“Okay, so the final bone of power was on Kayj when the gate was opened, but nobody knows where it is now,” Ronan said, leading Vander back to the table.
“And last I heard, the others were going to try to figure out how to close the gate,” Vander replied, his chair scraping across the floor as he pulled it out.
“And right after that happened, the castle was activated as a massive rubelline,” Ronan continued.
I made to turn back when my eye caught on a single word in the small line of script. “Gates,” I said, my chest tightening as the word registered.
“What?” Ronan asked.
My fingers slipped over the soft, dry parchment as I lifted the unmarked scroll and turned to the two men.
“Gates, Ronan. Plural.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
EVONY
When do you suppose we’ll see the lights over the lake again? The people here call it the ‘noctilux.’ I miss it. And you.
– Correspondence from Evony to Ezrich. 3rdof Spring. 072.3E.
Evony – Aedrialis, Sultira
“Oh my gods.” Ronan’s goblet made a soft clunk as he set it on the table. His throat bobbed as he turned to the map of Vael draped along the wall.
“Gods, gates, and war,” Vander murmured, his light brows pinching.
“Multiple gates,” I repeated, moving across the room to the map. “Where are the others?”
“I don’t know,” Ronan said as he stepped to my side, his sapphire eyes scanning the rivers, mountains, and oceans. “ButI think I now understand why Saros created his mountain from Larimer stone.”
My eyes drifted to the open window, filtering in the red light from the massive rubelline we stood in. They caught on Vander’s eyes, and his gray irises seemed to absorb the ruby light, painting them a lovely shade of pink.
“He was protecting the Kingdom of Sultira,” Ronan continued as he skimmed his hand over the large continent in the center of the realm. “He may have been a monster, trading his people with Dark King Daimos to gain access to the stone, but he’d done it to protect the kingdom from the return of the Embodied.”
His hand dropped to his side before he brought it to his hip and shook his head.
“There had to have been a better way,” he muttered, his nose crinkling in disgust.
My stomach knotted as memories from the tribute ship rammed forward.The armored fist that slammed into my face, fingers digging into my forearms as I was hauled onboard, the stench of bodies pressed too tightly together in the rooms, and the damningclickof the door being locked…
“And how far does his protection reach?” Vander cut in, his head cocked to the side. I released a breath and swiped a hand down my arm, as if I could wipe away the phantom grip of the soldiers.
Ronan’s shoulders relaxed, and he heaved a sigh, as if pulling himself away from his own haunted memories of the tribute.
“I sent Drystan and Evony’s brother, Ezrich, scouting to see how far the nullifying effects of Mount Telum reach. They aren’t due back for a couple more months.”
Ronan rubbed at his face, the bags beneath his blue eyes dark and heavy.
Vander nodded as he leaned forward. “I would be happy to help you sort through these scrolls to look for more clues on the location of the other gates. And who knows, maybe Mount Telum is doing more than just cutting off magic. If there’s a gate in its range, it could prevent it from being opened.”
Could there be a gate, here in Sultira?
“And maybe there’s even a way to strengthen the rubelline power of Mount Telum. Perhaps the late king kept construction plans of the castle we could examine.”
Ronan blinked before nodding. “Yes, that’s a good idea. I’ll see if we can find anything related to the construction.” Ronan moved toward the door, and I followed, but Vander lingered at the map. “I appreciate the offer and you coming to see me right away, but I’m sure you could use some rest after your long journey,” Ronan continued. “Captain Einar has secured you a bunk in the southwest barracks.”
Vander turned and paused, his eyes raising in question.
