“I think the taint comes from Raspian’s power mingling with Yargen’s in the crystals, once the glyph holding him back is weakened.”
“Monsters, wonderful,” Deneya murmured and looked back through the doors. “But we don’t have to worry about any of this. You got the power out of the sword and into the Caverns, right?” Deneya leaned back and finally relaxed the glyphs. The illusion of magic faded and the air was still once more.
“I did…” Vi rested her elbows on her knees and folded her hands. She could almost hear Taavin.
Apparently, Deneya could, too. “Taavin is going to say there needs to be a war, isn’t he?”
“I think so.” In Vi’s world, Vhalla’s father had fought in the War of the Crystal Caverns. His valor in battle earned him a spot in the palace guard—a post which he ultimately gave up for his daughter to become a library apprentice. Which was an appointment that ultimately led to her meet a certain crown prince.
“You have a plan for that?”
“I’ve an idea… but no reason to think it’ll work.”
“Lovely.” Deneya pushed away from the stone, pacing once, then stretching, as if unable to release all the nervous energy tensing her muscles. “Well, this whole scheme of yours hinges on you doing things that have never been done and have no reason to work.”
“You have so much faith in me,” Vi said dryly.
“I do.” Deneya put her hands on her hips. “You know I have faith in the fact that you seem to be able to accomplish anything with sheer force of will.” She shook her head and gave a look around the Caverns; Deneya’s gaze turned skyward before falling back to Vi. “Honestly, I’ve always been rather shocked by this whole ‘ninety-third try’ business. You’ve struck me as the sort of person who can move mountains with nothing but an almost suicidal, ignorant determination.”
“Thank you for saying so, I think.” Vi grinned, an expression Deneya returned in kind. Speaking of sheer force of will, Vi pulled herself to her feet. There was still work to be done. “I intend for this to be the last time, for all of us.”
“As long as it’s the last time because you succeed.”
“Agreed.” Vi rested her hand on a nearby crystal, feeling how the magic within the Caverns had changed once more. It was just like her first experimentation in transferring the sword. Now, she had to take out that power and then some in an act that would make good on another promise—one she’d silently made to herself, and to a man of light, for nearly fifteen years. “Now, may I task you with heading back to our cabin and starting a fire?”
“You may.” Deneya adjusted her heavy winter coat before heading out of the Caverns. “But I take it you won’t be joining me just yet?”
“You know I still have some work to do here.”
“Leave work to the morning; it’s been an exhausting night,” Deneya encouraged.
“No. I want this done before dawn. I suspect that once Egmun and the prince arrive back at the Capital, it won’t be long until the Emperor finds out about what happened here. I want my business with the Caverns to be concluded before then.”
“Concluded?” Deneya echoed skeptically.
Vi chuckled. “Concluded for at least a few decades.”
“A few more decades of living in our cabin. Excuse my uncontrollable excitement.”
“Maybe not in the cabin,” Vi called to Deneya’s retreating form. The woman paused, glancing back. “I think I’d rather go to the beach.”
“The beach?” Deneya balked. Vi laughed at the expression, which proved the levity needed to break up the long night.
“I’ll explain fully later.”
“You’d better. I could use some warmth and sun again and couldn’t bear it if you were merely teasing me.” Deneya paused, almost at the entrance of the Caverns. “Be careful in here. Don’t make me regret leaving you by yourself.”
“I won’t,” Vi called back. With that minimal reassurance, Deneya left. “Right, then.” Vi looked back into the heart of the Caverns, taking a slow breath.
She thought of summoning Taavin, but opted instead to remain silent and alone. Taavin would stop her, and Deneya’s words had made her bold.
Vi went back up the stairs, through the doorway, and into the heart of the Crystal Caverns.
The magic was alive here. It welcomed her, surging through her veins. Vi held out her arms, inviting it to flow into her. This was Yargen’s essence—the power that fueled the seal on Raspian, and the power that would challenge him once more.
Vi stared down at the stones embedded in the floor—the ones that formed the glyph that maintained the dark god’s cage. She walked across them, her steps harmlessly connecting one to the next, until she reached the center of the room. Kneeling down, Vi rested her palms on one of the stones and closed her eyes.
She envisioned the Sword of Jadar. She dredged up memories of the scythe she’d held in another world. She recalled every last detail she could—how the objects felt under her hands, how much power they held.
