I couldn’t imagine stepping forward into a life alone after this was over. Stark emptiness would hollow out my heart until I was nothing but a shell aching for his love. Reyla wondered how she could go on without Kinart, and I feared I faced something similar. I hadn’t lost Vexxion to death, but I felt I’d still lost him.
“There’s only a little more in this chapter.” Reyla looked down at the book. “Deeper still lies the hidden breach; through a sapphire canopy beyond Nullen reach.” Her gaze met mine. “What does that mean?”
“It’s part of the riddle the Eratis dragons gave me.” I recited it to her, hoping she’d have insight. “A blade will be forged in light, torn away from thorn’s blight, and veiled beneath the gazeof eternal right.” The phrasing had repeated itself in my mind when I stared into the flying dreg’s eyes. Did the powerless play a role in this?
“Are we assuming that’s referring to the Blade of Alessa?” she asked, resting her tired head against the cushions.
“I suspect this is the only blade that can kill Ivenrail.”
“The fates are a pain in the ass.”
I snorted, grateful all over again to have my friend back. “They sure are.”
“Why not just lay it out for us?”
“They could want us to maintain free will.”
“What kind of free will sets you on a course to kill the person who’s determined to destroy our world? That’s a lot to drop onto anyone’s shoulders.”
“I’ll do what I need to.” In that, my resolve remained strong.
“Finally, revenge for murdering Kinart and so many others. I hope I’m there to see you drive this mythical blade into his chest.”
I hoped she was well away from the area, where she’d be safe, but I understood. If Ivenrail killed Vexxion, I’d want to slash the blade across his throat myself.
“Thorns,” she said. “They seem to play a role in a lot of this. Your mother cursed this island to protect it, covering it with thorns.” Her head tilted. “Do you think the blade is on Lydel Island?”
“If it is, it better reveal itself soon. The next lines say, where no foot treads and no eye shall see, guarded by silence, as if held within trees.”
“I imagine when the time comes, the fates will reveal detailsthat’ll send you skipping down a pretty path where you’ll find the blade. Within trees, whatever that means.”
“I doubt this is going to be easy.”
“Nothing ever is. Is there more to the riddle?”
“Split between realms where the horizon meets the world beyond, half 'neath stars where dreams unspoken are drawn. It waits where a blood-red sun does sink. In dawn’s embrace—it's there you must seek.”
“This has to refer to where you’ll find the blade. Dawn. Morning. On the west, since that’s where the sun sinks.”
We both shrugged.
“Seek a land with a lady unjustly dethron’d,” I recited. “One you will find while chasing down the crow in silvery flames.”
“Your mother. Lydel. Drask was in the lead when we flew over the island.”
She’d figured that out so fast.
“Is that it?” she asked.
“Deeper still lies the hidden breach. Through a sapphire canopy beyond Nullen reach. As good gives way to blight and between two souls bathed in evil’s forgotten light—”
“We’re facing that right now.” She frowned down at her hands flopped on the top of the open book. “The two souls must be you and Vexxion.”
“I think so too. There’s only a little bit more.” I sucked in a breath and spit out the rest. “Whispers will reveal what shadows keep. To lose all hope or dare to take the leap. When nature bends and true love speaks with all its might; Only then will justice end this bitter blight.”
She thought about this part for a long while, her eyes closedas she leaned against the sofa. For a moment, I thought she’d fallen asleep again, but then she spoke.
“When the time’s right, you’ll understand. That’s how I interpret the whispers line. The second must mean you’ll face a challenge. Nothing new there. No idea what bending nature means, but I assume the rest is more about you and Vexxion needing to face the final battle together to end the bitter blight. That’s Ivenrail for sure; a bitter blight. No more?”
