He had never studied the labyrinth from this perspective before though. From this height, it had a distinct shape...not unlike the drawings he had seen in Isla’s book of skyres.
Of course.
Once Wraith landed roughly on the ground, Grim didn’t waste a second. He portaled off Wraith’s back, pulled that singed feather from his pocket—where he had been carrying it, should he figure the shape out—and stuck its point into his arm.
His skin stung, and blood burbled. But he gritted his teeth and began to carve. With each line he drew, the pain mounted, until it was pure agony, nearly bringing him to his knees. Fuck, this hurt. Was this what Isla had experienced?
Wraith was at his back, shifting with worry. Grim’s shadows puddled around the creature in comfort. He made the marking as best he could, even as his hand shook.
Until finally, he connected the last line to meet the first, completing the symbol, and it gleamed, hardening into silver.
He was right. This was Cronan’s skyre.
ORO
Energy. The only thing that stood between Oro reuniting with his love was a source of energy. But all the great Starling masters were dead, and Isla, as the ruler of Starling, had the most power. They already needed her to give them significant Wildling ability. Anything else might hurt her. They needed an alternative solution.
Luckily, Oro knew just the right person to ask.
Grim had portaled him to the Skyling newland, but it had taken a while in the skies to find her. As Oro touched down from his flight and approached the young Starling, regret sunk through his chest that they were bringing a child into this.
“Where is she?” Cinder said. She was sitting cross-legged on a cliffside, her back to him. Sparks were dancing around her like a thousand stars, like she had created her own miniature galaxy.
Oro stilled. She hadn’t even turned around. But as if sensing his confusion, the girl said, chirpily, “I can feel your energy. I know who you are.”
Oro shifted on his feet. Cinder had become infinitely more powerful in these last few months, and she had already possessed abilities Oro had never seen in someone her age.
The Starling finally turned around, her sparks sputtering out in irritation. “Well?”
He knew who she was referring to. Cinder had been fascinated with Isla for a while. Oro felt a pang of sadness at what he had to tell her.
“She’s gone. In another world,” Oro said simply. He wondered if that was too vague. If Cinder would even understand—
But she nodded. “I assumed as much,” she said, sounding wise beyond her years. “I can barely feel her anymore.”
Oro frowned. “You feel...everyone’s energies?”
Cinder nodded again. “I used to only be able to feel people on Star Isle. But now...I feel them other places too. Other...worlds.” She frowned, her eyes worried.
“What do you feel?” Oro asked gently.
“Him,” she said. “The man who wants the universe.”
The man who wants the universe. Dread spilled through his chest. Oro was about to ask another question when an orb of energy shot straight toward him. He raised a hand to stop it—but before he could, Cinder brushed the orb away as if it was nothing more than a cobweb. She rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically.
“I’m not a baby! Stop acting like it,” she told her cousin. Though the way she stuck out her tongue didn’t really help her case.
“Hello, Maren,” Oro said, turning to face the Starling.
The Starling leader and head of a rebel group on Lightlark was glaring daggers at Oro. He couldn’t blame her. Maren had fought for a long time to keep her cousin’s abilities a secret. They had already asked so much of the child in the war against Grim, just months prior.
Oro felt a tinge of regret, remembering his own childhood. How his power had forced him to grow up too quickly. How it had led to one of the greatest mistakes of his life.
But he had never wanted his abilities. Cinder...she seemed to revel in them.
“Leave,” Maren demanded.
Oro hesitated for a moment...then nodded. Maren was Cinder’s guardian. She was just trying to protect her, and Oro wouldn’t force either of them to participate. He turned to go.
