Auriel bit his lip, the muscles in his jaw flexing. He leaned his head against the wall, his arms folded across his chest. “Okay. I won’t.”
I exhaled shakily, meeting his gaze. “What if you’re wrong? What if he’s not here? What if you’re feeling something else?”
His eyes softened. “I’m not. I’m sure he’s here. I don’t know why we haven’t found him yet. I wish I did. I wish I had a better sense of him, I wish that he felt—I don’t know, clearer to me. But that doesn’t change anything. I know what I feel.”
“What if Sean found him?” I asked. “What if Branwyn never got through? And he’s gone?”
“I would know. I would sense it.”
I shook my head. “Or you’re just wrong and won’t admit it!”
“I would admit,” Auriel said, “I think we’re close. There’s— there’s something. Some reason I feel him, his void. Some reason I’m sure.”
“What?” I asked dully.
“In my mind. It feels cloudy, not quite like before but like … there’s something I’m just not putting together.”
I turned away, my arms folded across my chest. “Well, let me know when you do.”
“Wait. Aemon is Moriel,” Auriel said slowly. “And Morgana is Ereshya.”
I nodded in exasperation. “Yes.” Because he already knew this.
“They already claimed the indigo and the orange shards. And now they have a horde of akadim under their control led by Rhyan.” He started to pace. “Akadim that can move in the day. And akadim that need to feed. And I’d bet on a somewhat regular basis. There’s no way that that many akadim are going unnoticed. Especially since over a month ago they committed a massacre in Thene, and before that in Numeria. They have the numbers. They attacked the Palace, the place that is supposedly impenetrable.”
“Not anymore,” I said. “I also attacked the Palace.”
“And you’re the only story being spread and repeated. That you attacked, that you freed the vorakh—and yet they’re the ones the Empire wants everyone to fear.”
“And?” I said. “So what? We know this! We’ve been hearing confirmation for days. Weeks! It’s not like this is anything new, or even the first time they’ve put out lies, told us what to fear while ignoring the true danger.”
“No. But there is real danger. Somewhere out here is a small army of akadim. We met some of them already. And no matter how many lies the Empire spreads, something this big can’t just be covered up.” He clapped his hands together. “Think about it, Lyriana. We haven’t heard shit about Aemon and Morgana. And Aemon—Moriel—he was known as the Ready.” Auriel’s eyes blazed, like he was on the verge of a discovery. “Lady Morgana was known across the Empire. And akadim are the gravest threat that any Lumerian can face. I mean by the fucking realms. Was there ever a bigger, more violent, or more brutal attack onLumerians in a single day, than the attack in the arena?” The attack that killed Rhyan, that turned him.
“No,” I said.
Auriel nodded vigorously. “No one discussing the akadim seems to have the slightest clue they can come out in the sun,” he snarled, his aura flashing with anger. “We literally fought that kind of akadim here—in this country! Why? Why doesn’t everyone know that?”
“Because it’s just like you said. The Empire tells us what they want us to know. And when the Empire is run by fucking Ka Kormac, of course everyone in Korteria believes it.” And probably New fucking Korteria, too.
“Exactly,” he said. “It’s just like last time we fought. Just like when we battled against the Council, a millennia ago. They control the narrative, the stories they want you to believe, they tell you where they want your attention to go. And you know what stories they wouldn’t want getting out?” His nostrils flared.
I shook my head. “No.”
“Protests,” he said. “Anyone in disagreement with them. Yet, we’re hearing about them every day, because they’re happening. They’re becoming a big deal.”
I frowned. He was right. Everyday, in every town, they were discussed. And there was a rumor—albeit a small one—that someone from Ka Kormac had been arrested for vorakh. No one believed he was guilty. Apparently, he’d been in a feud with another soturion. That soturion had made the accusation out of revenge. And that was all it took. He was taken in the night. The soturion who’d made the accusation had been beaten within an inch of his life. And then there’d been a small, yet failed uprising at the home of a local turion. An attempt to free the accused. But it had failed, and everyone there had either been arrested or beaten. Their soturion pay was docked as punishment.
At least, according to the rumors.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “They’re not completely controlling this narrative. So, what are you getting at?”
“So, Morgana and Aemon aren’t working with the Empire. They have a legion of akadim under their control. Two shards of the Valalumir in their possession. Wouldn’t it stand to reason that with all that power, and all those moving pieces, that they would be in more stories? More rumors?” His hands fisted. “But they’re not. We know what the Empire wants everyone to know. But things have a way of getting out. The truth can’t hide in the shadows forever. Aemon and Morgana are lying low. They’re preparing for their next move. I don’t think the akadim are roaming around Korteria and hunting. I think the ones we found two weeks ago were a fluke, or they were on their way to meet the others. Because I think they’re going after the next shard. ForMaraak Moriel, andMaraaka Ereshya.And now I’m convinced I know which one. Because I know Rhyan’s here. And I know what else is. The green. My shard.”
“By the Gods,” I said, my eyes widening. “You’re right. Fuck. That’s the answer, isn’t it?” Shit! Shit! I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration.
If Lord Rhyan Hart’s soul cannot be restored, he will prove to be one of the most dangerous, and destructive forces the Empire has ever seen. Worse than the rise of Moriel. A prophecy exists even now. Visions shared by three. He has the power, as do you, to destroy our world.
By handing the green shard to Aemon and Morgana, giving them three, I wouldn’t stand a chance against them, not with only one.
