“There are many versions of the tale of the Ice Phoenix. In one of them, Jökull was resurrected from the ashes of his pyre, because his queen had given up her life for him. The night Yavi died, Tarn mentioned for life to be given, it must be taken. A sacrifice. I think he was speaking about you, lass.” Von paused at her shudder. “I wasn’t privy to all his plans, but I know he was planning something more than simply becoming immortal and usurping the Azure throne.”
Dyna took a deep breath and pressed on her forehead. “This is a lot to take to mind. But if he does intend to resurrect your sister … could it be this is the prophecy coming to pass?”
Von had briefly forgotten about that. Probably because they had assumed Tarn was dead, but the words came to him fresh now. Particularly the last line.
Be not swayed by love, lest it be thy undoing.
But it didn’t make sense.
“Perhaps we are missing something.” Von rested his chin on his fist as he pondered. “Tarn’s only priority is preserving his life. Resurrecting my sister for love would go against the prophecy’s warning.”
“What else would he want to sacrifice me for?”
Von shook his head. He didn’t know.
“You loved Yavi so much,” Dyna said softly. “If you had the chance to bring her back, even if it meant you might not live, would you do it?”
Von didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. Because they both knew they would die for the ones they loved without a second thought. The back of his eyes stung as he recalled the day they had decided to run away.If we fail and these are our last days together, then I will break open every Gate and take on the Gods if it means finding you again.
The only way he would ever find Yavi again would be to leave this world. He had no other reason to stay in it, other than enacting his revenge on the man who took her from him.
“Whatever Tarn is planning, he now needs a new sacrifice and much more than ashes to do it. A power source of some sort.” Dyna wandered to the bookshelves and began examining titles. “If he truly wanted to resurrect Aisling from the ashes, he must replicate the pyre. He has Jökull’s ashes. Sunnëva burned with him, and she was a Morken, so he would need Morken blood, which he has. And there were flowers of some sort. I don’t quite remember what it was.”
“Roses and Azure leaves…”
She turned to him.
Von stood. “I remember the story because my mother used to read it to me when I was a child. Tanzanite Keep was once covered in enchanted roses of Jökull’s making. They burned him with a rose along with a branch from an Azure Tree.”
“Enchanted roses…” Dyna stared at the wall as if recalling something. “Are they blue?”
“Yes, but they no longer exist in this world. Without the rose, it’s not possible to perform the resurrection.”
She glanced down at Mount Ida’s key set on the table, working out something in her mind. “If I know Tarn, he will find a way, even if he must wish it into existence.”
Wish into existence…
Von had said something similar to Yavi not too long ago when he feared losing her.If one day it was all devoured in flames, I would give up everything to wish for you back.
“The Lost Well,” he whispered.
“Pardon?”
“That’s where Tarn is going,” Von exclaimed. “There is a wishing well located in the Hashell Ruins of Harromog Modos. A means to wish what he wants into existence.”
Dyna sank back into her chair, a hundred thoughts flashing behind her eyes. “I suppose that is where we must go next and stop him.”
Coming around the table, he lowered to one knee in front of her. “What will you have me do? Command me, and I will do it.”
She leaned back. “Von, you’re not a slave anymore.”
“Then make me one again.”
“What?”
He lowered his head. “Yavi, Geon, Dalton—they are dead because of me, Dyna. Dalton tried to escape after you did, but Tarn wouldn’t let him go. And I couldn’t let that boy suffer his wrath ... so I…” Von couldn’t make himself say it.
Tears welled on her lashes once she understood his confession. Sometimes he still heard Dalton’s neck breaking, and each time he still flinched.
