Leon
Ana drops the scythe of Ethira on the table with a clunk. The tent is crowded, but it doesn’t stop people curiously leaning forward to examine it. There’s an air of awe and fear in the room as she nods to Tira and me. Tira lays the bow down beside the scythe as I complete the set with the cup and seal.
“There they are,” Ana breathes.
I stare at the scythe which did so much damage to me, then at the seal my father died for. All the artifacts give off the same, strange energy—a hum of intense, old power that’s impossible to ignore. And yet at first glance, each of them seems quite ordinary. It’s ridiculous to think these four objects have caused so much trouble.
“The question is,” Ana says, looking around at the gathered men and women, “what do we do with them now?”
All of Tiearland’s nations are represented here. My brother and Odaire stand beside my soldiers; the Trovian General Becane frowns down at the artifacts with Lieutenant Vostani and Captain Drisha. Diomi and the other council representatives,Inas and Letrium, have also agreed to attend this meeting. I think after this war, the Agathyrians will feel less conflicted about getting involved in foreign politics. Even Harman sits propped up in the corner, with Esther and Alastor watching over him protectively.
Vostani is the first one bold enough to speak. “We could split them up,” she suggests. “Each nation could get a token. That seems fair.”
“But there are four of them,” Odaire points out warily. “And who decides who gets what?”
“Well, naturally we would claim the cup,” Diomi says. “It was hidden on our land after all, and it’s said to have healing properties.”
Captain Drisha sniffs disapprovingly. “You think it’s fair a nation full of healers gets the healing cup? Don’t you think the rest of us need it more?”
“There are other useful artifacts,” Letrium argues, a note of defensiveness in his voice. “Legend says the seal’s protective powers are very beneficial.”
“This is true,” Fairon says. “It allowed Caledon’s army to hold their advantage, even after we joined the fight.”
More clerics and Temple soldiers than we expected survived the battle. Still, almost all surrendered when they saw Caledon’s body. We carried it through the Miravow, Ana using her orbital magic to float it high above the battlefield for everyone to see. As people noticed it, the sounds of fighting quieted, soon replaced by a chorus of varied shouts, cheers, and weeping.
He was meant to be a god, and yet here he was, dead. It took the wind out of their sails once they knew their supposedly immortal leader could be laid low.
“I would like to hear what Her Majesty thinks,” General Becane announces.
“Yes,” Inas says. “If anyone knows about what happens when these tokens are used, it’s you, Your Majesty. Do you think the benefit of their gifts outweigh their danger?”
Word has gotten back to them now about how the Queen of Trova danced with divinity to conquer the Grand Bearer. News of it has spread through the camp too, ballooning into wild inaccuracies that I’m sure will be a headache to set right later—about how Caledon nearly brought the sky crashing down on us before Ana stopped him, about how the gods themselves appeared and waged their own battle before Ana’s side claimed victory. We might have brought the Temple to its knees, but belief in the powers that be is alive and well. I’m not sure any of the crazy rumors can do justice to the truth, though. Caledon was bested by two young women—a queen and a peasant girl, who a year ago had never stepped foot outside their little village.
Ana has been listening to everyone attentively, but now she answers in a firm, clear voice that casts no doubt.
“I think the temptation they represent is too big,” she says. “There will always be greedy, ambitious people attracted to the idea of reliving Ethira’s legend. Our nations flourished before we had the tokens, and they will thrive now, even if we destroy them.”
“I agree we should make sure that no one can combine their power again,” I say, speaking aloud for the benefit of thosegathered, even though Ana can already sense my idea through the mooring. “But all we need to do is destroyoneof the artifacts. Take one out of the picture, and all the others become safer, because nobody can follow in Caledon’s footsteps without all four.”
There’s a rumble of affirmation among the group. They don’t hate the idea.
“But which token should we get rid of?” Harman asks from the corner. His voice is hoarse, and he’s clearly pushing through some pain to be here. I suspect Alastor fought to keep him in the healer’s tent and lost. After missing most of the battle, Harman won’t rest through the victory too.
“The scythe,” Ana says immediately.
“Really, Your Majesty?” Becane asks. “It’s one of the more powerful tokens.”
“It also serves no purpose but to slice a soul from a body,” she says coolly. “I have seen that firsthand, General Becane, and I cannot imagine any good reason why we mortals should want to meddle with the natural order of things like that.”
“You didn’t mind meddling when you had to tear your own soul in two to save me,”I say archly.
“Sometimes we have to make terrible choices to deal with terrible things,”she admits, meeting my gaze.“But wouldn’t it be better to ensure that no one has to make that choice again?”
I nod my understanding.
“I agree,” Fairon says. “After seeing what that scythe did to my brother, I think destroying it is the right decision.”
The dryads take a moment to confer, then nod. “We believe the council would agree with this,” Diomi says. “The soul belongs with the body, and the scythe is a tool of violence. We have no objection to its destruction.”
