The cicadas had torn gaping holes in her defenses, leaving her mind raw. Vulnerable in a way it had never been before.
The scariest part was Eva had no clue how to go about patching them or preventing a future incursion.
"You are not alone. The Kyren can help you if you let them," Mist assured her.
"If only it were that simple. The Kyren aren't as amenable to my presence as we assumed. I'm not sure they'd be willing."
They might even celebrate her short life span.
Because it would be short if mythologicals or beasts were able to circumvent her psyche like this.
All it took was her will power failing once for her to be lost.
"You are the Caller. They will remember what that means before the end."
Eva wished she had Mist's certainty. Her confidence. Maybe then she wouldn't feel like she was failing at the thing she was born to do.
"Be careful. He knows you're the one who has the best chance of ruining his plans," Mist advised her.
"Who?"
"The Whisperer."
Eva shook her head, still not understanding.
Emotion moved behind Mist's eyes. She was scared, Eva realized. Fear in every line of her face.
"War has come. We've already seen the first of the enemy's alliances. There will be more. My dreams indicate Shea and Fallon will be among his first targets. He'll use the army formed of those dissatisfied with their rule as a sword to sunder what they've built."
Eva felt the gravity of those words as if they were a blow. Highlanders and Lowlanders would no doubt be the driving force behind that army.
The Broken Lands would be bathed in bloodshed as a result.
The Lowlands had already submitted to their rule, and the Highlands had followed the pathfinders’ example. If either group broke their words, they would be punished.
Eva wasn't sure those in this army understood the full ramifications of their actions. The Trateri's vengeance would be quick and brutal. Many would die.
"You are sad," Mist observed.
"Yes."
War never affected only those who fought in it. There would be many victims. Some even innocent.
"He understands your importance. You've already seen how he'll choose to target you."
"Not just me," Eva said, feeling sorrow at the memory of the red back's death.
"No."
The mist curled in on itself, nearly boiling as something inside caused upheaval.
Eva's chest tightened as a force she couldn't see barreled down on them.
Mist's expression was distant, her eyes unseeing. "The Caller will either unite us or watch us fall. She will be our salvation or our doom. Trust wisely, Caller. Not all who call you have your best interests at hand."
Eva fought the urge to flee, fear making it difficult to breathe as that massive wave stopped.
The top of the wall of mist shredded, pieces of it crashing toward them from above.
