He laid a hand on my arm as I sat up, firm but not unkind. “Shh. I know. You should have said you were my daughter.”
“But I didn’t know if I could trust them. What if someone used me against you?”
A considering look entered his eyes as he pulled over a chair. “I suppose it was good thinking. Unlike your decision in Steelhold.”
I looked at my lap. “I met Kostan in Jaliss. He was a refugee like me. Or at least he pretended to be. But he’s not like the other Emperor. Things will be better.”
Immediately, my father’s eyes hardened. “Sirez said the man’s name might be Kostan. I just didn’t believe her.” He sighed. “Well, I understand why you were fooled.”
I shook my head. “I don’t understand. You know him?”
“It’s a long story, Sandpiper. But yes. And I know how easily he gains someone’s trust. As sorry as I am that he misled you, at least the others will accept your actions once I explain that he tricked me too. Even Falla believed him, and she has abilities like yours.”
My emotions felt torn like a raft in the Maelstrom. First, sweet joy at hearing my old nickname. Then disbelief. Despair. It couldn’t be true, could it? I couldn’t imagine I’d had the wrong idea about Kostan. But I’d always trusted my father. I didn’t know what to think.
I looked away to hide the anguish that I knew showed plainly on my face. After a moment, I swallowed.
“Mother and Avill. A man took me—”
“I know,” he said, cutting me off. “Sirez told me about what happened to you. And I swear that I’ll make Havialo pay. We’ve already sent a dozen Sharders to Numintown. We’ll find your mother and sister. I promise.”
I found his words difficult to believe. Havialo’s men wouldn’t make it easy, I was sure of that.
“Savra,” my father said, pressing a finger under my chin to bring my eyes to his. “I swear it. The geognost is not as clever as he pretends. If the people we sent aren’t back with the rest of our family before Chilltide, you and I will go to Cosmal Province together. We won’t give up until we save them. Do you believe me?”
I took a deep breath and nodded. “Maybe we should just go now.”
My father shook his head. “I will put nothing before our family, but I believe in the people we sent to rescue them. And we have important work to do here. Stormshard nearly succeeded in freeing the Provs yesterday.”
At the mention, I looked away, shame coloring my cheeks. I hated that I’d failed his cause. More, I hated the knowledge that I’d probably do it again if given the same opportunity. I just couldn’t believe Kostan to be the person my father seemed to consider him.
“Move past it, Savra,” he said. “You acted for what you believed to be right, despite the risk. That’s the sort of thing heroes are made of. So take that honor—and the spiritism talent I’ve been hearing about—and use it for the good of Provs across the Empire. You are exactly what Stormshard needs to finally achieve our dreams.”
A wave of dizziness crashed over me, and I dropped my face to my hands.
Savra, Lilik said gently. Sometimes choices seem too big. Sometimes it feels like events are more than you can handle. But remember, Parveld saw you in the days and years ahead. You will get through this. You will make the right decisions. You just need to trust your heart and your wits.
You don’t need to solve everything now, Raav added. You’re safe. You’re with your father. Rest a day or two before you get back to saving the Empire.
I sent pulses of gratitude across our bond. Thank you, I said.
No need to thank us, Lilik said. We’re here because we believe in you. Now enjoy your reunion.
Inhaling, I looked up into my father’s eyes. “The Sharders thought you were dead. If I didn’t say before, it’s good to see you, Papa.”
My father grinned. “I’m harder to kill than most. And it’s good to see you too, my little Sandpiper.”
Chapter Seventy-Four
Havialo
On the border of the Sandsea
A HORSE MADE of sand carried Havialo out of the dunes. Given life by stealing energy from the sun, the steed's continued gallop cast a veil over the landscape, a subtle darkening that slid over trees and hills. When the leading edge of shadow touched Relim Post, a far-flung settlement at the edge of Guralan Province, villagers shaded their eyes and stared at the sky, perplexed. No clouds marred the blue dome overhead, yet the chill and darkness were unmistakable.
An hour's ride away, Havialo drew a halt. Relaxing his command of the sun, he allowed the horse to disintegrate beneath him. Sand grains hissed as they spilled away, finally leaving the earth mage standing on a low dune. The sky once again brightened as he stepped away from the remains of his mount, sun glinting off the blond grains of sand.
The earth mage threw his arms wide and opened his senses to the vibrations of power surrounding him. Not far away, the Guralan winds howled over the forests, so potent but so tainted. If necessary, he could harness the wind and accept the consequences.
But that wouldn't be necessary. Things had changed since he'd been whisked away from the Atalan Plateau, dropped in the middle of the Sandsea with those incompetent servants of the Ministry. The threat of earthquakes had always been present, a tension that promised great, if unpredictable power.
Now, the continent was brimming with pent energy. Nudged in just the right way, he could shatter the land from sea to spine. Cosmal Province would sink. Chasms would slice Old Atal to pieces. Soon, the Empire would pay for what had happened to his daughter. Soon, the throne would suffer for rejecting geognosty.
He had work to do, the very actions he’d resisted when some amongst the Ministry’s allies wished to take severe action. Manipulating the Breaking in the proper way would take all of his ability. To fill his weaknesses, he’d need the cabal of young spiritists he’d saved from the Provinces, those recruits who the Ministry had never properly appreciated. The cabal hid in a mountain stronghold, a difficult but necessary journey from Guralan. After, he’d strike out for Jaliss.
The Empire would fall, and Havialo would stand in its beating heart when it did.
***
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for reading Heart of the Empire. I really hope you enjoyed it! If you did, I’d love if you left a review on Amazon (click here). It would help me so much.
To get exclusive access to a free story set between this book and the next (coming Fall 2017), head over to CarrieSummers.com and join my reader group. You’ll also get news on sales, new releases, and other goodies.
As mentioned, the next book in the series, Rise of the Storm, is coming Fall 2017. Click here for more information and to purchase.
And finally, for the story of Parveld, Lilik, and Raav, check out my Shattering of the Nocturnai series:
Nightforged
Shadowbound
Duskwoven
Darkborn
Thank you so much!
Carrie
PS. Turn the page if you’d like another peek at the map.
Atal Empire Map
Heart of the Empire (The Broken Lands Book 1) Page 36