One statue to honor each keeper.
Cailey is white stone, her young form appearing almost to float above her statue’s base.
Crimson wood for Dusana, depicted with her head held high and flowers cascading through her hair.
The gold for Mother Solas, who is dressed in armor and carries a curved blade strapped to her back.
And finally, from the black onyx, Mother carved the statue of a man whose face is partially obscured by a black crown. The crown’s wide band sits around his eyes while its sharp peaks extend up past his head. He is cloaked in a long, black robe that conceals his body, making him almost figureless.
I may have shunned my own past, but I’ve tried to find out who he was.
Each community—the fae, humans, and dragons—has kept alive the memories of Dusana, Mother Solas, and Cailey, but around the dark keeper, there is only silence.
Nobody knows his identity.
I don’t want to stop searching, but at some point, I might be forced to.
Now, I consider carefully what each statue is holding.
Their arms are upraised, each supporting a book.
The books are closed.
Mother gave no explanation for the books, and my brothers didn’t ask her. Neither did Father.
But I know what they’re for.
Blame it on my dark nature, but I don’t respect boundaries.
When I was supposed to be out hunting with Father and my brothers, I crept back to witness the pact made between Mother, her brother and sister, and the two dragons Graviter Rex and Vargo Vanem.
At a time of their choosing, Tamra and Gallium will bring their tools to the eternal flame and burn them.
Neither of them has children, and it’s caused them both deep sadness.
For Gallium, in particular, it’s problematic since he and Elowynn don’t have a daughter to whom Elowynn can pass her crown, and the fae’s future is more tenuous because of it.
Regardless, soon the Blacksmith race will come to an end.
Tamra and Gallium have vowed that their tools will be destroyed.
As for Mother’s tools, the eternal flame can’t burn them—no flame can—so she asked Graviter Rex to ensure that the dragons take possession of her metal when she passes.
Graviter will store her hammer and medallion with his dragon’s gold, which will be inherited by his twin sons.
His sons will believe only that the tools are powerful dragon’s gold.
Vargo has vowed, since he will live longer than Graviter, that he will ensure that the tools’ true nature is never revealed.
Both Tamra and Gallium were concerned about the risk of Mother’s tools being misused, but Mother was adamant it was the only way.
“Dragons guard their gold jealously,” she said. “They are best placed to protect these tools. There is no other choice.”
I sensed Tamra and Gallium’s reluctance, but they finally agreed.
When the others left, Mother asked Vargo Vanem to stay back for a moment.
He remained with her on the platform on which I was balancing only moments ago, and I will never forget what they spoke about.
