“I’ve been cross-referencing the dampening patterns we found,” she said, flipping between volumes. “And I’ve made some disturbing connections.”
Dominic leaned forward, his shoulder brushing my arm. “What kind of connections?”
She pulled one book closer, pointing to an illustration that made my stomach drop. The diagram showed crystal arrangements in patterns very similar to what we’d seen in the underground chamber.
“This is from the Border Wars, over six hundred years ago.” Lady Kenneth said. “The corruption pattern matches something called The Severance Arts.“
I studied the illustration more carefully. “What were they used for?”
“Emotional purification rituals.” She flipped to another page, pointing to a section. “The dampening crystals arranged in these specific patterns weren’t for random attacks. They were systematic preparation for something much bigger.”
Dominic and I exchanged a weighted glance. “Bigger in what way?”
Lady Kenneth opened the second text, revealing passages written in archaic script. “I discovered practitioners called The Purists. They believed emotional magic was corrupting fae society, making it weak and unstable.”
“That’s the opposite of true,” I said. “Emotional magic is what makes the fae strong.”
“Exactly.” She traced a finger down the text. “But The Purists saw it differently. They would infiltrate courts and spend months, sometimes years, doing all they could to weaken emotional connections.”
The implications settled over me like ice water.
“Their ultimate goal was something called a Grand Severance ritual.” Lady Kenneth’s face cracked. “They would wait for major celebrations, times when emotional energy ran highest, and perform a ritual to permanently cut courts off from emotional magic.”
Dominic released a long sigh. “Permanently?”
“The texts describe courts that withered completely after successful severances. No emotion-responsive magic, no connection to the natural world, and no joy or passion to fuel their abilities.” She gestured to the charts we’d made sketches of in the underground chamber. “Tracking emotional decline was standard practice. They needed precise measurements to time the ritual correctly.”
I tugged my notebook from my pocket and studied mydrawings and notes. It would be impossible not to make connections.
“Whoever’s doing this has been preparing for quite some time.” Lady Kenneth opened the third text. “The texts mention practitioners often worked alone but followed detailed instructions from manuals passed down through their organization.”
“An organization?” Dominic’s voice had gone flat, the way it did when he was processing something terrible.
“The Purists operated in small groups most of the time, but individual practitioners typically worked in isolation once embedded in a court.” She read from the page. “They positioned themselves as regular court members while secretly undermining magical foundations. The goal was to remain completely undetected until the moment of the Grand Severance.”
My mind raced through everyone we knew at court. “Festival timing would be crucial.”
“Exactly.” Lady Kenneth’s eyes lit up. “Maximum emotional energy during celebrations made the severance most effective. There are references throughout these texts to the final charts that would guide the timing. I…” A shudder ripped through her. “I believe that’s what we’re dealing with here.”
I thought about the records in the underground chamber and the tracking of every fluctuation in the court. “If you’re right, this person has been studying us. Measuring us. Waiting for the perfect moment.”
“The sophistication required would be extraordinary.” Lady Kenneth sounded almost impressed. “I believe we’re dealing with someone who has extensive historical knowledge and the patience to execute a multi-year plan.”
Dominic paced to the window. “Someone who’sstudied these techniques. Who’s dedicated years to this. Who could it be?”
Lady Kenneth turned another page. “Listen to this passage: ‘The true practitioner of Severance Arts must perfect their craft over many seasons. The dampening must be gradual, imperceptible, building toward the final release like snow accumulating on a mountainside before an avalanche.’“
“They’re escalating,” I said. “The plants turning black and the increased dampening proves it. It’s all part of the pattern.”
“Historical accounts describe practitioners as patient, methodical, and completely dedicated to their cause.” Lady Kenneth looked between us. “The emotional dampening would accelerate as they neared their goal, just like we’ve been experiencing here in our court. I hate to even suggest it, but I think we have a Purist among us, one who’s doing all they can to sever our court emotions from our plants.”
Savory landed on the desk, her black eyes fixed on the ancient texts.The spider who weaves the finest web has been spinning longest.
I shared her observation with the others.
“Your companion is right.” Lady Kenneth closed the first text. “Everything fits too well to be coincidence. We’re not dealing with opportunistic sabotage or random malice. If we’re right, this is something that’s been growing in our court for a very long time.”
It must be someone we saw daily, a person who participated in court life and pretended to be loyal. While Dominic had been kind to them, encouraging them, they must’ve been working out how to destroy the emotional basis of this court.
