This is the most important task of your reign. Of your life.
I turn the page, and see no more text. No, there’s something more.
The reason he’s immortal is his anchor. You’ll have to destroy it. If you’re reading it now, it means I had no time to finish my research on anchors, so it will be up to you to figure it out.
“Oh. Too bad. I have no time to do any research.” I wave the journal and scowl at my brother. “If only I had found this earlier!”
He places his hands over his heart, as if he was wounded. “Oh, to have such an ungrateful brother. A brother who wouldn’thave known about the existence of this journal if it wasn’t for me, who found the coffer and kept it safe.”
“But too late! And it’s not giving us any information we didn’t already know.”
Renel points at himself. “InformationIknew. That your fire can kill the Witch King, that it was the reason King Krisiul wanted you to be king. I told you all that, didn’t I?”
Ziven taps a finger on the table. “The journal specified the time needed to roast the Witch King. That’s helpful, right?”
Astra’s thoughtful, then says, “Zorwal.”
“What?”
“He’s the anchor. It’s why beheading him won’t kill him. They keep each other alive. I… know it.” There’s certainty in her voice. “I saw the Witch King when I tasted Zorwal’s blood, as if they were connected.”
“What if you’re wrong?” Renel asks.
Astra hesitates, then says, “I… don’t think so. I mean, I could be missing something, but I’m positive that they’re connected and keep each other alive.”
“Should I kill Zorwal first?” I ask, regretting I didn’t do it when I had the chance.
She shakes her head. “The Witch King is weaker right now, so it’s easier to get to him first. That will weaken Zorwal. You’ll need to use…” A shadow of worry crosses her eyes. “Fire.”
I feel as if a thousand dark moths were flying in my insides. “I’ll use fire if I have to.”
She nods.
Renel frowns, his expression puzzled as if we were discussing something absurd. “Marlak’s the most powerful fire wielder who has ever lived. This will be easy for him.”
I manage a fake smile. “Super easy. Extremely. The hard part is getting to his prison. And finding it.”
“You can access memories, right?” Lidiane asks. “We were there. You could look into my mind, so you know the right place. I think there was a hill by it.”
“That helps, yes,” I say, thankful to Lidiane. “I might also sense the magic. I still need to get there.”
“What about a boat?” Astra asks. “Like your stepfather suggested.”
I try to think. “We could go to the Solemn Port and try to find a boat. If I don’t use any magic, I might be all right, but there’s still some risk. We could get there at dawn, so that we reach the northern tip before noon. But… It’s complex and depends on other people. I don’t know.”
Ferer clicks his tongue, his posture stiff. “I can’t go to the ocean. Some… Sea Court trouble. So if you do that, I won’t be able to come with you. My suggestion would be for us to buy horses in a northern city, but we’ll need to calm them down, so they’ll enter the Shadow Lands.”
“Can Cherry Cake help?” Astra asks.
“No,” I say, a chill running down my spine when I consider the possibility. “The Shadow Lands is the last place that unicorn should step foot, especially now that the Witch King is alive. His dark magic made him what he is, but he resisted and survived, but now…”
“And yet he went there,” Renel says.
“Which was quite dangerous, even if he wasn’t too far north.” Then I add, “But I’m glad he saved you.”
My brother chuckles. “Sure you are.”
That comment doesn’t deserve an answer, so I don’t give him any.
