Page 58 of Fading Sun

“On the plane, when I was researching how to make my blade stronger, one of the other words I thought about using was fortis. Strength,” he says. “If I inscribe it on the crystals, maybe they can survive more than one blast.”

“You’re going to do what to the crystals?” the Abbot asks.

“Use my magic on them,” Blaze says coolly, keeping his focus on me. “So, what do you think?”

“I’m thinking I have no idea why you waited until now, when we’re down to our final crystals, to mention this,” I say.

“I thought you’d pass the trial on your own, and that I could conserve my magic.” He shrugs, and my cheeks heat with embarrassment at how he’s calling out my failure—even though he’s not wrong.

I look to Morgan to ask her thoughts, but from the way her eyebrows are knitted together in concern, she’s clearly on the fence about the idea.

Blaze is also watching her, waiting.

“Altering the crystals sounds risky,” she finally says. “What if it changes how they refract the light? Or makes them unable to refract it entirely?”

“It’s a risk, but what other choice do we have right now?” he replies without missing a beat.

“You have plenty of other choices,” the Abbot chimes in. “One of them being to admit defeat and leave.”

“Shut up,” I snap at him—a phrase I assume is rarely said to monks—and turn back to Blaze. “I think it’s a good idea.”

We all look to Damien, since he’s yet to give his opinion.

“Use the word indissolubilis instead,” Damien says, and it sounds like an order, not a suggestion. “It means unbreakable—not just strong—which will be more effective.”

“Are you sure?” Blaze asks.

“You’re welcome to dive into that book of yours to verify it,” Damien says. “But I suggest we don’t spend any more time here than necessary.”

Morgan has her dagger out and is studying it, thinking.

Maybe she’ll use her magic to scry and see what we should do? I know she doesn’t want the monks to know what she’s capable of—and given their attack, I don’t blame her for not wanting to trust them with her secret—but any help is welcome right now.

“Do it,” she finally says to Blaze. “You’re right. It’s our best chance to win this trial. We have to try.”

I’m not sure if I’m happy she agrees with us, or annoyed that she doesn’t believe I can get it on my final try.

Either way, it doesn’t matter.

The only thing that matters is doing whatever’s necessary to open that portal.

Amber

“I’ll do my crystal first,” Blaze says, and he takes the quill out of his pack, slicing its tip into his palm before I can blink.

Once it’s coated in his blood, he hovers the quill over the crystal, pausing as he stares down at it.

A few more seconds pass, and he doesn’t start writing.

“Something wrong?” Damien asks, looking slightly pleased with himself.

“All good,” Blaze says, although he hesitates, and quickly adds, “Would you mind spelling the word out for me?”

“No problem.” Damien recites the spelling, and as he does, Blaze carves the letters into his forearm.

Morgan stares on in shock. “Are you making yourself unbreakable?” she asks.

“I wish.” Blaze scoffs. “I can’t do blood magic on myself. I just want to make sure I don’t forget the spelling.”

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