When we described the effigy, he growled. “I need to grab it. See if it’s playing a role in what’s happening to her.”
“Why keep it in her bedroom?” I squeezed Lore’s hand resting on my thigh.
“You said it was hidden.” Dorion leaned forward in his chair near the fireplace. “I assume it watches or it’s there to control this in some way.”
A big supposition, but he could be familiar with effigies.
“What if it's not only controlling Laphira?” I tilted my head, pieces clicking together. “Naveer feeds on death energy, but what if she's also draining life force gradually? Keeping Laphira as a living source while she feeds off other contestants completely.”
Groaning, Dorion raked his palms across his face. “I’ve got to get her out of here. Brys too.”
Lore's jaw tightened. “It would explain why Laphira isn't dead, just…empty. Naveer gets the benefit of a slow, sustained drain plus boosts from those taken during the trials.”
“I’ll bring the effigy to my mother,” Dorion said. “She might be able to detect some resonance from it or tell us what it’s doing.”
“You’ll leave the court?”
“I didn’t win the first token, so no one will find it suspicious if I go away for the day. I’ll borrow a horse from the stables. My mother’s mountain estate isn’t far from the border.”
If we had the featherdorn pendant in hand, we’d have three days to fuse the talismans. Plenty of time or never enough.
I nibbled on my lower lip, still wondering how I was going to do it. I doubted a nullification spell would work. My shadows might be eager to help with the right incentive, but what could they do? Lightning might damage the three enough they’d never fuse together.
“I’ll sneak into her bedroom tonight and steal the effigy,” Dorion said. “Then race for the border.” He shrugged and gave us a lopsided smile, though his heart wasn’t in it. “Expect me back no later than tomorrow morning.” His gaze met mine. “Anything else I should know?”
I tugged the red stone and claw strung as a pendant from my pocket.
Dorion pointed to the claw. “That’s borgon. Where did you get the memory stone?”
I told him what I’d heard when I touched it, and what little mirth that might be lingering on his face disappeared. “Fear. Pain. A child’s voice crying. Brys?”
We really didn’t know.
He stretched out his hand, stopping before touching. “May I?”
“Take it. I’m not touching it again.” I looked up at Lore, who shook his head. “As for the claw?—”
“Wise of you to take it,” Lore said. “I didn’t have time to share the meaning of the last rune.”
Dorion jutted his chin toward Lore, urging him on.
“Unite the strengths of earth and air, to reveal the prize that's hidden there.”
“I read that inEmber’s Shadow,” I whispered, then recited the full poem. “In shadows reach where secrets lie, a golden ring the true heart must spy. With the cusp of shifting night, seek the path where the dark meets light. Ancient doors with puzzles guard, within Evergorne’s walls, echoes marred. With trust and flame, the way reveal, through hidden truths, the hearts you'll steal. Unite the strengths of earth and air, to reveal the prize that's hidden there.”
“What does it mean?” Dorion stood, and I could tell he was eager to leave so he could be back by morning.
I explained about the book, how it revealed things it felt the holder needed.
“I assume it relates to the dragons, then,” Dorion said.
Lore’s body jerked. “Whydragons?”
“Well, it makes sense, doesn’t it?” He started pacing. “One saved Lore in the labyrinth.” Pausing, he directed his penetrating gaze my way. “Another dragon, or the same one, healed you after Prager nearly killed you outside the labyrinth.”
“How do dragons play a role inthis?” I asked.
Dorion’s mouth tightened. “If you can discover that, you may figure out the meaning of the riddle.”
