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“It was Virki’s word that convinced Vishon the only way to protect the souls of the fallen was through a deledan rite,” Auki said, low and broken.

Damn the gods. Slowly, Virki had destroyed his brother under the guise of strategy. He’d left Vishon divided, likely convinced that his bond with Elisabet would fade.

What might’ve happened if the queen had not been devious in her own right, if Roark’s mother had been unable to speak to her king, soul to soul?

Roark shot to his feet, his gestures frantic enough that I had to repeat his words for the others to understand. He wanted a crown? He wanted to usurp my father?

A shadow crossed Gammal’s features. “It was a planned betrayal that does not end there, dark soul. The firstborn prince of souls was the one who passed word for any traces of the lost melder daughter. He sent word to us regarding the moves of Jorvans and Fadey. After that first peace meet, he found his heart in our lands, you see.”

“Prince Nivek?” Gunter eyed Roark. “He did go on those trade journeys a lot. Remember, we always begged him to take us?”

“He trusted us as we trusted him.” Gammal looked to the window of her hut for a breath. “The firstborn prince was the one who warned House Bien that if his kingdom came against them in the raids, they would end their child instead of hiding her. Elskan, the firstborn prince and your house were secretly preparing to bring you to me when the raids began. Now, I do not think your brother, dark soul, anticipated that you would have a soul bond with the melder.”

Roark returned to his place at my side. I felt him press a gentle kiss to my hair.

“After those raids, he finished what House Bien could not and sent you with the tide wanderer to me. It was then that I suspected the connection to Fadey. When a blood crafter confirmed it through one of their spells, I tried to hide you over the ledges, elskan. But with the fighting, the chaos, we were snatched on the road by thrall traders. I managed to barter for us to take up a place in the young house. I would clean, cook, and keep watch on you until fate took you elsewhere.” Gammal wiped a tear from her cheek. “I did not know I would never speak to the firstborn prince again. He saved you all.”

“What do you mean?” Yrsa asked.

“Fadey anticipated taking the melder daughter’s bones after the raids, and at last, he planned to see his dark scheme through. But with his belief that the blood of the heirs was needed, he made certain each firstborn was accounted for. He planned to take your bones as well.”

“We were damn children during the raids,” Thane snapped.

“And it mattered little to Fadey.” Gammal looked to Roark. “But his plan was thwarted by the soul shadower taking the melder away. Then again, when he was killed.”

Roark looked pale. Fadey killed Nivek?

“Fadey did not kill your brother, dark soul. Look again to the other traitor who sat at your table.”

It took a moment, but I could see the shadow cross his face once he understood.

My uncle? Gods, it was always him. Roark dug his hands through his hair. His face darkened as though he could not draw in a breath.

Emi sobbed silently against Yrsa’s shoulder.

“He, too, planned to destroy the melder, then claim his throne. He always planned to destroy the heir of his kingdom.”

“He didn’t kill Roark, merely encouraged his soul to be split,” I said.

“To find you, elskan.” Gammal smiled with a hint of despair. “The king’s brother still wanted you dead, and if his dark soul nephew had a bond, well, perhaps he would hunt you until they found you.”

Most of Virki’s hopes had come to pass, but how I reveled in knowing that his wish for Skul Drek to murder me at first sight had been destroyed.

“Thinking that the ability to find the bone of soul craft was lost with the death of Prince Nivek, Fadey intended to disappear,” Gammal said. “Until a blood crafter insisted that the power of the soul craft remnant lived on, only hidden. I believe it was the same crafter who sent word that you lived in your fishing village, elskan. I am told Fadey killed her eventually.”

I grimaced. “Vella. She was a blood crafter who feigned being a seer in Skalfirth. Captain Baldur—Fadey—did kill her.”

Gammal hummed. “Well, it was she who led Fadey to believe the vein of soul had not died off entirely. This is when he sensed the power, but we had already warded our lands against him. I believe to try to break the wards, he aligned with the blood craft queen. He falsified his death and hunted you all in the shadows.

“What you must accept, my elskans, is that the four bones of the Wanderer are here. The arm to lift his sword, the vein of bone craft.”

Thane looked ready to retch, and unbidden, one hand ran over his opposite arm.

“The ribs to wear his armor. The vein of blood craft.”

Yrsa flinched.

Gammal pointed to me. “His knowledge came from his wife, the god-queen. Her gifts of uniting the craft of the living and the dead make up the skull, for his wisdom.”