“What?” Vi asked eagerly.
“It’ll likely be easier if we showed you.”
They each donned an illusion, stepping into the skin of a Southerner so as not to stand out. The three traveled down the winding staircases that descended to a rocky beach not far from the port. From there, they went north, until the beach was nothing more than a narrow line of rocks where the waves ended. Soon, there wasn’t a path anymore, and large boulders blocked their progression. The stone was slick with sea spray and it made the going slow.
Eventually, they came to a narrow pebble beach, and Deneya took the lead. The cliffs had completely hidden the town from view. Vi followed along to a point where the sea flowed in to a giant cavern.
“We’ve seen a ship go in and out of here—judging from your description, and those of the other sailors in town, likely Henrietta’s.”
“You couldn’t investigate the caves anymore, so you investigated the cliffs,” Vi said aloud as it dawned on her. “That’s brilliant.”
“This isn’t even the most interesting bit.” Taavin stopped at the water’s edge. “We’ll get wet from here on.”
They swam across the deep channel—definitely deep enough for Henrietta’s smuggling vessel—to the rocky beach on the other side. From there, they continued walking, climbing, and scrambling across boulders and cliff faces that had long ago fallen into the sea. There were a few other channels they had to swim across, and just when Vi was about to suggest they justtellher rather than show her whatever it was they were bringing her to, the roar of water could be heard.
“What’s that?”
“What we want to show you.” Deneya walked ahead this time.
“About a month ago, we came across this.” Taavin pointed.
They stopped at another opening in the cliffs. Water roared out of the mouth of a cave in giant splashes, foaming with white, and racing to the sea. All of the other openings had water flowinginfrom the ocean. But this one was like a giant spigot someone had long forgotten to turn off.
“Some kind of spring, or waterfall created by mountain run-off?”
“We thought that too since the water is icy and fresh,” Deneya said.
“But look closer.” Taavin pointed to something wedged between the rocks just under the water’s surface. It was a speck of gold, shining in the moonlight.
Vi crossed over and knelt down. Reaching into the chilly water, she retrieved a coin from where it had been stuck for what appeared to be a long time, judging by its worn surface. Vi flipped it over in her fingers, summoning a mote of flame to see by. On the side of the coin that had not been blasted by water for years, an imprint was still legible.
“Solaris,” she murmured. But this was not a coin used by the SolarisEmpire. “The Kingdom of Solaris.” Vi stood. Now that she knew what to look for, dozens more flashes of gold illuminated the night. “Then this means…” She turned her gaze back toward the sheer rocks. Vi could think of only one way ancient treasure would be collecting here—Adela’s stolen gold was somewhere close. The treasure, and the crystal crown, had never left the Dark Isle. “We should go into the caves tonight.”
“I wanted to when we found it a month ago. He wanted to wait for you.” Deneya gave Taavin a look. Vi’s attention went to the man as well.
“You didn’t need to do that.”
“You are the Champion. It is your right to find and protect the crystal weapons.” The sentiment was sweet, even if it made Vi tremble with agitation.
“Then we go now.”
“Henrietta’s crew will be docked in the caves. It’s not safe to go through them now. We could risk altering something in the flow of fate that would result in a new Champion not being born.”
“Iam the flow of fate!” The words burst from her with a ferocity Vi didn’t know she possessed. Taavin and Deneya both gaped at her. Vi pushed slick strands of hair from her face, fighting to compose herself. “We are trying to stop the world from ending. This is it; this is our chance. We get the crown now—we know where it is. Even if we change things, we will have all we need to stop the world from ending. All of the other crystal weapons are waiting for us. A new Champion doesn’t need to be reborn.”
“And if you fail?” Taavin stepped forward.
“I won’t.”
“If you do?” he repeated. “Are you ready to condemn every man and woman on this earth to death? Are you prepared to know thatyoualone were responsible for the end of light and life? Are you ready to usher in an age of darkness from where there is no return?”
“Taavin, that’s enough,” Deneya said gently. But Taavin didn’t back down. He continued to lock eyes with her in an outright challenge.
“I won’t fail,” she repeated, though her voice was weaker than it had been a moment before.
“Guarantee me you won’t,” Taavin demanded. Vi was silent. It was a promise she couldn’t make. “Guarantee it!” His voice echoed off the cliffs, briefly overpowering the waves.
Another shout of frustration struggled to rise from her throat. All Vi let escape was a meek, “I can’t.”
