glimpse of her. She’s in the castle. He’ll keep us apprised of her condition and tell us when she wakes. Rakarn will probably try to show her off, quiet the whispers about her absence, which should allow Hurlen to approach her.”
“Thank you,” Lyric said. She leaned against Kell, her arms wrapping around his waist.
Kell held her tightly, his face a mask of misery and acceptance.
“Has Kaia agreed to leave us be for now?” Runa asked, remembering the airship.
Eleden nodded and braced his hands on his belt. “She’s agreed to wait.”
“Does she know what Laenadara has asked us to do?” Lyric asked. “Why we’re here?”
Eleden shook his head. “She’s been told you’re communing with the Mother Tree at Laenadara’s request. If she knew the delay was about the Taint, she’d interfere. She thinks my clan is exaggerating the urgency, to convince the Gale to abandon the war.” He stroked his chin, his eyes conflicted.
“I know you hoped to speak to your mother about the ritual. Forgive me for bringing you here,” Eleden said. “I didn’t know Laenadara would ask you to do this.”
“It was my suggestion,” Lyric said.
“I only wanted to protect you and help my people. Our people.”
“Do you think we should do it?” Runa asked, studying Eleden’s face. She wasn’t sure if they could trust him to be impartial, but he hadn’t done anything to betray them yet.
Eleden scrubbed a hand across his jaw. “Dandashara will kill me for this.”
“You’d have them risk their lives,” Kell said, strain hollowing his face.
Eleden barked a harsh laugh. “If you could save your father, or Lyric, or someone you love, wouldn’t you do anything? If you knew the world was ending …”
“This is not their responsibility,” Kell snapped. “They should not —”
Lyric put a hand on his chest and he cut off, looking down at her.
Anger at Kell’s tone had begun to bubble beneath Runa’s skin, and she clenched her fist. She wanted to burn something, set it on fire. Slowly, pushing down her annoyance, Runa relaxed her hand and looked at her sister’s face.
“I think we should try the ritual,” Lyric said, “but only if you agree.”
Runa looked at Laerdi, standing like a silent mountain behind their uncle. He seemed to have drawn inward, his eyes masked. She looked at the others. Sashala shifted restlessly, toying with a knife in one hand, and Teaeth had lost his smile. They were worried.
What would happen if the dragons responded? Would Serith come with the Three? What would the Sireni do when faced with their god? And me? Am I ready?
“Yes,” Runa said. She gave her sister a fierce nod. I will not be afraid.
27
Runa
Runa sat on a ledge of sun-drenched rock, legs dangling over the edge, and stared into the valley below. After they’d decided to go ahead with the ritual, the Sireni had lingered inside the room, unwilling to leave her and Lyric alone. Though they didn’t say it aloud, Runa suspected they were worried Kaia wouldn’t keep her agreement with the Ayanarans. Why else was everyone on edge? Surely it wasn’t only because of the impending ritual. What did Runa and Lyric mean to Laerdi, Sashala, and Teaeth? She could understand Eleden’s attachment but the others?
Unable to stand the palpable tension in the air or Kell’s tormented eyes after a sleepless night and solemn morning, Runa had shoved her way outside and started walking. She’d picked a direction randomly, weaving between trees and climbing rocks, focusing on the feel of her muscles propelling her forward and the movement of air in and out of her lungs. She felt someone follow her but didn’t look to see who and they stayed far enough back that Runa pushed them from her mind.
She’d only stopped, sweat trickling down her back, when the land abruptly opened up onto a large, rocky ledge, impassible where it jutted over a sea of trees below. She’d taken a deep gulp of air, unraveling as her emotions bubbled up through her chest until she was crying for no apparent reason at all.
In front of her, the forest stretched unbroken, the thick tree canopy lush and green. She could see a waterfall off to the side and hear the rush of water tumbling a great distance, but wherever it led was hidden by the trees. There was a river down there somewhere, carrying the water away, but she couldn't see it.
Runa wasn’t sure what drove her to the edge, but she’d sat, precariously high, imagining what would happen if she fell off. Would she float like a leaf spiraling down? Would it feel like flying? Would she hit the trees, her body breaking as it fell, or would she tumble weightlessly until she hit the forest floor far below? What’d happen then? Would she go to the Veil? Would it feel like before?
Are you thinking of ending it already? Elenora asked, her voice sharp and caustic.
Runa wiped her cheeks and stared out across the trees.
I shouldn’t be surprised.
“We’re going to summon the Old Ones,” Runa said, her tone flat, unaffected.
Elenora shifted. Despite being unable to see her, Runa knew she was curious, surprised.
“Haven’t you been listening?” Runa asked. “We’re going to do the ritual. The one Rakarn attempted.”
A rather bold gesture, Elenora said. The dragons may be allies, but you also risk becoming their attendants. It’s better to fight your own battles, girl.
“What?” Runa asked, frowning at the air. “I’m not calling them for Raendashar. We’re going to ask them to cleanse the Taint.”
Elenora’s mood shifted to tense brooding.
“Don’t you care?” Runa asked, “if Raendashar melts into the Sea of Screams?”
We will never be diminished, Elenora said.
Runa gritted her teeth. “Is there a reason I shouldn’t trust Laenadara
or the Ayanarans?” she asked. “Is there a reason I shouldn’t do the ritual?”
It’d be better if you had something to offer the Three, Elenora said absently. So you’re not in their debt. You don’t want to make alliances from a place of weakness.
“I have nothing that would interest an Old One,” Runa said.
That’s unfortunate. Elenora seemed to shrug.
“What could I offer anyway?”
Well, you could offer them the kingdom, though they’ll probably simply take it. We’re their brood, after all.
“The what? Raendashar?” Runa asked.
Yes, they’ve been gone from the world for a long time. You could renew your oaths.
“I don’t speak for Raendashar. King Rakarn does.”
You’d have to kill him, obviously, and your mother, unless she abdicates, but if the people knew of her treachery —
Runa mouth dropped open, horrified by her ancestor’s suggestion. “I’m not murdering anyone!”
You asked for my advice. I hope you survive it, the summoning. I’d hate to have wasted all this time on you.
“That’s nice of you to say,” Runa said darkly.
Elenora made a noncommittal sound and disappeared, leaving Runa to herself.
Runa sat for a time, irritated by the lack of help from her ancestor. The sun started to shift, the day droning on into late afternoon.
I should get back, she thought. Rising slowly, Runa stretched her back and arms then turned and walked into the trees. She was so familiar with walking unguided through forestland, that it was easy to retrace her steps.
As Runa walked, she listened to the Ayanaran forest and found it mostly silent save for the movement and calls of birds. She didn’t hear or see another person, and if she hadn’t known the village was ahead of her, she could have believed she was the first to walk here.
She caught no hint of the person who’d shadowed her to the cliff. Had it been one of the Sireni, Sashala or Teaeth, or had it been an Ayanaran?
Runa paused by a boulder to stare up at a tall tree, its trunk thick and skirted with white mushrooms like enormous, lacy frills. Studying the fungi, she heard the murmur of voices. She tilted her head, listening. Was that Laenadara’s voice?
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