Chapter forty-seven
Seren
The palace library was perhaps the grandest room I had ever seen. Great towering stacks of books surrounded us, punctuated with long stretches of tall windows—light spilling through them like honey—and flowering vines of reaching ivy.
Théo spread books and documents across the wide oak table, motioning for Ayla and me to take the seats across from him.
“This book here,” Théo began, tapping a thick leather bound in the center, “holds the ritual that I spoke of before—the one that would increase both of your powers. By the Goddesses divine mercy, you would be granted the opportunity for increased strength of mágik.”
“And we… What? We ask them to make it so?” I questioned, glancing over the pages though I had no means to interpret them.
Ayla glanced between Théo and me.
He flushed. “No, it is actually quite an endeavor. The ritual can only be performed in the Sárkhona Draum, the home of the Drakány. It is a far journey, and during the ritual you will face a trial in which the Goddesses deem you worthy or unworthy of their favor.”
“The home of the Drakány,” I mused, sitting up straighter in my seat. “Are dragons not creatures of myth?”
“They are extinct, but once, they were very real. Even now, vestiges of their mágik remain in our realm. The Sárkhona Draum is one of those places, the most potent, in fact, as it was where they once dwelled. Under ordinary circumstances, I would not push for this ritual. You both hold powerful mágik within you already, but we may require more yet.” Théo’s brows furrowed, his expression darkened.
“Why is that, Théo?” Ayla wondered, as she looked to him for guidance.
“Claudian was not working alone. I have been unable to find a name or contact thus far, but he had an accomplice. I fear this person may still come for the both of you, especially given thatthisis the ritual I found in the prince’s quarters.” Théo slid a single page toward us. It included a diagram and instructions, cluttered with hastily scrawled notes.
“What are we looking at?” I inquired, shaking my head at my own lack of understanding. I looked at Ayla and was relieved to find my cousin equally unsure.
“This ritual has a similar purpose as the first one I showed you but with a very different method and outcome.” Théo laid the two side by side. “The first is an appeal to the Goddesses. They bestowed celestial mágik upon you at birth and can further strengthen it, should you pass their test. The second ritual is a trick. The conductor uses it not to bolster the mágik of the participant but to harness the mágik and make it their own. It always results in the deaths of the participants.”
Ayla was stricken. “It would have ended with both of our deaths?”
“Yes.” His answer was simple, direct, not intended to harm but clear in its honesty.
“But… My father told me that Seren would die, and I would gain her mágik.” She shot an apologetic glance toward me, and I waved her off. We had both been manipulated, and there were no grudges to be had between us.
“It is possible that he believed that, that his accomplice told him it could be so, but that is not the truth. The ritual can only be led by a wielder of life mágik, like myself. On the solstice, ensuring the necessary celestial strength, they would use their power over life to connect themselves to the participants. Through mágik, blood, and the specified words, the life force, and mágik by default, would be transferred. Your lives would be forfeit, and this person would be nearly unstoppable.” He folded the page and slipped it inside the tome, moving them both aside.
“Claudian was not lying then… Thereismore to come,” I observed offhandedly.
Ayla laughed, but it was pained.
“I think you should do the other ritual. We do not know how strong this person is or if they will come for you still, with Claudian locked away.” Théo frowned slightly, there and then gone. “I will continue to search for information on the prince’s accomplice, and then we should travel to the Sárkhona Draum. But we must leave and return before the solstice if we hope to catch our foe. If we miss this opportunity, the next will not come until midsummer. I doubt they will give up so easily.”
“Seren?” Ayla looked to me for confirmation.
I wondered why Ayla would not just say what she wanted—what she felt—but it mattered little for the decision at hand. “I agree. I think we should do the ritual and do so quickly. The three ofus—”
Théo interrupted me with a politely raised hand. “Three will not be enough. We need others to help us traverse the far north of the Váracis Erva and the Sárkhona Draum itself. It is known for its many dangers.”
“What do you propose?”
“We need people we can trust to have our backs should the situation become tremulous. Harkin is an obvious choice.” Ayla and I both nodded our agreement. “I would also argue Safiya’s case.”
Ayla sputtered. “No, Théo. After what she did? Absolutely not.”
I considered for a moment before chiming in. “Théo has a point, Ayla. There are very few we can consider friends in this kingdom, or anywhere for that matter. Safiya made a choice that hurt you deeply, but she will help us, and I believe she will protect you from further harm if given the chance.”
Ayla scowled at us both, crossing her arms in a petulant gesture. Théo and I remained silent, staring meaningfully at Ayla as we waited.
“Fine,” she ground out, jaw clenching tightly. “Fine, you win. Invite Safiya, but do not expect me to play nice.”
