Page 58 of The Last of the Dark Lords

"What—"

This no longer matters. Call my brother.

Cyrus looked to me, but I shook my head. "I don't know how to call him."

Vazzart has spoken to you, the only one of your family in generations. Call him, and he will come.

Cyrus released my hand and stood behind me, resting his hands on his shoulders. I felt his sweet breath on my neck. I closed my eyes and Iremembered.

The buck, here in this clearing. I called out to him. The majestic antlers. The deep blue eyes that I lost myself in. The drip of water in the prison cell.

He was there. He was the enormous buck. He was the gurgling stream. He was the still pool.

"My lord." Grandmother was weak, but she understood what she was seeing, the presence she was feeling. "Please..."

The god did not answer her, but instead turned his presence to me.

Child, you have no need of concern.

But—

You have already made your choice. You pledged yourself to the people of Fyr. In my presence, you swore to take on their suffering. I granted you my favor. Did you think I’d allow my power to be used in this way?

“But…” I had no answer.

“No!” The scream ripped from my grandmother’s throat. “God of the Water and the Forest, protect my legacy! I have given my life for this city. Do not let it fall.”

The world shifted as the god turned his attention to the Prime.

You have lost your way. The only enemy of Greatfalls here is you.

She fell to her knees. Her blood pooled on the ground around her.

"Please...my people. They should not have to sacrifice. Just so thathispeople can continue to eke out their miserable existence?"

Prime of Greatfalls. Did you think I would allow you to misuse my artifact? It is blasphemous. Your city is safe under the rule of the Lords of Ashfuror.

One last tremor shook her tiny body, and she collapsed. She was gone. She had given her life for what she believed.

I felt nothing. Cyrus' arms gripped tightly around me, reminding of my foundation, of the support I now had. But there was no grief. I had already grieved for the family I wished I had, over and over again. There were no tears left to shed.

The god turned to us. The power of his presence overwhelmed us both, and we fell to our knees.

You have promised yourselves to both the water and the flame. Greatfalls is now yours. Treat all of Fyr better than those who came before you.

"We will," Cyrus and I said together.

Good. You have earned your respite. But do not rest too long. You have much to do.

Chapter 19

Epilogue (Two Months Later)

It was the day of the wedding. Which also happened to be the day of the coronation. The real rituals had already happened. These were ceremonial events for the citizens of Ashfuror and of Fyr, and I didn't begrudge them that. The people needed a public sign of stability after everything that had happened.

It had helped that there was a small but significant lessening of suffering with Safehold Reservoir providing water to Fyr once again. It hadn’t been a complete solution - there hadn’t been enough water to fully counteract the drought - but it had made the crisis go from desperate to simply difficult. There was a surprising amount of support for the action in Greatfalls at first, but that had been tempered by the water rationing that we’d instituted over the last months. Lifewasharder there, but it was a loss of comfort rather than a loss of life. For the moment, it was a burden the people were willing to bear, even if there was some grumbling.

They all deserved a celebration.

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