Page 71

I chanted the words over and over again. But even though the walls hummed, there was no magical portal opening or even a glimmer of magic.

What else did Morlan say?

And then it clicked. She had chanted the words and then said, “Change for me.”

But this wasn’t just Earthworld Magic. It was both.

“Life, Death, Rebirth. Earth, stone, and sea remember.”

Slowly, one of the sconces flickered.

“Show me the way. I need to get to the rebels in the Wilds. To the Annatalian temple of old, please.” I pressed my hands hard against the wall.

Down the corridor, a sconce burst into life, and my stomach tumbled. It was either one of the Riders or Aster. And either would drag me back, and that wasn’t the plan.

I sprang to my feet and hurled myself toward the wall where the flame danced above. “Now,” I pleaded as footsteps beat on the stone coming my way.

“Aliwen.” That wasn’t Aster’s voice.

Torran.

That was worse.

The WingMark on his back and the triskele on his chest made sense. He had the combination that appeased the FootPaths. He was the embodiment of the old ways; it was written all over his skin.

I pressed my hand into the stone and chanted both worships together, and slowly, too slowly, a domed corridor opened up. I sensed that it wasn’t so much what I was saying, but more that the magic was responding to the balance. Without looking back, I ran. The stone closed behind me, and I prayed it stayed that way.

***

I had been walking for hours, but it felt like floating or walking on a cloud. This was how the FootPaths allowed men to cross continents in a matter of hours. The air held a faint glow, which meant that the seventh night of Yule was closing in—the Skyworld magic in the sconces flickered with malice as I approached.

The little book still hummed in my pocket, urging me to keep going. My legs kept moving, but my mind was flowing backward.

I had been in tunnels like this before—a decade ago—with Lex. Wherever he was, he couldn’t remember what happened that fateful Yule that changed us all. But perhaps I was wrong, perhaps he had told Torran or Kit. Did they all know what I had done? Was that why they’d kept me trapped in the Barren with an anklet, which not only changed my look but stifled the power growing in my blood?

My foot hit a rock, and I stumbled, crashing into the wall. Fatigue had set in while my mind wandered. Sitting down, I dug into my bundle and pulled out some bread and cheese from my last meal with Aster, stuffing it into my mouth.

I was alone and free for the first time in years, but it wasn’t as comforting as it should have been. I’d never longed to be alone. I just wanted to choose where my life might lead.

My legs throbbed, and tiredness was fogging my vision.

I gave in and slumped on the ground with my head resting back against the wall. The image of Aster floated just out of reach, my fingers stretched out, imagining they were sweeping around his neck. But an image of him was now all I would have.

The dark stone around me was eerie—old magic kept the air static, and the creak of the mountain rocks echoed down the tunnels. I fell into a dreamless sleep as the last sconce went out.

32

I had woken cold and stiff with a jolt, but the ache in my chest had nothing to do with sleeping on stone.

I had no sense of time, no idea how long I had slept, but the surrounding atmosphere had shifted. The YuleMots were no longer heavy in the air—the night was over. I pushed myself up off the floor, every bone and muscle crying out in deep, sharp pain, but I was well-practised in ignoring my body. Brushing the dust from my trousers and tunic for a moment while steeling myself to go on, I rubbed my eyes and took a deep breath. Then I ran.

I hadn’t been moving long before a hazy glow emitted from down the corridor, and the walls blurred into an arch. Almost like a doorway. I slowed and hesitated before telling myself there was no other option than to trust that the ancient magic knew where it was taking me. At least I was far away from the Ruckus and the Riders who wanted to control me.

I approached the blurred wall, closed my eyes, and launched myself forward. The magic fizzed and prickled my skin, and then I stumbled out onto a rocky platform that went nowhere.

Fuck!

It. Just. Ended.