Page 154 of Born of Blood and Ash

“I…I don’t understand.” Penellaphelowered her cup to the saucer she held. “How is that possible?”

“It would only be possible if another had seen it beforeyou,” Ward surmised, squinting. “Someone who, conveniently, was unable to speakof it.”

“But why would he act as if he had no understanding of myvision?” she asked, twisting toward Ward. “Why would he question me incessantlyabout what I saw—?” The cup she held rattled against the plate. “Every littledetail?”

“He wanted to make sure you didn’t know the completevision,” I told her. “And it was good that you didn’t. Ward is right. I got theimpression that others knew of it and might be no more, including the lastoracle born. And Eythos.”

Eather pulsed behind her pupils. “Wait. Are you saying therewas more to what the Ancients dreamt?”

“According to Kolis, there is.” I took a drink of the teaand then leaned forward, placing the cup on the table. “He claimed there werethree parts—a beginning, a middle, and an end. The first part was what youknow. The desperation of golden crowns and all that. I don’t remember it wordfor word.”

“I do. I’ll never forget it,” Penellaphewhispered, clearing her throat. “From the desperation of golden crowns and bornof mortal flesh, a great primal power rises as the heir to the lands and seas,to the skies and all the realms. A shadow in the ember, a light in the flame,to become a fire in the flesh.” She exhaled raggedly as she stared, her eyesunfocused.

“When the stars fall from the night, the great mountainscrumble into the seas, and old bones raise their swords beside the gods, thefalse one will be stripped from glory until two born of the same misdeeds, bornof the same great and Primal power in the mortal realm. A first daughter, withblood full of fire, fated for the once-promised King.” She cleared her throat.

“And the second daughter, with blood full of ash and ice,the other half of the future King. Together, they will remake the realms asthey usher in the end. And so it will begin with the last Chosen blood spilled,the great conspirator birthed from the flesh and fire of the Primals will awaken as the Harbinger and the Bringer ofDeath and Destruction to the lands gifted by the gods. Beware, for the end willcome from the west to destroy the east and lay waste to all which liesbetween.”

Another chill curled its way down my spine, raising thesmall hairs on my nape. “There is another part,” I said. “A part Kolisclaims is the end of the vision. It’s about the one born of blood and ash, andthe bearer of two crowns. I wish I remembered it exactly, but the title I wasgiven was included in that part. The part about being bathed in the flames—”

“Of the brightest moon.” Penellaphe stood suddenly. “Keella.”

Reaver lifted his head, watching the goddess as I frowned.“What?”

“It was something she said during your coronation.” Penellaphe bent, placing her cup and saucer on the table.“She reacted strongly to the title Nyktos gave you,especially the brightest-moon part.”

I stiffened, remembering they had been sitting togetherduring the coronation. “She inquired about that when she approached us, askingwhy he had chosen that.”

“Clearly, that part references you. The bearer of twocrowns,” Penellaphe stated. “The rightful heir to Lasania, and you as the Consort.”

“That’s what Kolis believes.”

“Is there more?” Ward asked, his forehead creased.

“Yes, and it’s pretty…creepy.” My fingers pressed into myknees. Closing my eyes, I concentrated hard on what Kolis had said.“Great…great powers will stumble and fall. Those left standing will tremble asthey kneel, will weaken as they become forgotten. For finally, the Primalrises, the giver of blood and the bringer of bone, the Primal of Blood and Ash.”I opened my eyes. “That’s not the whole thing exactly, but it’s thegeneral gist of it.”

Penellaphe stared at me, her lipsparted. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if she breathed.

“He thinks it’s talking about him,” I continued. “That hewill make the great powers stumble and fall as he rises as the Primal of Bloodand Bone.”

Penellaphe continued to stare.

“Are you all right?” Ward asked, touching her arm. A momentpassed before she nodded. “Then can you sit?”

Her gown billowed around her as she did as he asked.

“And maybe speak?” I added. “You’re starting to make menervous.”

Penellaphe blinked rapidly. “He…hesays that’s the end of the prophecy?”

“Yes.”

Her hands curled into tight fists as strands of eather lashed through her eyes. “He’s wrong.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

“I know what I saw. Wars yet to take place.Cities yet to fall and rise once more. I saw them hundreds of yearsfrom now. Longer. A near millennium. I saw her. The Queen of Flesh andFire in the mortal realm, where blood trees grow.”

“I remember you speaking of her and a King.” I racked mymemory. “You said they…felt right.”

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