It was the third time the idea had been put into my head.
Amara snapped, “That is too risky for the envoys. It is basically the same sentence as death.”
It would be too risky to Emmerick.
I bit my cheek in thought, before I said, “Tell me how that would work. What are the risks?”
“The Sethe curse puts the subject in a deep sleep for a predetermined amount of time that the caster chooses,” Asterie explained. “It cannot be anunreasonableamount of time or the curse won’t take. And it needs to be specific—moons, years, days. It is likely what Isleen used to bind Caym in the first place. If not awakened before that period ends, then...well, they are thought to sleep forever. It seems Caym’s true form has awoken before his time was up. That is likely what he bargained for.”
“And how would one wake someone under this curse?” I asked.
“There is no known way to lift it,” Amara blustered at Asterie. “Are you suggesting that we use Emmerick’s body to trap Caym and put him to sleep potentially forever? Let the Origins decide his fate?”
“That is exactly what I’m proposing if it comes to it.” Asterie grew taller in her chair and pursed her lips. “Because it is exactly what Em would want us to do should all else fail. He would not deter us from this option, and I urge you not to either.”
My heart raced and swelled simultaneously. I wanted to reach across the table for Asterie’s hand and squeeze it.
She was right. And this would give him a chance.
Amara grew withdrawn. She swallowed and shook her head.
“Right now, Caym’s ability to control the envoys seems limited to just them,” Ryn warned. “We don’t know what form he has taken, but he’s likely still weak. Imagine the damage he could inflict if able to control anyone near him. He’s raised an army of Death-wielders once already—who’s to say he isn’t doing the same right now in the North or West Corridors?”
I shivered.
Cassidee nodded. “We need to prepare reinforcements before we approach the active envoy. What do we have?”
Elsedora noted, “We have the East’s fleets of Griffiths and our Warhorses, but they won’t be enough.”
Krait hummed in thought. “We could wake the beasts of Sahlmkar.”
Ryn balked. “They’ve laid in stone for thousands of years. And doesn’t legend say they were Caym’s creations?”
“They were. But that does not mean they will answer to him.” Krait stared across the table at me.
“What are they exactly?” Asterie seemed skeptical. I was too.
“The souls of Isleen’s children,” Krait answered. “It is thought that when Isleen cast Caym away, their magic coiled together, and he turned her and her children into beasts. That is why none of her lineage was thought to have survived.”
“So they may answer to the blood of Isleen,” Amara noted.
“Which means Sybilla will be able to control them,” Krait said with too much confidence.
Iwas meant to controlthem?
Fenris’ eyes went wide. “What if they don’t answer to her?”
“They will.” Krait relaxed back into his seat.
“Then we prepare for all options,” I said. My arm hair stood on end, but I would not deny us any chance to be rid of Caym.
Krait’s lips curled into a smirk. Something like adoration burned in his eyes. It made my heart beat faster. “Brave,” he thought. I sat up a bit taller in my seat.
We would wake beasts of nightmares.
Lay Death to sleep.
Try for an heir that may someday rid us of Caym for good. However unprepared for that option I felt.
