15. Elorie #3
While he clearly was able to use one from Quietus to Alyssium, that was fueled by the power within my mother’s sword. I assumed all other Arches must have flickered out by now with how the realms are crumbling.
Wilder shakes his head. “The remaining Arches are unpredictable. But working as of now.”
“And Malachi?” Greer asks, the sharp bite of her tone not tempered in the slightest.
“No one has seen him.”
My throat thickens.
I can still smell the haelmarrow hanging from Malachi’s clothes, feel the nearness of him. Wilder’s gaze darts my way, reading my memories of Malachi from my mind.
“You saw Malachi?”
“I didn’t see him, per se,” I answer him privately, then speak aloud for the room. “Malachi found me when I was in the prison.”
Wilder’s golden eyes flare brighter than the core of an aether storm.
“How is that possible?” Callum asks. “Could it have been the prison playing tricks on you?”
“It was him. I’m sure of it.” I close my eyes and try to shake the chill that rattled me when he appeared.
Even with the warmth of Wilder’s magic surrounding me, it doesn’t cut through the unease.
But I gather myself long enough to tell the court everything I remember about Malachi’s warnings.
About the orb and the void. I tell them about how my mother claimed to have held it, and that’s how she ended up there.
How the orb is what prevents us from healing the realms.
I’m careful to leave out a few pieces I’m not ready to divulge just yet. Like how cold Idunn was. How uncaring. Or how Malachi warned me that I’d seek him out because I’ll need him eventually.
I still don’t know what to make of that, and I refuse to believe I will need him for anything.
“Did she give any indication as to what the void might be?” Rior asks, leaning forward and listening carefully.
While Atlas and Perame are more relaxed, I get the impression that he takes the matters of the court more seriously. His dark eyes are beautiful but intense.
“She didn’t say what the void is beyond it draining all magic. She made it sound like a flower in one story, but then said it could be any form or object, and that it might not even be in this realm.”
“Do we think we can trust her?” Aurora asks.
After remaining quiet the entire time I was talking, her question comes out surprisingly inquisitory. Not laced with judgment like I’d expect.
“Do we have any other choice?” I say in return, looking at Wilder.
“We saw the orb’s destruction in the Ley Court.
Felt whatever power exists within it. We both agreed it wasn’t of either realm, so if it’s gods-touched, then that would make sense.
The Well is consuming us, but the orb is quickening the destruction.
It has to be. For the realms to take hundreds of years to fall apart, but all of a sudden, the dark is spreading in a matter of moons…
If there’s any chance to heal the realms, we need to try to pacify the orb first.”
Wilder balls his hand into a fist on the table, aether flickering at his fingertips as he thinks.
“Our armies are failing against the Well every day,” Aurora argues. “If we split their focus now to chase after rumors of this void, we may never recover.”
“Then don’t split their focus,” Wilder decides. “Not yet. Leave the armies where they are until we have another solution. Perame, can you search for the void even not knowing what form it might take?”
“Search?”
“Perame is a seeker. Her magic finds things… places. She can look where others cannot.”
“I can try,” Perame says. “But if it’s not in this realm like Idunn warned, I don’t know what good it will do. The Arch between us and Lyrichia is barely working anymore, but to try and get anywhere else is impossible.”
“I’ll look into it,” Callum says, leaning forward. “I’m assuming you have a library.”
“We do,” Wilder answers.
“We opened an Arch on Alyssium with a single sword. There’s got to be a way.”
“I’ll help look,” Atlas offers. “Our archives are a mess, but I can guide you in the right direction.”
Callum nods his thanks.
“Aurora?” Wilder asks, and her gaze snaps into focus. “Will that work for the battlefront?”
“Yes, that’s fine. If you think this will help save our realm—”
“Our realms,” I correct her. “I’m not letting Lyrichia Cleave. Once we deal with Malachi and Hazel, we’re finding a way to save both.”
“You’d turn your back on your mate’s people to help those who tried to destroy us?” Aurora snaps.
“I’m not turning my back on anyone. My mate or my people.
” She opens her mouth to continue, but I don’t let her.
“I understand your position, and I understand your loyalty. I even understand why you may question my decision. But it is made, and just as my magic runs through the heart of my realm, it runs through the heart of yours, so you need me whether you like it or not. My terms are decided. I will not save one without the other. We save them both.”
“Even if it’s impossible?” Her eyes narrow.
I can’t contain my smile. “I’ve done the impossible before.”