“Stop it,” I snapped.
“I’m afraid that,” Bel said, “I agree with Lord Cato. This does not say the Breaker has to die. It just says that someone has to die.”
“Context,” Joshua said.
Dorian nodded. “This doesn’t say she has to die at all. It just says someone will.”
Roran and Rilen raised their hands as Rilen said, “Well, we did. Does that count?”
Gwen ignored them. “There’s a spell at the bottom.”
Rilen and I snapped around and looked at the sheet.
“What?” I muscled my way back in. “There was nothing at the bottom of that sheet when we were looking at it.”
“It’s there now.” Gwen pointed at it.
Dorian grinned. “Someone knew what they were doing.” He pointed to the bottom of the sheet and started reading. “When the stars align, and the gates are flung open, and enough blood has been spilled in the name of those who did not die, the spell to assure victory will appear for the eye that will need the words.”
“They enchanted the paper,” Bel said. “Clever. Could have used that for some of our more important communiques.”
“What does it say?” Lord Xenon asked from his chair at the end of the table. “I’d love to end this war before I grow old and die.”
“I can help with the die part of that,” Bel said.
“Oh, just read it!” Gwen snapped.
Dorian pushed the king out of his way and read the spell at the bottom.
“The flower from the forest floor, white sweet
A master of the wood
The heartsblood of the distant tree
Sought and gifted by the wise
Oil from the gold that grows on trees
Harvested for health and growth
The leaf that cleanses as it lauds
Woven dried inscribed and smudged
A candle each of purest wax
With scent and orange hue
Sacrifice of bone from the back that broke
And whose life should still not flow.
Stand within the pentacle, draw in
rocks drawn from the earth
a point for each who’s named:
