Page 333 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Kolis is too strong. He will fight back,” Phanos stated, and I glanced at Rhaharand Saion. Neither looked happy as the Primal continued. “And he’ll fightdirty.” His gaze flicked to me. “You already know that.” He exhaled heavily andlifted his chin. “I’m sorry, but I cannot swear fealty to either of you or lendmy support.”

Bitter disappointment swelled, its weight nearly crushing.We were offering him a chance to rule equally and live without fear. How couldhe reject that? But I already knew the answer. Fear. All the Primals who remained, and even the two who had left, hadborne the brunt of Kolis’s anger in the past.

“Then you will stand with Kolis?” Ash demanded, his voice acold shadow that slipped over the floor and walls.

“I’d rather not stand with him either,” he replied.

I frowned. “But you won’t have a choice.”

“Not unless he forces my hand. Until then, I will remain onmy island and stay uninvolved,” he confirmed, and Saion smirked. The Primaldidn’t miss that. “You don’t like my answer?”

“I’m not surprised by your answer,” Saion corrected. “Yousee, this is not your problem until it becomes your problem. You believe thatstaying uninvolved absolves you of responsibility for what will happen, but thething is, Your Highness, doing nothing is doing something.”

Phanos’s jaw hardened as he staredat the god who’d once served him. A moment passed. “Then so be it.” His silverygaze fixed on Ash and me. “I’m hoping I have a choice and will be allowed toleave, unlike having no choice in coming here.”

I looked at Ash, and he nodded. “You may leave,” I said. “Noone will stop you.”

He hesitated, then nodded. “I wish you all the best.”

I pushed down the disappointment. “Phanos?”

The mist rising from his legs slowed. “Yes?”

“You asked me to remember what you did for me when the timecame,” I said. “I will.”

CHAPTER FIFTY

“Well.” Attescleared his throat, breaking the tense silence left in the wake of Phanos’s departure. “I assume all those who remain havedone so because we are of like minds?”

There were several nods.

“Then let’s get this show on the road.” Attesstepped forward and knelt, placing his left palm against the stone floor. “Iwill happily reaffirm that oath.”

I jolted as essence crackled from his right hand. Allthoughts of Phanos and the others vanished as rawenergy licked over his palm before shifting into a pommel and then a hilt. The eather spun out, forming a long blade. He crossed the swordof eather over his chest.

“With my sword and my life,” he said, his voice echoingthroughout the chamber. “I swear to you, the One who is born of Blood and Ash, theLight and the Fire, and the Brightest Moon, the true Primalof Life and the Queen of the Gods and Common Man.”

Gods, that was still such a long title.

I felt something in my chest. Something different than whenhe’d made the pledge before. This sensation was very similar to how the embersfelt, as if a piece of Attes’s essence now residedinside me.

His gaze shifted to Ash. “And I swear to you, the Asher, theOne who is Blessed, the Guardian of Souls and the Primal God of Common Men andEndings, to honor your command with the full might of Vathi.” Attes bowed his head.

The flames above the candles flickered wildly as a ripple ofenergy coursed through the chamber.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

A dimple appeared on Attes’scheek.

“You may rise,” Ash said. “And you also have my thanks.”

Attes’s head lifted, and the swordof eather collapsed. Both dimples were out in fullforce as he rose. I was happy to see them.

Bele stepped forward, her gaze locking with mine. “I knowyou’re probably thinking that it’s unnecessary for me to do this.”

I was.

“But it’s not. I’m proud to do it,” Bele said, lookingbetween Ash and me before following suit. A sword of eatherappeared in her right hand. “With my sword and my life, I swear to you, the Onewho is born of Blood and Ash, the Light and the Fire, and theBrightest Moon, the true Primal of Life and the Queen of theGods and Common Man. And I swear to you, the Asher, the One who is Blessed, theGuardian of Souls and the Primal God of Common Men and Endings, to honor yourcommand with the full might,” Bele paused, raising her eyebrow sardonically,“of Sirta.”

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