“We don’t have everything we need to defeat him.”
“What do you mean?” She twirled a piece of hair around her finger.
“According to the text, we need a magical object to trap him and hold him in place while you open the portal. It’s not like he’ll go through it willingly and our magic is not strong enough to hold him. He is much too powerful.”
“What’s the object?”
“A lirenite crystal. But I do not know where to find one.”
“Saxumdale does a lot of mining. What about there?”
Jorrar shook his head. “This is something I have never heard of. I do not believe it can be found in Saxumdale or any of the mines we’re familiar with.”
Ava worried her bottom lip through her teeth, staring at the open book. Her mind drifted to Orion’s office. Perhaps he had something in there that might have this information. But they couldn’t break in again. It was much too risky. Replaying the events of that night, her mind snagged on something she and Jareth had seen.
“Wait.” She straightened, meeting eyes with Jorrar. “I think I might know where we can find one.”
Jorrar tilted his head. “Really? Where?”
“In Orion’s memories. Remember how I said they were in a cave? That’s where Andras—Lomos—whatever his name is—was trapped. Crystals often form underground…or in caves. That has to be it.”
“It makes sense. But we don’t know where the cave is.”
“Only that it looked like it was in a desert. Are there even deserts in Eorhan?”
“Only one.”
Ava leaned back and crossed her arms. “Then we need to go there.”
“No one goes there. It’s very dangerous, Ava.”
“We don’t have a choice.”
Jorrar rubbed the back of his neck. “When I say it’s dangerous, I mean it’s utterly perilous. No one ventures there. There are hazards everywhere. Foul monsters that live beneath the sands. Even if we find the cave, there are likely traps and other dangers within.”
“If we do nothing, Andras wins. We’re going to the desert. My father and Orion made it there and back. That means it’s possible.”
“I know. I just don’t wish to. Death awaits those who venture to the Wastelands.”
Boots sounded in the corridor as Casimir and Quinn approached, taking their seats.
“Is everything ready for us to leave?” Jorrar asked.
“Yes,” replied Quinn. “I think we should make a stop at Mosshaven and update Thorne before rejoining Raine and the others.”
“I was going to suggest the same thing,” Jorrar said.
“What did you find out?” Casimir asked.
Jorrar told them about the desert and the cave. Silence followed.
Casimir leaned back in his chair. “We touch base with the others and then go to the desert. We will bring a team of soldiers and at least one fae with each type of magic. If Valeria and Eros had all the abilities, my assumption is we will need them as well.”
“Who do you suggest we bring?” Ava asked. “You’ve got two kingdoms covered. What about the rest?”
“Maeryn,” Quinn said.
“If Maeryn goes, Raine will insist,” Jorrar said.
