Page 77 of Prince of Blaze and Embers
The Stormscales had arrived. We were all determined to take the fight to the Blaze Queen's doorstep. No longer would we passively wait for her to make her next move.
A deep breath settled my heart and mind, and I looked around the room. The friends I'd made along this journey were here, together with me. The sacrifices we'd made had brought us closer than I ever imagined possible. And Cornelius... The old tortoise who had been my guide for almost as long as I could remember. Iknow he still had secrets to share, and I hoped that one day, I'd have the time to learn them all.
As we walked out of the sanctuary, I could feel the power within me growing stronger. The magic that had once seemed so foreign and frightening now felt like a part of me. Like an extension of my soul.
Errax was waiting outside, her emerald eyes shimmering in the sunlight. As I approached her, she lowered her head to my hand, allowing me to stroke the scales behind her horns. Her presence was comforting, a reminder of the bond we shared and the battles we'd fought together.
"We did it, girl," I whispered to her, a smile creeping onto my lips. "We fought the Blaze Queen, and we're still alive."
Errax growled in response, her wings rustling in the breeze. She knew the war was far from over, but she also knew that we were ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Cade, Bella, Hunter, and I looked out over the vast forest that stretched out before us. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the treetops. The forest was alive with the sounds of nature, the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves filling the air.
"We'll need to rest before we set out again," Cade said, his voice filled with determination. "But we can't stay in one place for too long. The queen won't give up so easily. She'll be back, and she'll be coming for us with all she has."
"Let's gather the Stormscales that have come to aid us," I added, scanning the horizon. "We're on the same side now, against the queen. The queen is wounded, but she's far from defeated."
Bella nodded, her blue eyes filled with conviction. "We need to find the others who share our cause. The ones who have been hidden and forgotten, the ones who have been waiting for a chance to rise up against the queen. We need to gather our allies and prepare for the final battle."
I turned to face them, my heart filled with a renewed sense of purpose. "We can't give up now. Not when we've come so far. We've fought the queen, we've learned the truth about who we are, and we've found hope in the midst of darkness. We can do this. We can defeat the queen and bring an end to this war."
Cade met my gaze, a smile playing on his lips. "Together, we can. Together, we will."
The future was uncertain, the road ahead filled with challenges and dangers we had yet to face. But with the help of my friends, the strength of our bond, and the wisdom of the mystic, I knew that we had a chance to change the world. A chance to create a future where love and hope could flourish, where the bonds of slavery could be broken, and where the tyranny of the Blaze Queen could be brought to an end.
"This time though..." the words seethed in anger and determination as they left my lips, "...we take the fight to her."
The End
