“We really need to work on you controlling your powers.”
Hours later, green mountains loom to our right, and there’s a massive body of water far up ahead. The azure sky fights for visibility through dense white clouds, but the sun is warm enough that I shed my cloak as soon as Kilkenny helps me dismount Ghendor.
“I spoke to Carys in a dream last night,” I blurt as soon as my feet touch the ground.
His eyes widen, intrigue washing over his features.The interest spreads to the rest of the group as Kilkenny asks, “Did she speak back?”
“She did.”
Osheen can hardly face me as I glance at everyone. His words from last night hit me hard all over again.Can you fix her? I feel even smaller, as if standing here in the mountains doesn’t already heighten my vulnerability enough.
Shoving down the rising hurt, I focus on describing the dream to everyone, not sparing any part in case even the smallest detail turns out to be important.
“It’s not a surprise she can read the Ancient Tongue,” Alys says, thankfully snapping me out of my woes. “It’s in her blood.”
I wait for an explanation.
“The royal family were descendants of Agryna’s Chosen, or the Heirs of Embers, as some call them.”
Again, right out of my fairytale book.
“Carys’s late father, King Rhodri showed no manifestation of powers, nor did the king before him, but in the years before, Agryna’s Chosen were Flamewielders and Lightweavers. Some were even oracles.”
“She did mention something about there being a prophecy.”
“Prophecies are complicated. Sometimes they’re translated so often that the entire meaning changes or they’re just interpreted incorrectly.”There’s weight to her words.
“Do you know the prophecy that Carys might be referring to?”
Alys nods, her plump face solemn. “Something about the daughter of Agryna and Ehlach restoring balance. Some translations replace Agryna with Sunlagh, I believe.”
Sun. Moon. Dreams. It makes sense how they may interlock.
“Has anyone theorized who thisdaughteris?” Chiyo asks. “Is it symbolic or literal?”
“Prophecies are always symbolic. The problem is that people take it literally and lives are destroyed.” She bites her lip and shakes her head. “We should get going again. It’s too open here.”
She’s right. But Kilkenny’s face is contorted in deep thought; he doesn’t respond.
Although Mages aren’t beings of myth as I once believed, to fathom that this prophecy is real, and that Carys is somehow connected to it, is bizarre. Yet a shudder shakes my core, a weight settling in my chest as I replay everything I’ve been told regarding Carys’s situation. I press my fingers to my lips to keep from inappropriately bursting into laughter. Breathing out slowly through my nostrils, I rise to set off with the others again.
CHAPTER 56
Carys
Last night,Durvla visited me in my dreams. This morning, my eyelids are heavy as I wake up, my body heavier. It sinks into the bed as if there’s nothing beneath me, and my chest aches for reasons I’m unable to confront.
But I must get up. Today is a council meeting, and I’ll be damned if I allow Iywan and the councilors to continue to dictate my moves.
I’m a jittery mess sitting in my vanity chair as Ellynne plaits my hair and Lowri pours me a goblet of wine.
“Not too much,” Ellynne says firmly to her sister.
Lowri eases up on the pouring, and I scowl at Ellynne even though she can’t see my face.
“You ought to have your wits about you when you meet with the Council, don’t you think?”
I have to swallow more forcefully than usual to get the wine past the lump in my throat. “Part of me wants to drink until I pass out, and then I won’t have to attend the meeting.”
