Ramonds smiled wide, intrigue showing on his aged face as he regarded her. ‘They weren’t just witches. They were the chosen ones, by the Gods, to stop the plague all those hundreds of years ago. They were granted magic beyond your comprehension to banish those pests.’
‘You speakas if you knew it for a fact. It’s just a legend, isn’t it?’ father asked, shifting in his seat. He itched to leave for Ortensia. We all did.
‘I was there when the rift opened in the skies and sucked them up in vicious vortexes. It took a Crone on each of the continents. The lands had been cleared, but the gene must have been passed on through their relatives.’
‘Why are you telling us about the Crones?’ Miriam asked, her eyes glistening with enough interest, to entice the councillor into turning toward her once again.
‘Because you’ll need them to cleanse the realms when the time comes,’ he stated matter-of-factly.
‘Us?’ My voice rose before I could stop it. ‘Why us?’
‘Whether you pick these people to help or not isn’t my concern, but I believe you opened the rift for a reason. Nobody else managed to conjure a dragon during this whole time. I am confident that you will be part of the solution.’
Alec scowled. ‘Where do we even find these Crones?’
‘The Crones left the Committee clues after the war, but not coordinates. They suffered greatly due to the war and didn’t want to be bothered unnecessarily. Only those determined enough to find them will ever do,’ he said like it was common knowledge.
‘That’s pretty vague,’ I scoffed. Not even witchcraft could help track somebody without an object they held dear and recently.
‘Two of them willingly gave up instructions. You’ll learn about the rest from them,’ the councillor explained, passing me a small carved box.
The wood was dark with age, the patterns etched into it worn smooth by time. I ran my hand across it, admiring the craftsmanship.
A soft hum of energy tickled my index finger, wrapping around it as though it meant to lure me in. Without hesitation, I twisted the old lock.
The lidcreaked open, releasing a faint scent of dust and old magic that exuded enough of a gentle pull that I was certain it could have held for a millennium. Protection spells always did if they had been reinforced with enough essence.
Inside lay a folded parchment, its edges brittle with age. It was covered in a thick layer of grey powder, which I wiped off in River’s direction. The cloud flew straight toward his nose, making him scrunch his face.
For the youngest, you will scout the sultry lands, where every breath is airless and every step unsteady. You will reach the abandoned place that once flourished and find your heart’s desire.
For another sister, you will follow the beasts, respectful of their home, cherishing their struggle under the leaf-encrusted dome. Where the day will spook you and the night will guide you, she will watch from afar, judging.
Looking at the note, the tension in my forehead only grew. It was useless—it gave me no idea where to start. Corruption, deception, and riddles—the new vectors of my existence.
‘Could these be any more vague?’
River leaned closer, reading the lines again. The heat of his shoulder brushed mine, sending an unwelcome shiver down my spine.
‘Sultry lands,’ he muttered. ‘That could mean the volcanic regions.’
His brow furrowed. ‘Every breath airless… every step unsteady. It could be within Fogoya. But it doesn’t add up. I think I would know if I had witches under my dominion.’
The Elder’s expression soured. With a raised brow, he scoffed. ‘The Crones are under nobody’s dominion, you arrogantfool.’
River’s agitated voice cut through the tension as he demanded an explanation. ‘If they’re so knowledgeable and powerful, why haven’t the Elders sought them out themselves? What aren’t you telling us?’
His confidence to question authority was commendable. I didn’t think I had it in me.
‘The coordinates had been locked. They said it would only open for those capable of bringing the realms together once they were ready. I’ve tried it a hundred times with many others. You are the first.’
It meant I could have personal peace or peace within the realm—never both.
My fingers tightened around the parchment. Fate had never been kind to me, but this felt almost cruel. Either I jeopardised the realm by walking away… or I walked straight into another war.
Chapter Two
Avari
