I wiggle my fingers. “It’s meant to be awake, but if you don’t want to, that’s all right.”
“The choice is yours, friend,” Borin says, giving Papa’s bicep a comforting squeeze. He tilts his head to the side while looking at Kyron and the two of them leave us.
“Talk to me, Papa. Why are you hesitant to awaken your gift?” I ask.
His gaze softens and two parallel lines from between his eyebrows. “Do you know how many hours I spent dreaming about this when I was younger, imagining what power remained dormant inside of me? I so badly wanted to be a Khiros, and when it didn’t happen, I had to find a new dream to chase after. I worked hard to be strong, knowledgeable, and skilled with weapons. Protecting those I cared for and the kingdom they called home was where I found my worth. And now to possibly give that up…” He shakes his head. “I fear I will lose who I am.”
His confession is like a blow to the chest. I get exactly what he means because I’m not the same person who grew up knowing I would one day inherit an entire kingdom. Experience, heartache, and power have remolded me into the woman I am today. I’m not the same but I am still me. A better me.
With a smile, I brush my hand over the side of my father’s face. “You rule the power. You define it, not the other way around. And no matter what, you will always be my strong, brave papa. You just might have an outstanding ability to add on top of everything else you are.”
“When did you become so wise?” he asks.
“I just repeat the lessons that were passed down to me from many amazing people. You being one of them.”
He takes my hand from his cheek and presses it to his chest. “Awaken my gift, Raelle.”
I flash a smile and dive inside him to stir his Statera-given gift from its long slumber.
Thirty-Two
KYRON
The walls of the catacombs feel like they are closing in on me. A small loyal group of soldiers has remained behind with us. The headcount can’t be more than seventy-five. It’s not nearly enough to face the shifters waiting outside these walls. I could order everyone into the tunnel, let them make their way to Lucent with the civilians, but the safety we’ll find there is on borrowed time. As soon as the Allaji realize we’re no longer inside the sanctuary, it will be the first place they look for us. I can’t put the lives of every child and elderly person we helped escape at risk.
I spin on my heels and the pacing I’ve been doing comes to a halt.
Raelle has used the stone to awaken the powers of several soldiers. They were unable to hold back their excitement, capturing the attention of those around us. As the news travelled, Cyffreds have backtracked through the passageway and up the ladder to find her. She smiles at each of them as she lifts her hand to their chest and brings their gift to life. Ino longer need to touch her when she does it. She has learned to wield the stone as if it were solely meant for her. In a matter of seconds, she can bring to life something that has never existed in an active state. Her ability to control the Imperium is remarkable yet concerning.
The excessive power takes a toll on her body. Her shoulders sag and her breathing is labored. I’ve attempted to turn people away, scared that this will be the time that drains her completely, but she insists. I understand her drive to push through the fatigue. This is what we set out to do, to give our people a chance to prevail over our enemy. I would do the same, but it pains me that she’s sacrificing her strength right before she will need it the most.
“It’s astonishing what one will do for the promise of power. They will go against the current, risk their lives just to taste it,” Borin says, moving in beside me while Raelle sets to work with the new group of Cyffreds crawling out of the first king’s tomb.
I glance at my most trusted advisor from the corner of my eye. “None of them will be skilled enough to effectively use it in battle. It’s giving them false hope. They won’t make it more than twenty steps beyond these doors before they’re ripped to shreds. And those who do survive might wish they didn’t when they learn firsthand what Zekel does to our people.”
Borin turns me to face him with a firm hand on my shoulder, his eyes boring into me. “Do not doubt the power of hope alone, my king. It is what kept you searching for Raelle until you found her. It is what made you discover a way to redeem her with the Statera. It fueled your determination just as it fuels theirs. You were unstoppable with nothing more than hope, and they can be too.”
The truth of his words hits me square in the chest. The ache from it is so intense that I have to force my reply through my tight throat. “I pray it’s enough, Borin.”
He tips his chin up, gesturing toward the tomb. “It is.”
The line of people returning from our escape route is nonstop. Men and women, young and old. The light in each and every one of their eyes tells me that it isn’t just for the promise of power. They want to keep what is ours and bring home those taken from us. It doesn’t matter that their gifts will be unstable. They just want thechanceto fight on equal ground.
Greer and Terro are already briefing those who don’t have military training, giving them basic tips for staying alive. Ulric works with a group of the newly gifted. Each of them holds their hands out, calling forth their power. Some manage flickers of fire or ice. Others wield gusts of wind or bursts of light—the brightest coming from Abrum.
I lock eyes with Ashavee as she paces near the entrance of the catacombs. No one knows better than her about the time restraints we are working within. Her fidgeting fingers at her side tell me that she is eager to return to her more powerful form. She gives me a curt nod, and it is all the signal I need.
My voice thunders over the mumbled conversations. “If anyone doesn’t wish to face the threat that lurks outside of these walls, this is your chance to leave.”
Everyone falls silent as they search the room for those with an ounce of self-preservation. Not a single person returns to the tomb to escape. It appears I won’t be facing my death alone this night.
“Tonight, you will write your legacy in our history books,” I say, meeting the steadfast gaze of the people around me. “This war is about more than our land, more than our freedom. We stand against the injustices inflicted on our people, whether it was by our hands or that of our enemy. No longer will we remain content in the chains of silence. On this night, we become our own liberators. Generations from now, you will be rememberedas those who fought for not only Pliris but for the restoration of the five kingdoms.”
Hands and swords jet into the air as a roar of agreement tries to wake the dead.
Abrum steps beside me, his hands glowing with light as he bows at the waist. “It will be my honor to lead the battle, Your Majesty.”
My neck whips to the side where Raelle stands with her sword in hand. All she has to do is say no and I will deny his request. It’s not only a personal sacrifice he is offering but one that could break her heart. I refuse to make that call on my own, not when she’s involved.
