“Unfortunately, it would take weeks to get fae forces here. And with our queen dead, we do not have a current sitting ruler,” the male explained. Spirits, I hadn’t even considered the mess taking place on Vercuella right now. “My sister and I stand with the warriors in this battle, though. As devout worshippers of the goddess, we will do anything we can to protect her.”
Santorina shifted at that final sentence, but I didn’t quite understand why.
Oudry nodded, seeming encouraged by Lancaster’s answer.
“I think there is an important question no one has asked,” Zaina interjected, and her stare landed on me. “Even if a force is assembled to challenge Echnid, how will you kill a god?”
It was the question that had the power to sweep the world out from under me.
I didn’t have an answer. Not a good one. All I knew was the desperation in my gut to destroy Echnid for what he’d done to me and what he wanted to do to the world.
My throat scratched with the uncomfortable sensation of power pouring down it. His taint roared through my body, dulling all my senses.
My body is my own. My mind is my own.
“I do not know how yet,” I admitted, my voice burning with conviction that could melt the snow beyond these walls. “But I will do it with my bare hands if I have to.”
The vow settled into the stone around us like it was becoming one with the magic laced in the earth. For a moment, I wished it could. Wished I could wrench up every drop of ether in Ambrisk’s core and drown the god with that promise.
My body is my own. My mind is my own.
Interjecting to buy me time to collect myself as the memory of Echnid washed over me, Tolek asked, “I’d like to know where the wolves even come from?”
“Clan secrets,” Sandretta said with a sly wink.
Wrapping his arm around his wife, Ricordan elaborated, “There are many legends surrounding them. Some say they originated in another realm, banished here for their sins against the gods. Some say they are blessed by Thorn. Some say they simply grew stronger than normal wolves based on the food in their home region.” He shrugged as if to say,who knows.
Clearing my throat, I said, “Sounds like they would be a perfect match for a vengeful god’s beasts.”
The older warrior smiled at the comment, and it was such a fatherly expression, grief twisted through me.
“Let us confer,” Ricordan said.
“Of course,” I nodded.
The Mindshapers gathered out in the snow, speaking far enough away that none of us could hear—not even Lancaster. Nerves fluttered through my body as we waited, my wings flapping softly at my back and Angellight curling in abstract shapes through the air. Tolek asked Santorina and Lancaster about where they’d been so far, and they updated him on the small group of Bounties they’d found who were now also traveling to Xenovia.
It was working; wewerewinning allies, building an army. But they were all foot soldiers. Regardless of the ferocity in their hearts and righteousness of their cause, none of them would bea match for a gorgon, cerberus, or demigod, let alone the god himself. We neededmore.
And I was afraid to admit how slim the chances of finding it were feeling.
Zaina’s question echoed.How will you kill a god?
I was still stewing over the question when the Mindshapers returned a short while later, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or an obvious rejection.
“We can’t force any legions into another war,” Ricordan said. “Not only would I refuse to do so, but none of us have that power. When Kakias took over the armies, she slew our commanders to bring everyone under her reign, and we still have not appointed a new chancellor.” My heart sank. The Mindshapers didn’t even have a functioning force.
“However,” Ricordan went on, “we owe you a debt for sparing our son any sort of punishment in the war. With your permission, I will spread your story among the heads of the legions who do remain, and I will do my best to argue your case. The choice will be left up to each of them individually if they want to join. And I will tell them the wolves were requested as well.”
A bit of life beat back into my chest as something rustled on the ground beside Tolek. “Thank you,” I said, voice wrung out with gratitude and desperation. “Every body on a field makes a difference.”
“Alabath,” Tol said, and the gravity of his tone had me whipping around, prepared to find white mist creeping across the grounds.
Instead, he held a letter out to me. Vale’s dainty handwriting in Mystique ink.
Plans changed. Valyrie seeing to him. Return as soon as possible.
My heart leapt into my throat. “Thank you for meeting with us,” I said again to Ricordan and his warriors. “But we must go.”
