As they eyed one another, each waiting for the other to make the next move, Elinor’s confidence grew. She had successfully made her first stand against an opponent she deemed far superior. Blow by blow, the woman’s horde was being shredded by the temple’s protectors. Those fortunate enough to have survived were fleeing. Elinor had regained what had been stolen from her and, in the process, learned to harness her abilities as Aysgarth had instructed. Negative thoughts had been replaced by a renewed sense of purpose. She was no longer obsessing over past failures or perceived misgivings. Her path was known, and fear was no longer her main driving force.
Their standoff was interrupted by a rumbling moan. Between budding branches Elinor saw Zi swooping above the lake. With her main concentration still on the woman, Elinor did a double take when she saw Zi’s appearance. For a moment she thought she was observing another gargan, before Zi called to her. Elinor smirked and then wiggled her fingers at the woman in an obnoxious wave. She didn’t bother waiting for a response from her nemesis. After taking a deep breath, Elinor darted to the end of the branch and used a running jump to ensure she would have enough momentum to clear the tree. She landed on Zi’s back and softened the fall by executing a shoulder roll.
“I thought you left me!”
Zi turned her head and expressed her displeasure with a brief snort.
“I know, I know,” replied Elinor. “I’m sorry.”
Elinor was answered by another snort that was followed by several sympathetic clicks and then a low-pitched whistle.
“Raven Rock, Zi. Take me to Raven Rock.”
Looking back, Elinor was able to observe the death toll and what Zi had done on her behalf. Remnants of a living bridge were still smoldering, and the lake was littered with the dead and wounded. By means of Zi’s aerial attack and Simtoren’s distraction, and with help from her tribe, Elinor had been given sufficient time to gather her strength and escape. And none of it would have happened without the scavenger’s help. She felt blessed. If what had occurred at the lake could be replicated on a grander scale, Elinor’s odds of surviving had not only improved, but her desire to restore balance was looking more obtainable. And if Elinor’s suspicions were accurate, all would come to a head at Raven Rock.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Hidden deep beneath the Beorhts, the ancient one stirred. Her memory was foggy. She had been in transition, and then was pulled back from the brink. The ground she rested on was cold. An icy chill hung in the air. In an effort to center herself, she concentrated on her breathing. With each inhale her body ached. Measured exhales afforded little relief from the pain. Her mouth felt gummy, and her throat burned. She tried to lift her head but became dizzy, almost losing consciousness again. Her eyelids fluttered. As she assessed her situation, the ancient one detected a presence nearby. Her eyes opened under a veil of darkness.
“Shadow?” she mumbled in a hoarse voice. “Is that you?” When there was no reply she continued. “Fear not, newborn. I mean you no harm.”
“I? Since when?” Shadow’s voice changed from curious to hostile. “Let’s not forget about the harm you’ve already inflicted.”
“Much has happened since you departed.”
“Departed?” howled Shadow. “I was burned alive inside a tree.”
“A grave mistake, we are—” The ancient one paused and tried to swallow. “I am afraid,” she finished. “What was done to you should have never been allowed. It was wrong.” The ancient one heard rustling followed by scuffing feet. She strained to look. Nothing was visible in the endless darkness. Although she couldn’t see, she sensed Shadow next to her. A damp cloth was placed against her dry lips. The ancient one opened her mouth. Soothing water quenched her thirst as Shadow wrung the cloth dry. “Thank you,” she mumbled in gratitude.
“Who are you? You speak strangely for a member of the collective.”
“I am the Guardian. I was chosen to stay behind.”
“The collective has fled?”
“In stasis. Until I awaken them.”
Shadow responded bitterly. “Cowards,” she hissed. “Good-for-nothing cowards.”
If there had been light, Shadow would have seen the ancient one wince in response to making her opinion known. She had a right to be angry, thought the ancient one. Shadow had been a victim of conditioning. Her fate had been decided based on fear of the unknown. The tribes had been inured to think a certain way. Any deviation from that prescribed path was met with suspicion and hostility. And the collective’s role in propagating that prejudice by insisting the balance be maintained had encouraged the tribes to continue with their misguided actions. The ancient one’s recently acquired self-awareness and ability to think for herself was having profound implications not only on how she viewed the past, but was also impacting how she planned to proceed during unprecedented times. All she could muster in response was a humble, “Yes.”
Shadow laughed. “You’re no different from the rest of them. Short on answers with an infinity for coldness.” She moved away.
“Why are you helping me, then?”
“Because unlike the collective, I have compassion. I choose not to ignore who I am. I’ve learned to think for myself. Emotion doesn’t make one weak. It sets one free. As an individual my feelings are more complex than anything you’ve ever felt. Pain, suffering, and yes, even love. They are mine and mine alone. I wouldn’t expect you to understand,” grumbled Shadow.
“It was you I detected during my descent. You were the one drawing from my testalar. Why?”
Shadow sighed. “I lost contact with the light-bearer. The only way to reach her again was through you.”
“The child?”
“I need her to free Lord Aysgarth. She is the only one who can do it.”
The more they discussed, the more confused the ancient one became. It dawned on her that what she was experiencing must be how others felt when conversing with her kind—frustrated.
“He’s alive?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Also in stasis. One of the few things I learned from the collective.”
“If what you say is true, why was this not foreseen? The collective would have known about it.”
“I’ve come to realize how blind the collective really is. Intuition is what guides them. They sense the outcome of events. Then, reach a consensus on their meaning. There’s no room for discussion or other interpretations. But unlike the collective, I see events. As if they were happening right before me. As if I’m part of them.”
“You knew this would happen?” replied the ancient one. “All of this?”
“Not in precise detail, but yes. My visions prophesized Kalloire’s destruction. Even my own death.”
The ancient one was beginning to understand. “Have you always been a child of two lights?”
Shadow replied in a hostile voice, “How else should I be? No one bothered to teach me. Perhaps if the collective had shown even the slightest interest in my upbringing, this could have been avoided. But no one could be bothered to listen. Lord Aysgarth was the only one who showed me any kindness. If not for him, who knows what I would have become?”
“But you are still here. Death did not come as you foresaw.”
“Death is a matter of perspective.” Shadow paused. “The child mystic saved me. Why do you suddenly care, anyway?”
The ancient one managed to prop herself against the wall, opposite to where she suspected Shadow to be sitting. “You have every right to be angry, newborn. You were treated unfairly. What you have endured is unforgivable. We should have known better. For that, no amount of regret will suffice. Regardless of how you were accepted, it pales in comparison to the physical pain inflicted upon you. Such brutality has no place in the hearts of the kind, the good, the deserving. We have been none of those things. Our shortsightedness may very well lead to our downfall. Perhaps our fate is warranted.” She paused. “I now understand how important you are. Ka΄Phar b
elieves you to be dead. If we can show her otherwise, we can end this pointless war.”
“This Ka΄Phar. She’s my creator?”
“Have you seen a moody woman attired in red during one of your visions?” joked the ancient one, which was another first for her. “Yes, Ka΄Phar is your creator.”
“I never knew her name.” Shadow was at a loss for words as she recalled images from her visions. The olive-skinned woman was not someone she had a high opinion of. Every foreshadow had cast her in an unsavory light. Whenever Shadow witnessed fire, pain, death, or destruction visited on the tribes, close by was a woman in red. She had been called precisely that by those she was hurting. And Blood Queen, and mystic. Shadow added the name Ka΄Phar to her mental list. But from that moment she would forever be known to Shadow as Mother. She collected her thoughts. “There’s one major flaw in your plan,” she continued. “You’re trapped here now, like me. I’m not for certain, but I believe this place was created for our kind.”
“There is no way out?”
“None I’ve found. And I’ve been down here a long time.”
“But I still have my testalar thanks to you.”
Shadow smirked. “Precisely. That’s why you must learn to shimmer using darkness. But it must be timed right. For a window is about to open.”
“Not possible,” replied the ancient one in response to Shadow’s mention of darkness.
“I can assure you it is. I will teach you. If you try to use light from the crystals, you’ll sacrifice your testalar in the process. Which by all appearances looks rather new.”
“The one that accompanied me at birth was sacrificed so the collective could enter stasis. I have been waiting for some time for another to fall.” The ancient one returned to Shadow’s original point about escaping. “Traveling in twos has never been attempted.”
If not for the lack of light, the ancient one would have seen Shadow smile again. “That too is possible. But it doesn’t matter. You’re going alone. I must stay here. For another is coming for me.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
It was brighter than ever before. Across the sky, deep fissures were spreading outward from where the beam had first appeared over the Eternal Tree. The light shining through was buttery yellow with traces of white where the edges touched the shroud. Elinor’s mind raced. Along with a surplus of adrenaline that had fueled her escape and bold action against the woman, she was feeling anxious. Elinor’s hands still shook from the ordeal. Her newly acquired confidence and determination had given way to uncertainty about what lay ahead. Zi was taking her to Raven Rock. According to her, the journey would take two days. That was a long time to be riding on the back of a gargan. But that wasn’t what bothered her. She could deal with the uncomfortable circumstances of being exposed to the elements, her fear of heights, the constant queasy feeling she got from Zi’s rocking motion as she flew, and that she would be cooped up for the time being. Her main concern was what to do when she got there.
Her plan was simple enough: find Aysgarth. But she had no idea what to expect at Raven Rock. She knew nothing about the strange and distant land. Or much about Lancians for that matter. The only one she had familiarity with had been Simtoren. And Elinor hoped Aysgarth was nothing like him. The pull she felt toward Aysgarth was stronger than ever. Whatever unexplainable bond that existed between them had dissipated around the same time her pendant had gone dormant, and then had a resurgence the moment she rocketed from the spring. She recognized that her pendant had something to do with their connection, but it remained one of the many uncertainties she faced.
Elinor’s thoughts drifted to Morbis. She looked back again at the distant horizon. The Eternal Tree was growing smaller the farther they traveled. But the light source was still just as remarkable as when she had stood below it. Its tranquil presence and what it represented provided comfort. And along with the spectacular emergence of her kin, she didn’t feel alone anymore. It seemed as though the burden of being the last light-bearer had been lifted off the shoulders of one, to be carried by the many. Elinor worried about leaving her father and other light-bearers behind, but was confident they could take care of themselves. They were the most capable, after all, of protecting the temple, not her.
Zi cleared the Hollows. Nestled in a valley, between the sea and mountains, the remnants of a city emerged. This must be Wenceslaus? thought Elinor. From a distance it appeared remarkable, with its high towers and curtain wall that surrounded a complex urban oasis. As they got closer though, the results of Light Fall were evident. Overgrowth suggested the city had been abandoned long ago. Vegetation that thrived in the dark had sprouted from rooftops, and once bustling streets were now impassible. Walls and battlements were smothered by vines.
At the center of the city, a sprawling lake was covered by an algae plume that made it appear from above as a dark abyss. Along its banks were what was left of dinghies that had decayed with time. Zi passed over a courtyard where remains had been placed in piles and set ablaze. Around the skeletons, circular scorch marks were still visible from the sky.
Where the city met the sea, the port was in complete disarray. Bulkheads, docks, jetties, and mooring slips had either rotted or crumbled into the water. Seafaring vessels were scattered along cliffs that protected Wenceslaus from the sea, apparently tossed from the water like leaves caught in a strong breeze. Several of them however had been moored in a protective cove and looked intact and still seaworthy. The gilded sides and armored plating indicated they were of Lancian origin.
Elinor smiled, recalling the child in fondness. She obviously held Elinor in high regard for believing she could sail a Lancian ship on her own to Raven Rock. Just thinking about it added to Elinor’s unease. The incident on the Ma΄Ranie ship had left her badly scarred. Whether on water or cruising through the sky, Elinor had no intent to board another vessel again.
Zi banked over the shoreline and proceeded in a southeasterly direction, leaving mainland Kalloire behind and a continent decimated by war. Elinor had no illusions about what lay ahead. She suspected Raven Rock had fared no better than the mainland. But if Aysgarth had managed to survive in a place that had been the first to endure the woman’s fury, then so could she.
Her cloak was pulled tight and she braced herself for the long journey. If the gathering storm clouds were any indication of things to come, Elinor was going to be in for a rough ride. Intense flashes suggested turbulent skies ahead and the sea was turning choppy. As gales increased, the water churned and sea foam sprayed from cresting waves. Elinor cautiously approached Zi’s head. With plenty of time to kill, she intended to learn everything Zi knew about Raven Rock and the mysterious Lancians. She also had pressing questions about the woman.
It didn’t take long for Elinor to learn that the woman was known as Ka΄Phar. She was a mystic. Before the sun had been blocked, Zi explained, she had looked and behaved much differently. She had been a friend to Kalloire that many sought guidance from. But after her transformation, she embraced blood magic and earned the nickname Blood Queen and conjured creatures that asserted her dominance over the tribes. In Zi’s eyes, the war had been very different from the one Elinor had experienced. It had been brief and shockingly brutal. After the shroud had formed and the horde was unleashed, the Circle of Six attempted to seek a truce with Ka΄Phar. They offered a full and unconditional surrender. She would have none of it. And pressed ahead with her genocide.
Gargans and a small cadre of light-bearers believed the mystic’s abrupt transformation was a result of Shadow’s death. It was suggested the tribes could attempt to earn favor with Ka΄Phar by showing remorse for her murder. But most disagreed, refusing to accept they were complicit, and the war pressed on. In the end it didn’t matter what viewpoint was embraced. The alliance fractured and all was lost. Zi had been captured outside of Wenceslaus and was forced into slavery like countless others. Her time at Brim Hall was a blur. She struggled to recall details, with most of her memories clouded in dar
kness.
Elinor pressed Zi about Aysgarth. She admitted that, as the gargan representative, she had sided with the Circle of Six against him, and that she too had believed Shadow’s presence was an omen of dark days to come. After her death and the ensuing fallout, however, Zi grasped the magnitude of that mistake. She explained that with the support of her entire tribe, she had proceeded to make another attempt at peace by seeking an audience with Ka΄Phar. Under the false pretense of negotiations is when she had been captured. Ka΄Phar wasn’t interested in talking. She wanted revenge, which had to be paid in blood.
When asked about it, Zi elaborated on her opinion of Aysgarth. She said he was a gifted warrior. On the surface he appeared steadfast, but was also known as a reasonable man. He was highly respected by those that flocked to his banner. Underneath his steely resolve, Zi believed him to be a man driven by compassion more so than the pursuit of power. House Aysgarth thrived under his leadership. So too did all Lancians. Renowned for their superior seamanship and for being fair traders, Lancians came to dominate the seas. Other houses acknowledged Aysgarth’s achievements by declaring him Chancellor of the Lancian Archipelago. It was a title he accepted with much humility and great reluctance.
Even after his relationship with Shadow threatened prosperity and became a significant point of contention with mainland tribes, most Lancians appeared to support him. It was Aysgarth who had insisted on peace. If not for him, Lancians would have likely left the alliance and taken up arms against the Circle of Six. It wasn’t Shadow who they supported. Or even Aysgarth, for that matter. Their conviction was driven by a sense of fierce independence—no mainlander would dictate to a Lancian how to conduct their affairs.
The relationship between Aysgarth and Shadow was of great interest to Elinor. Zi was unable to expand on what Simtoren had already told her other than what Aysgarth had done when Shadow was taken. She verified Simtoren’s account of how he had reacted, except the part where he left without saying a word. According to her firsthand account, Aysgarth had spoken. You will quickly come to regret what you have done here today, he had said. All of you. Your narrow-mindedness will lead to your deaths. Then he had looked at Zi and the light-bearer representative. I expected the two of you to know better.
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