“What if I took it off?” Lara’s pulse quickened, panic fluttering up. “Would that help?”
Mor huffed a sigh. “I doubt it … the rift isn’t likely to shrink.” She paused then. “After consulting with my archivists, I sent warriors to The Shattered Crown a few days ago. It was a risky mission, but they managed to climb up to the stone circle. They returned with ill news. The tear is wide now … wider than it’s ever been. Wraiths are flowing through in numbers we've never seen before. And the more of them there are, the bolder they become.”
“That’s why the Slew are so restless these days?” Lara breathed.
“Aye … they grow in number and in strength. Unchecked, they will likely challenge Shee and Marav alike for the rule of Albia.”
Cailean made a noise in the back of his throat. “You believe the Unforgiven are capable of marshaling themselves into an army … of taking us on?”
“They already are.”
The chief-enforcer’s jaw flexed. No doubt he was remembering what had happened at Duncrag the previous Gateway. Lara didn’t argue with Mor on that point either.
Despite the chill night, she started to sweat. There was no denying that the spirit world had grown problematic. There was no denying they were in trouble. She cleared her throat. “Can the gap be sealed?”
“Perhaps.”
“That’s why you’re here, right?”
“Aye.” The Raven Queen stepped forward then. Next to Lara, both Cailean and Bree stirred. Skaal began to growl, low inher throat. It took all Lara’s self-control not to reach for her cairn stone.
But Mor ignored everyone except her. “I can’t make you any promises,” she said firmly. “But if we want to have any chance of fixing this,wewill need to work together.”
3: NOT HIM
LARA DIDN’T ANSWER. The moon would rise at midday, and the sea would boil, before she’d ever join forces with the Raven Queen.
Mor cleared her throat then. “Actually … my plan requires the cooperation ofthreeof us.”
Goosebumps rose on Lara’s skin. She didn’t like the direction Mor was taking.
“Three is a magic number.” Mor’s gaze flicked briefly to Cailean. “All druids know this, don’t they?”
“Aye.” The chief-enforcer was scowling now. “Three points of a triangle have the power to bind … to create a sacred circle.”
Mor nodded before her attention settled upon Lara once more. “I may have discovered how to send the spirits back into The Threshold and seal the veil. We need an ‘anchor’—a fire-wielder who bears theOrd-ree seal. You.” She paused. “A ‘weaver’—one of the Shee royal line with the ability to manipulate moonlight with song. Me.” Another pause. “And a ‘bridge’—someone who possesses both Shee and Marav blood to complete the binding.”
Nausea rolled over Lara. “No,” she whispered. “Nothim.”
“I’m afraid so,” Mor replied. “Half-bloods are rare. We don’t have time to go hunting for another. I’m not asking you to forgive him … after this is done, you can take a blade to his throat. You’d be doing us both a favor.”
“He’s pissed you off too?” Cailean asked, not without a note of irony in his voice.
Mor pulled a face. “He and his wulvers … and their Circines friends … are harrying our borders. The villages around the Ring of Ard have fallen to them.”
Lara barely heard these words; all she could focus on was Mor’s plan. An anchor, a weaver, a bridge—and an alliance she didn’t want. Bile stung the back of her throat.
“This binding sounds”—she paused, searching for the right word— “complicated.”
“It is.”
“You don’t know if it will work.”
“The old records suggest it will,” Mor replied. “After spending the past year working with my archivists and advisors, I’m confident this is our best chance.” She paused, her expression growing more intent. “Though I’ll be honest withyou … this has never been done before. Your ancestors used the rift to create an exchange … the living for the dead, through sacrifice at the stone circle. To my knowledge, they never attempted to close the tear. We’ll be the first.”
Lara’s stomach tightened. “And if it fails?”
“Then we’re no worse off than we are now.” Mor’s eyebrows drew together. “But I believe itwillwork.”
