Chapter 40
Chapter
Forty
LYRIANA
My heart was pounding so fast I could barely breathe.
Sean had somehow just delivered the best and worst news all at once.
I could see Rhyan already reeling from it, his eyes wide, his skin pale.
Kane had fucking defected. From one enemy to another.
He’d always been a source of evil, a scourge across Lumeria.
But, unlike the other Guardians, he was the only one of us who didn’t have a vorakh, or, access to it.
Although I didn’t have a vorakh, I had taken on one of Meera’s visions to heal her. And, I had jumped on my own, traveling from Numeria to Bamaria. I felt the weight of the red shard on my back, realizing I hadn’t even begun to tap into the full force of power I could draw on.
I met Rhyan’s stormy gaze, my hand in his, my thumb stroking his skin.
“What if they find the eighth?” I asked quietly.
“And restore their power?” According to Mercurial, we had only survived Kane because of what we’d done as Auriel and Asherah.
We’d performed ancient volatile magic to weaken him.
We’d severed his soul, creating an eighth Guardian, one whose identity was still unknown to us.
“I was just thinking about that,” he said. “I’d bet anything that’s exactly what they’re up to. That, and going after the yellow shard.”
Gods. Every single time it felt like we were gaining on them, covering lost ground, or finding more power, they were still ten fucking steps ahead.
Sean frowned, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion. “I’m sorry. What?”
I swallowed roughly. I had just told Sean the truth—well, part of it.
He knew now that Rhyan was Auriel reincarnated.
That he’d met the real Auriel when he was with me.
And that I was the reincarnation of Asherah.
That seemed like enough for him to know in one sitting, just enough for him to understand how it was possible that Rhyan’s soul had been restored.
But we hadn’t gotten into the bigger story, or the fact that we weren’t the only Guardians reincarnated.
That all seven of us were back. Plus the unknown eighth.
And if they were found by Morgana and Aemon, Kane would become our biggest nightmare. Queen Ma’Nia’s warning returned to me.
Moriel already has his shard, as does his lover Ereshya. And if they acquire more, you and your people are doomed.
“Sean, there’s more,” Rhyan said. “I’ll explain later. I’ll tell you everything.”
“You’re not the only two reincarnations?” he said.
“No, we’re not.” Rhyan shook his head. “Everyone came back this time.”
“All seven?”
Rhyan’s face tightened, but he nodded.
Sean took a deep breath. “Your father’s not—”
“No,” Rhyan said quickly. “But … Kane is.”
“Well,” Sean said. “Fuck.”
I nodded. “We need to go to Glemaria. It’s time. Devon needs to go. I want to see him bound in chains, bound and powerless and thrown into the same dungeons he put Rhyan in. And then, Rhyan needs to reclaim his power. Take it back from him. He’s going to need it.”
Sean stood. “I’m going to escort you both back to your room at the inn to get the rest of your things.
Close out of the room as discreetly as possible.
Then we’ll come back here. It’s more protected.
We’ll wait until nightfall. Then we’re going to cross the western border out of Lumeria.
My soturi will be waiting. We’ll start sending word out to the others who couldn’t come.
And other groups who are waiting to help.
And then, come morning, we make our way north. ”
Sean pulled Rhyan back into a hug, his hand tight against his neck, his other hand rubbing his back. Then he looked over his shoulder, his arm extended to him. “Get in here.”
I joined them, warmth spreading through my limbs. Safe. I felt safe. And so happy that Rhyan was back with Sean.
“You’re amazing,” Sean said, his eyes crinkling as they looked at me. “You are so amazing, Lyriana. I cannot thank you enough.”
“Rhyan would have done the same for me. For anyone he loved.”
“I know he would have.” Sean pulled back.
Then suddenly, he dropped to one knee. “This goes without saying. But, when I left Bamaria, I ended my oath to Arkasva Batavia. As did all of my soturi. We’re now forsworn.
But I give my oath, my sword, and my soturi to you.
To both of you. To whatever comes next. If you accept me. ”
Rhyan let out a shaky exhale, and grabbed his uncle’s hands, pulling him back to his feet and clapping his back in another hug. “Of course, we fucking do.”
“Thank you, Sean,” I said.
He shook his head. “No. Thank you. I mean it.” His mouth tightened. “Now let’s go. Get your things.”
I took a moment to reinforce the glamour magic I’d placed on Rhyan, lightening his hair which had started to darken and shining the silver of his armor.
I touched up my own hair, and returned the red shard on my back into the rusted old sword I pretended to carry.
After removing the sparks of gold seeping back into my armor and Asherah’s chest plate, we were ready to go.
We stepped outside, Sean and two more soturi that seemed to appear out of nowhere walking behind us.
Rhyan took my hand in his, and we attempted to walk nonchalantly through the town, back toward the waterway and the main road of buildings that ended with the inn. I glanced over my shoulder, getting an eerie feeling, like we were being watched. And not by Sean. Nor was it akadim.
But we headed inside the inn without incident, our hoods down.
“Afternoon,” said the innkeeper. She was one half of a married couple who owned the place.
“Afternoon,” I said. “We’ll be checking out now.” I smiled. “We’re on our way, to get the rest of our luggage.”
“Oh,” she said. “You’re paid up for another three days. Do you want me to get you a refund?”
I shook my head. That would take too long, and require her to spend more time with us—looking at our faces.
“Oh no, that’s quite all right,” I waved her off.
“It was a lovely stay,” Rhyan said.
The innkeeper stilled, looking him up and down. “Huh. You know, I don’t think I’ve ever heard your accent before.”
I stiffened. Shit. Rhyan looked just like Auriel, especially with the change in hair color. But I’d totally forgotten that he didn’t sound like him. Not unless he was using his utmost formal court voice.
Rhyan forced a laugh. “Oh. It comes and goes,” he said neutrally.
“He served in the North. Apprenticed in one of their academies. Sometimes it just comes out.” I laughed. “Well, we’ll be on our way then.”
I tugged on Rhyan’s hand, hurrying him to the stairs and back to the room where I shoved the door behind us. I leaned back against it and closed my eyes. Fuck.
“I’m sorry,” Rhyan said. “I totally forgot—”
“I did, too.” I took a deep breath.
“Do you think she’s going to be a problem?” Rhyan asked.
“I’ve hardly seen any soturi this far west.”
“I don’t know. I’ve come to expect everyone to be a problem.
” I took a deep breath. “Let’s just get our things, and get back to Sheldon’s.
I’ll feel much better once we’re there.” Once I knew we had an actual guard watching our backs.
And even more so once we crossed the damn border out of Korteria. Or New Korteria. Whatever.
We combed through the room, gathering all of my things.
And Auriel’s—Rhyan’s now. It only took a few minutes since we didn’t have much—most of what we owned we were wearing.
Our armor, our shards, our weapons. And my stave.
But there were first aid supplies, extra sleep clothes, an extra cloak that could be used for bedding.
I knew now from my travels just how important these resources could be.
One final sweep of the room, checking the closet and under the covers, and we left. I returned to the front desk, and handed over the keys.
“Thanks again for everything,” I said, wishing it was her husband here. He was not nearly as interested in the guests.
“Of course,” she said. “I hope you’ll come and visit us again.”
“We’d love that,” I said.
“Oh, and I’ve been meaning to tell you …” Her eyes narrowed. “I love that hair color on you.”
My throat went dry. “Thank you.”
Rhyan wrapped his fingers around my arm, already dragging me toward the door.
“Bye now,” he said formally. “Enjoy the day.”
“You, too,” the innkeeper called, a sickening smile on her lips.
The moment we touched the ground outside, we were fucked. Five soturi of Ka Kormac waited on the waterway.
“Excuse me,” called the leader, the turion I assumed from the looks of him.
Blond like they all were, with black beady eyes, and that fucking wolfish gleam in his smile.
He was at least a foot taller than the others standing behind him.
“We’ve had some strange reports of akadim in the area. Mind if we speak with you two?”
I watched Rhyan from the corner of my eye.
We were armed, and we had soturi waiting in the shadows.
If we had to fight, we could. But it would fuck up the plan.
And absolutely destroy any semblance of secrecy we had.
Before, I’d needed to remain anonymous so no one interfered with my search for Rhyan.
But now? We had to get fifty soturi into Glemaria without word reaching Devon Hart. A misstep here and the plan could fall to shit before we even started.
“I haven’t seen any,” Rhyan said, his voice still devoid of his accent. “Though there was some odd stuff happening in the meadows. Looks like part of the Wall of the Prince fell.”
“Yes,” said the turion. “Possibly akadim activity.”
“We were just passing through,” I said. “Small holiday. We’re heading back east though. Back home.”
The turion stepped forward. “Home? And where is home for you two?”
“Vrukston,” I said quickly. It was the name of the first town I’d visited with Auriel.
“Vrukston?” the turion asked, one hand on the hilt of his sword. “And how long have you been staying here?”