“It makes sense, don’t you think? The crystals were formed from Yargen’s power. They contain her power. It’s as if the magic condensed…” Vi put pressure on the ball of magic she held in her hands. “… enough that…” Sparks flew between her fingers, increasing in brightness and density. “… it was given physical—” All at once the magic broke free and snapped back into place “—form,” Vi finished and finally turned her eyes to him.
Taavin gazed at her with a peculiar intensity she hadn’t seen from him yet. Only he could make her feel on edge and completely relaxed at the same time. “Perhaps you’re right.”
“Mother above, did it hurt to admit that?” Vi tilted her head back and let out a burst of laughter. Lifting the sword off her lap, she set it to the side and gave Taavin her full focus.
He ignored the remark. “Perhaps that’s the variable I haven’t been considering.”
“The incident in the Twilight Forest?”
“Yes. All this time I focused on what you did and what happened to you when you were sent back. I never stopped to consider how the events that happenedbeforeyou fully assumed your mantle as Champion shaped and formed what came after.”
It seemed rather obvious to her, but Vi resisted saying so. She’d already made one playful jab and they were having what seemed like productive discourse.
“I think there was a unique sequence of events at play,” he continued. “Lightning strikes, you getting to the Twilight Kingdom, noticing the obsidian, and piecing together how those shards relate to the watch’s magic… all random variances between worlds.”
Taavin stood with purpose. Holding out his hands, his lips began to move quickly. It never took him too long to draw on the wisdom of his past selves. When he finished, his attention was on her.
“Well?”
“I already knew there was no record of your obsession with manipulating crystal, but that confirms it.”
“Does this mean we can say with certainty we’re on a new timeline?” Vi jumped up from her chair. “Zira is alive, nothing has befallen her—”
“And some events will still transpire regardless,” he said firmly.
“Maybe not, you don’t know.”
“I—”
“You don’tknow,” she emphasized, then waited for his challenge. It never came. “We could be on a new timeline. Possibly a successful one. There’s only one way to find out.”
“You want to go to an Apex of Fate.”
“Yes, and I think I know where one is.” She’d been waiting for a convenient opening to convince him this was the right course. Tonight was that night.
“Where?”
“The port… where the Eastern descendant of the Champion gave up the scythe to send it to Meru.” His frown told her she was right in assuming it was an Apex. “The port is safe. I can conceal myself. It’s low risk.” Taavin ran a hand through his hair. He clearly didn’t want to agree with her. Vi persisted in the wake of his silence. “The wedding might have changed everything, and we don’t know.”
“You’re right. You need to look into the future. And I know I must let you do this. Yet…” Taavin crossed over to her, scooping up her hands in his. His thumbs ran against her knuckles.
“Are you really the same person who had me sailing to Meru?” Vi said softly. “You fret over me leaving the castle now.”
“I’m not the same person.” He gazed at her through his lashes. “That man didn’t understand the cost of losing you—not for the world, and not for him.”
“But I am the same woman who made that journey,” she said tenderly, tightening her fingers around his. “I am the same woman who boarded a vessel and left her home behind, who fought pirates andwon, who accidentally made crystals. I might look like those ninety-two other women, but I’m not. I’m me, Taavin. Regardless of who I look or sound like, I am unique. This chance, this very moment, is ours alone. Don’t condemn me for others’ failures.”
He nodded. “I know.” She wasn’t sure she could believe him. “Which is why I’ll merely ask you to be safe on this excursion.”
“I will.” His warming up to her boldness only made her feel all the guiltier for keeping her other actions regarding the Knights from him. But hopefully, by the time he learned of them, she would be telling him their future was secure.
* * *
The port of Norin was bustling at all hours of the day. A vessel was always coming in or leaving. Fish needed to be hauled for the morning’s market. Sailors looked to blow off steam before they returned to the sea.
Yet there was a unique quiet to the port at night. People went about their business with the hushed tones darkness brought. Most saw by the lights of lanterns at pubs, the glow of their pipes, or stars in the sky.
Vi was reminded of a different time she’d journeyed to the port of Norin in darkness. Jayme had been with her then. Those days had been her final moments on the Dark Isle of her world.
