Page 435 of Of Empires and Dust

So many pieces all moving at once, so many threads interwoven. A thousand winding paths, one desired destination.

Allowing so many to die was not an easy thing to do. Fane truly did care for the souls that called the mortal plane home. They were his entire purpose. But to sacrifice a million to save everything… that was not even a question he contemplated. It was not a task in which he found joy, though. Joy was something that had long evaded him.

Everything was in place, and that was all that mattered.

Brother Pirnil was conducting the last of the tests, and now that the Heart was secure, the final step could be taken.

Fane shook his head as he looked down at the pulsing gemstone before him, power radiating from it like the heat of the sun. The irony was not lost on him that, in the hope of breathing life back into the dragon eggs, Eltoar had handed over that very thing.

Fane lifted his gaze from the Heart at the soft sound of footsteps.

Two of the Chosen stood at the chamber’s centre, black eyes fixed on Fane. “We are at your command, Harbinger.”

“Azrim, Tiamit. The time has come. Gather the others and bring Garramon and his apprentice here.”

Chapter 100

What Lurks Beneath

26thDay of the Blood Moon

Berona – Winter, Year 3081 After Doom

Rist dartedabout the room he and Neera had taken in the barracks, stuffing everything he could into his satchel and strapping his sword to his hip.

“Rist, slow down.” Neera grabbed Rist’s shoulders. “Talk to me. What is going on?”

“I need to leave,” Rist answered. “And I’d like you to come with me. You don’t have to, but I want you to.”

“Stop, Rist. Breathe.” Neera drew a slow breath in through her nostrils, exhaling at the same rate, gesturing for Rist to do the same. “The first thing we need to discuss is why you’re only packing books and shoes.”

“It’s all I need.”

“Food?”

“I can find some. Neera, we don’t have time.”

“Rist—”

“They took my parents, Neera.”

“Who did?”

“Fane… or Garramon, or someone… Someone took them and tortured them and pretended that they were all right to keep me here. You… you saw what happened in that mountain. You saw the Draleid, saw Calen. I don’t have all the pieces, but I can see it now… I’ve always seen it a little bit, but…”

“Rist, pieces of what? You need to slow down. I don’t understand.”

Rist remained quiet for a moment. His dad had always said that silence was the quickest way to get someone’s attention. He laid the satchel on the ground and cupped Neera’s cheeks in his hands. “Neera, I need you to trust me. Do you trust me?”

She nodded, pressing her cheek into Rist’s hand. “Always.”

“I can’t stay here any longer. I need to go home. But I need to find Garramon first. There are things I must hear in his voice. Will you come with me?”

“I go where you go.”

“I’m sorry,” Rist said, kissing Neera on the forehead.

“For what?”

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