Page 178 of The Demon Tide

The horrific realization hits with ravaging strength, like a dagger-strike to my soul, the breath seizing in my lungs as I take in the vast river before us, dotted with countless boats sparkling with violet light, the glowing blue borderline and dark tent city just before it. And the tiered mountain city rising from the river’s distant bank, every tier bathed in festive purple light, Noilaan’s protective dome arcing above it all.

Vogel’shere, I think as shock breaks through me.He’s been right here all this time.

Building an army inside the Vo Mountain Range.

Vogel slides our eyes over the river toward the apex of the distant Voloi Mountains, his gaze zeroing in on the exact spot where I imagine Or’myr’s glamoured Vonor to be.

Horror claws through me with unraveling power as the thought sears into being—

You’re a warrior, Elloren. Fight him.

Lukas’s words blaze through my mind and I choke against them, grappling with my terror, but the words hold firm.

He’d want you to rise up.

He’d want you to fight.

A vicious calm descends as love for Lukas burns through me, charring my fear to ash as the will to fight gains bright, gleaming claws. Incandescent with mounting fury, I tense every affinity line to the breaking point, draw on every last ungrayed shred of my fire power, then blast my aura outward in a violent torrent.

Straight through Vogel’s branching tree.

The tree explodes with dark lightning, Vogel’s fury scything through me as I fling his Shadow off my lines and the scene blinks out of sight.

In a heartbeat I’m back on Or’myr’s balcony, palms to its stone floor, pulling in great gulps of air, the Wand of Myth and my Ash’rion blade strewn on the floor beside me. Shadow flashes across my vision and a sting races through my hands. Pushing myself onto my knees, I splay my palms out and dread clutches hold.

My fastlines are still overtaken by Shadow, tendrils of smoke curling up.

Pulse surging, I grab my Wand and hoist myself to my feet, peering over the purple Xishlon world toward the dark Vo Mountain Range.

Toward Vogel and his nightmare army.

Vogel’s Shadow power knifes over the fasting and my lines, the invisible branch points stabbing into me, and a pained cry scrapes from my throat. Gripping the railing and Wand, I grit my teeth and hurl my wind power out with repelling force, the air torn from my lungs along with it as I thrust Vogel’s magic firmly back once more.

I see you, Elloren.

I freeze, Vogel’s voice resonating inside my head as a buzz of energy rises along the Wand of Myth’s hilt, warming my palm.

My gaze flies to the Wand just as all the runes Sage marked down my wand arm burst into an explosion of green light. I flinch, the runes’ energy sizzling toward the Wand, their light dimming as the Wand’s verdant glow intensifies.

Hope igniting, I tighten my grip around the Wand’s spiraling hilt. An emotional huff of gratitude bursts from my throat, tears stinging my eyes.

Finally.

The Wand has finally come into its power when I need it most.

Ready to save us all.

A sparking burn sears through my wand hand, green light raying from it. I cry out in pain and confusion, my fingers flying open, and the Wand falls from my hand and rolls over the edge of the balcony.

Horror explodes and I throw myself against the railing, scrambling to catch it only to find it hurtling down toward a distant crevasse.

No. No. No!

An indigo kestrel darts in, catches the Wand in its talons, then speeds northeast, both the bird and the Wand quickly disappearing from sight.

My heart thunders in my chest, my eyes widened in sick astonishment as I stare after it.

It’s gone. The Wand of Myth is gone.

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