With my vision still blurry, and my chest still aching, I blinked a few times before searching around. “Where am I?”
Lyle fixed his spectacles. “You’re back in Ramni.”
The posts of the elegant bed and the streaming waterfall came into view. Intricate braided vines wrapped around the bedposts, sprouting buds of white and gold. Relieved to be safe within the healing realm of Ramni, I relaxed into the rose-scented sheets.
I turned to Lyle, whose face shifted to concern. “What happened?”
“I was afraid you would ask that,” he said. When I gave him a blank look, he sighed. “I’ll be right back.”
Lyle quickly stood and left the room. In a matter of moments, he returned with a gray book in his hands. I immediately recognized it as the cursed text from his bedroom.
“Is that ...”
He nodded. “Doctor Magnum and I have been working for a while to break the enchantment.” Lyle opened the book and flipped through it until he got to a specific page. He glanced up at me with sorrowful eyes. “It was me who stole the book from Ramni and put the curse on it.”
“But why?”
Lyle shook his head, unable or unwilling to say any more. Instead, he focused on the book. “After reading through it again, I now know why Ophidian wanted this book so bad. There’s a legend, a prophecy, of who will defeat him.”
“Yes, I’ve read it,” I said quickly.
“No,” Lyle replied. “You’ve read part of it.”
“There’s more?”
He bobbed his head. “The prophecy you know says, ‘In the darkest of times, a warrior will rise among them. Braided with the Sword and the Mallet, the Staff will complete the trio of almes, reigning light over dark.’ But there is a prophecy for each thread of the braid, as well.”
“What?” I asked, reaching for the book. “Where does it say that?”
Lyle snatched the book away before opening it. “The warrior who wields the Staff will endure heartbreaking pain, but their heart will be rendered once again.” He placed his hand on my knee. “You’ll make it through this.”
I wrapped my fingers in the plush, purple blanket, trying to block the images of Silas’s body consumed by darkness, and the blood dripping from Eman’s chest. How could I ever heal from this heartbreak?
Lyle cleared his throat and turned back to the book. “The healer, who wields the Mallet, will sacrifice himself for the throne …”
“What?” I screamed.
Lyle looked up, his spectacles sliding down his nose. “What?”
Eman’s words echoed in my thoughts. There is nothing you can do. All of this had to happen.
“Is that why?” I shook my fist at the rustling leaves forming the ceiling. “Is that why you barely fought back?”
“Addie,” Lyle said softly. “Eman knew what he was doing. He had to sacrifice himself so that the rightful heir to the throne of Lignum could …”
“I don’t care about Lignum or the Rexus!” I shouted. The pain in my chest intensified as tears of fury streamed down my face. “I’ve lost everything!” I clenched my fists until the skin of my palms broke beneath my nails. Why would I care about the Rexus, especially when Eman sacrificed himself for him?
Lyle’s fingers gently grasped my fist. “You haven’t lost me.”
Guilt fell on me as I wrapped my arms around my brother’s neck and cried. He held me close, protecting me like he always had when we were young.
After I had cried enough to soak the entire shoulder of his shirt, Lyle snorted. “After you hear the last prophecy, you may reconsider your feelings for the Rexus.”
Detaching myself from his shoulder, I sunk into the giant floral pillows on the bed. Taking a shuddering breath, I wiped away my tears.
Lyle adjusted his spectacles and cleared his throat. “‘The king, who wields the Sword, will not suffer heartbreak or sacrifice, but a test. If he succeeds, all evil will rest. But if he shall fail, all will be forever in darkness.’”
Lyle waited for a response, but I was too awestruck by what I had just heard. I had always thought Silas’s sword was the one spoken of in the prophecy, but that meant …
“A king?” I said before I could stop my thoughts.
Lyle nodded.
“The Rexus?”
“Mhmm,” he replied, bouncing his leg up and down.
“Eman sacrificed himself so that …”
“Silas could prove himself as the Rexus and the rightful heir to the throne of Lignum,” Lyle finished with a triumphant look, throwing his fist in the air. “Silas is meant to rule over all the realms.”
I mulled over Lyle’s statement before asking, “Why would Eman give his life for one person?”
Lyle smiled. “One person matters.”
“So, Silas is still alive?” I asked, not wanting to be too hopeful. Lyle drummed his fingers on the page, hesitating. The hope that had built in the pieces of my heart dwindled.
“From what I’ve read, he’s neither dead nor alive, but in a middle state until he’s passed or failed his test.”
“What’s the test?”
Lyle shrugged his shoulders as he shook his head. “I don’t know. But I do know that Silas knew about this and had known about it for a while. That’s the only way those two guys with the canoe would have known to wait on the shores of Regno. Without them, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”
Thinking back, I remembered all the hushed conversations Silas had with James and the Magisters. How he would never tell me what was going on or why he was so burdened. This was why.
“I wish he would’ve tried to tell me.”
“Would you have let him go through with it if he did?”
I didn’t respond.
Closing the book, Lyle laid it on the bed. “Trust Silas, that he knew what was right. Trust Eman, that he knew what was right, and trust yourself, that you know what is right.”
An entirely different man than the one I grew up with sat in front of me. This one wasn’t angry or bitter, but content and strong. Yet dread still weighed my chest.
“Ophidian still has Claire,” I said quietly, unable to meet his gaze.
A sadness layered in Lyle’s eyes as he ran a hand through his dark curls. “I know. But Claire is strong. She’ll be okay.”
“How do you know?”
Lyle placed a hand over his chest. “I feel it. I feel her spirit still fighting and her heart still alive.”
A small smile was finally able to come to my lips. “When did you become so wise?”
Lyle laughed. “I’ve been reading a lot of books.”
Chapter 37
“Come on,” Lyle said, offering his arm. “I need to show you something.”
Grabbing his arms, I completely relied on him to stand. As the white sheets fell away, I saw that a light-green dress embroidered with golden leaves had replaced my torn and bloodstained armor.
“Sana was here earlier. She’s working on mending your clothes now. Though she’s confused as to why you keep destroying everything you put on.”
I chuckled before my laughter died on my lips. “Does she know about Eman?”
Lyle wrapped an arm around my waist, helping me shuffle toward the open door. “I think she always knew. When Eman left, we didn’t see Sana for days.”
As we hobbled through the doorway, I wondered how Sana was faring through the loss of Eman. Was her heart shattered like mine?
But I didn’t have much time to wonder, because Sana appeared in front of us, a kind smile on her face.
“Welcome back, Bellata.” Shadows circled beneath her tear-stained eyes.
The pieces of my heart trembled. “Sana, I’m so sorry.”
“Apologies are unnecessary, Bellata,” she said, her delicate bronzed hand covering my own. “I know Eman did what he had to.”
“Addie!” another voice shouted from the moss-covered hallway. I peered over Sana’s head to find Nana and James running toward me with Doctor Magnum by their side.
Tears misted my eyes when Nana wrapped her arms around me, gripping me so tight it hurt.
“I thought I lost you again,” she said as she caressed my curls.
I leaned my forehead against hers, then took Doctor Magnum’s hand. His grip was soft and gentle.
“I’m so sorry.” My voice wavered. “We’ll get her back.”
Clearing his throat, the doctor patted my hand before excusing himself.
After a few moments of hugging, Sana stepped toward me. “There is someone you must see.”
Nana gave my cheek a gentle pat before releasing me. James kissed my forehead before placing his arm around Nana’s shoulders. Lyle rewrapped his arm around my waist as we followed Sana down the mossy hallway into the main one. Sana’s fluttering footsteps barely echoed against the walls as we padded to Eman’s mending room.
We passed by several rooms that held a variety of creatures I’d never seen before. When I turned to Lyle for an explanation, he only shrugged.
Sana padded into Eman’s room while I prepared myself for who was in there.
“Are you ready?” Lyle asked after a few moments. I gave him a nod, and we headed in.
Sucking in a breath, I tried to stifle the pain in my broken heart as I focused on Silas’s ebony body lying on Eman’s mending table. A white liquid covered the gashes on his chest from Ophidian’s claws.
“It won’t save him, but it will heal the wound within,” Sana said to my unspoken question.
I studied Silas’s face. His mouth was held open in a scream while his eyes were squeezed shut. He was frozen in pain from when the darkness fully consumed him. Steadying myself next to the table, I reached out and caressed Silas’s cheek.
“We’ll give you some time,” Sana said quickly as she ushered Lyle out of the room.
Once they had left, I pushed Eman’s wooden chair closer and sat down. I grabbed Silas’s hand, leaning forward to kiss his fingers.
“Is this how you felt when I jumped through Schism’s doors?” I asked him. “It’s just like you to do to me what I did to you. It’s not very nice.” I sucked in a shuddering breath before continuing. “But there’s one thing that I don’t understand.” I brushed his palm. “Ophidian said he needed to destroy your body so that your heart would respond to him. But you’re not the owner of your heart. I am.”
“And that’s why he’s the Rexus,” a deep voice said from behind me.
Still holding Silas’s hand, I glanced over my shoulder.
“You see,” Romen said, striding into the room. He placed the brown book from Eman on a round table to his left. “This boy had either known this was going to happen or was very, very lucky.”
“What do you mean?”
Romen crossed his arms over his chest as he scanned Silas’s motionless body. “The heart Ophidian holds will only obey his wishes for so long. It desires to be bonded with its true owner. One way or another, Silas has begun the destruction of the Beast.”
I pressed my hand on Silas’s chest, too stunned to respond. Lyle had also said Silas knew this would happen. But how could he have known? I thought back to when we first came to Ramni when Eman mended Silas’s heart. Eman had to have told Silas then. My broken heart quivered, realizing the weight of the burden Silas had to carry during our journey.
“So, what now, Bellata?” Romen said, breaking me from my thoughts. I watched as he pulled my alme from behind his back. “Are we to hide here and wait for our untimely end? Or are we to meet it head-on and make the darkness quake with fear?” The glint of his golden irises shimmered with mischief as he held out the black rod to me.
I blinked at it in surprise. “How did you get that?”
He smiled smugly. “Thief.”
I snorted, unable to stop my grin.
Regardless of the owner of Silas’s heart, Ophidian was still out there, ready to destroy Decim, along with the other realms. He still had control over Regno and was trying to gain control of the Time Weaver’s power.
We had gained only six of the Twelve Magisters’ allegiances to Eman. Though he was no longer here, I was still going to keep the iuram I made to him.
Turning back to Silas, I squeezed his hand and pressed my lips to his forehead. I didn’t know what test he had to endure, but I knew he would triumph.
Standing tall, I grasped the cool metal of my alme. The power instantly fueled my weary bones. The green dress of healing transformed into my warrior’s uniform of strength. My black rod was no longer a staff but a weapon ready to fight and defend. And though my heart was still broken, and I was still weak, I would continue to fight until darkness fell.
Acknowledgments
Jesus, my Savior: Thank you for Your continued guidance and assurance. You always provide!
David: Thank you for being my best friend and biggest fan. I’m so thankful for a husband who loves to talk about plots and character development on evening walks.
Matthew: I love you so much!
Nana, Paw Paw, Lauren, Tyler, Jake, and Steph: Thank you for always cheering me on from the sidelines and being the best babysitters so I can shoot for the stars. I couldn’t have made it this far without all of you!
Esther, Randy, Paul, Courtney, John, Kaitlyn, Lydia, Ben, Rachel, William, and Clarissa: Thank you for supporting my endeavors and attending all my events!
Chris, Lauren, and Rachael: Thank you for geeking out with me and loving my stories and characters before they were lovable.
Lydia: Thank you for your countless hours of work on edits and STILL loving every character and version of my stories.
Mary, Cammie, and the Monster Ivy Team: Thank you for your continued hard work, love, and support. You guys are awesome!
Mrs. Zeek: Thank you again for all those lessons in Twelfth grade English!
A BIG thank you to my amazing readers and book community! I enjoy your excitement and love for my characters and their stories. I hope to bring you many more adventurous books in the future.
About the Author
V. Romas Burton grew up bouncing up and down the East Coast where she wrote her first story about magical ponies at age seven. Years later, after studying government and earning an M.A. in Theological Studies, V. Romas Burton realized something even bigger was calling out to her--stories that contained great adventures and encouraging messages. Because she couldn't find exactly what she was looking for, V. Romas Burton decided to write her own great adventure. She is now the award-winning author of Heartmender. When she's not writing, she spends time reading as many books as she can, watching YouTube videos and taking care of her adorable son. You can visit her online at www.vromasburton.com.
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