But why?
Callahan’s account can’t be true.Weare Earth Mother’s chosen people. She cast her lot with Tashir when she blessed us with bagrava. She wantedusto survive and thrive on this hostile continent, so she never would have blessed the Vanzadorians with even greater power. She would have foreseen how they’d misuse it against us. Which meansCallahan must have somehowstolenhis strength from Earth Mother and invented this tale to absolve himself. But if that’s the case, why was Rowenna so fixated onblood, flesh, bone?
Even if Callahan’s accountissomehow true, it’s hardly a revelation that the power to move the earth is a part of his body the same way the ability to grow bagrava is part of mine. And it doesn’t explain Rowenna’s obsession. If anything, learning Soren’s power is a bodily part of him should have put an end to it. Their power couldn’t be stolen, and killing them wasn’t an option either, since our protection from the Marauders would perish with them.
So what was her plan?
“What am I missing?” I shout at the little dried zinnia.
When Ro fails to answer, I snatch the flower and journal off the table and march back to Garitt Von Nevus’s rooms. He knew the Rowenna who lived on this mountain, and he led me to this account. Which means there’s clearly something more he wants me to know.
Probably the very thing that got Rowenna killed, my good sense warns. But I choose to ignore it. Just as I choose to ignore the sense of the prickling unease I felt in Von Nevus’s presence. If he wanted to hurt me, he could have easily done so during my first visit.
“I took your advice and did some reading!” I call out as I pound on his chamber door. A passing guard gives me a curious look, but I wave him off as I’ve seen Soren and Alaric do a dozen times.
As soon as Von Nevus’s face appears, I shoulder through the door, nearly knocking him over in my excitement to wave the leather journal in his face. “Is this what you sent me to find?”
After a few rapid blinks, Garitt closes the door, and by the time he turns to face me, his startled expression has morphed into an amused smirk. “Well done, Little Ro. That didn’t take long. Did you learn anything interesting?”
“Rowenna seemed to think so.” I open Callahan’s journal, extract the dried zinnia, and hold it out on my palm. “I foundthistucked intoan account of the battle when King Callahan obtained his power. The moment he claims the strength of the earth sank into hisblood, flesh, and bone.Do those words mean anything to you?”
Instead of answering, Von Nevus reaches wistfully for the zinnia in my palm. “Gods of the mountain, I’ve missed those little pops of sunshine.”
I close my fingers around the flower. “Answer the question.”
He scowls at my clenched fist before raising his gaze to mine. “Are you asking for a lesson in basic human anatomy? Because blood is the red liquid that seeps from a wound when you—”
“You know what I’m asking,” I cut him off.
“Calm down. I’m just having a bit of fun.”
“Nothing about this isfun!”
“Yes, you’re making certain of that,” he mutters.
He gestures for me to sit in the same dark leather chair as my last visit, but instead of taking the chair opposite, he perches on the arm of mine. He’s so close, his burgundy waistcoat brushes my cheek and the spicy musk of his cologne tickles my nose.
I shift uncomfortably and lean away, hoping he’ll notice and give me space, but he continues looming over me, peering down with a smile, as if this should be the most natural thing in the world. And maybe it should be. Maybe this is how allies act. Maybe this is the level of trust required, and he’s testing me before he reveals more.
I clear my throat, open the journal, and point to the wordsblood,flesh,bone. “I found these same words cut into the wall of a closet in Rowenna’s bathing room. I think she may have carved them herself, after reading this account. Do you know anything about that? Perhaps she told you what she was doing? You were clearly her closest confidant.”
“Sadly, I was never invited into your sister’s bathing chamber,” Von Nevus laments coyly. I spear him with a glare, and he raises his hands. “Fine, fine. Rowenna and I never spoke of her scheming outright. As one of Soren’s advisors, I needed to keep my integrity somewhat intact.I simply made offhanded suggestions that she pursued as she pleased.”
That would imply you had any integrity to begin with, I want to snarl, but I hold my tongue.
“I’m no fool, though,” he continues. “I presumed Rowenna was searching for a way to undermine Soren’s power. Or channel it for herself.” He flips his hand, as if stealing his king’s power source is a trivial offense.
“And you still chose to help her?” I ask, bewildered. “What if she’d succeeded?”
“I knew she wouldn’t. Soren and Alaric’s power resides in theirblood, flesh, and bone—as you so sagely discovered. There was nothing she could do to change that. I knew she’d eventually have to accept her place here, and as I said before, I wanted to be in her good graces when that happened. I pointed her toward Callahan’s journal as a way to prove my worth and earn her trust.”
“And you presumed you’d do the same with me?” I scoff. “Unfortunately, leading me to a dead end is the last way to earn my trust.”
“Who said anything about a dead end? There’s much to be learned from Callahan’s journal beyond where his power lies.” Von Nevus leans even closer, reaching across me to tap the cover of the book. I smell the garlic on his breath, feel the tassel from his hat bobbing against my cheek.
I want to shove him away and run from this oppressive room and his unsettling company. But I want answers even more, so I force myself to hold my ground and adamantly shake my head. “What are you talking about? Callahan’s account is nothing but a long-winded excuse. A convenient tale to justify his decision to steal power from the earth and use it to enslave my people.”
“It seems you weren’t paying attention,” Von Nevus tuts. “If you had been, you’d know what fuels Soren’s power—in addition to its origin. He didn’t steal anything from the earth that fateful day. It wasa fair trade.”
