Page 111 of A Blightress of Wrath
“Willyou really use this many?”Istudied the cold metal, but glanced up at him when he didn’t answer.
Hisgaze was haunting.Hisclear blue eyes flicked down to my mouth once.Twice.Istraightened, the air between us shifted, thoughIwas unsure why.Iwas absolutely sure, however, thatIdidn’t mind it.
“Ithink it’s time to go,” he whispered, still staring me down, still emitting that same spark of whatI’dfelt the night before whenI’dpressed my lips to his.
Ibrought my hand back to my side, not daring to touch him further. “Alright,”Isaid, keeping his gaze.
Iwondered briefly if this was it for us.
Ifwe’d never recover from what we shared in a dim hallway midway up theSpire, on the cusp of the looming end to this war that, for me, had only just begun.
Iwondered ifI’dbe able to correctly explain my feelings for him when the time came.Maybehe wouldn’t believe me, and we’d live like this all our lives, never touching, only staring, our bodies humming in a synchronized tune that we’d have to deny forever.
“No,”Iwhispered to myself, shaking my head slightly.Iwouldn’t let that happen.Ihad been the one refusing to risk losing him, but nowI’dbe the one refusing to keep our friendship the same.
“Nowhat?” he murmured back.
Iswallowed. “I?—”
“IfIcould call to order, please!”Mymother’s voice rose through the room, demanding attention.
Wefaced the line of nine portals glowing green as aFelgrenspring.
“Withthe attack on this great city last night, we leave you now to approach the end of this war with theDimming.”Sheglanced to me and continued. “TheBlightresshas haunted our lives for long enough and we are ready to descend upon her lands and put a stop to her tyranny.”Pausing, she took a deep breath, closing her eyes and exhaling long and slow. “Itell you now, there is much hope.BaronRevichis alive.”
Theroom hummed with murmurs and gasps.Iwas suddenly filled with a coldIcouldn’t name and stepped closer toThevin.
“Thiscomes at a great shock,Iknow, but please believe yourBaronwhenItell you, it was not a secretIheld lightly for seventeen years.TheDimmingis no longer just to end this war, it is to makeFelgrenwhole again.”Sheheld my gaze. “Andbring home the father of my daughter.”
Shestepped up to the line of portals. “Pleasespread word of this wonderful news.Letit reach from the ocean to the mountains that all will be restored.”Sheput a fist to her chest. “Holdonto hope.DefytheDark.”
Anecho of agreement shifted through the small crowd.Thevinmimicked the movement beside me and softly smiled down at me.
MadameZoreyahwas the first to enter the portals.Alongsideher billowy golden pants padded a black muri, its face fading to white in old age.Surprised,Iwatched with raised brows as she entered one of the portals while her enormous cat followed through another.
Lannawas next, followed byClairannia.IlyennaandTalonnodded to my mother before stepping through their portals at the same time.Mymother reached out her hand, beckoningThevinand me to join her.
Hedid not let go of my hand as we walked through the crowd to face the last three portals.
“Thevinwill go next, followed by me,” she instructed. “Youwill be last,Sae, and you will stay back.Iwill protect you.Thereis nothing to fear.”
Inodded, untangling my fingers fromThevin’s.Hesmiled at me and left, his portal of brilliant light closing with him now hundreds of miles away.
“Bewell,BaronKarus,” theViceroyspoke and my mother nodded once before stepping into her own portal.Thegreen haze over theSpiredisappeared instantly, leaving the room to brighten in the morning midsummer sun.
Ilooked around, all faces on mine, all thoughts likely on the fact thatIhad a father who still lived and that this war had begun and would end with me.
Ididn’t know ifIshould say anything, but felt the urge to leave them with hope. “Iwill return with my father back toFelgren.Ipromise,Iwill bring him home.AndIwill do whatIcan,”Icontinued, stumbling slightly on my words. “Iwill do whatIcan to end this war and return peace to this isle.Iam sorry to be the cause of so much suffering, but it will not continue.EverythingIhave to give will be spent to end it.”
Thesilence sat, quickening my heartbeat.Inmy nerves,Itook a step toward the last remaining portal.Aclap sounded andIglanced to my left to see theViceroy, tears in his eyes and hope on his face.Cheerscontinued throughout the room as onlookers, peopleIhad never met, but had known of me all my life, hugged each other in hope and the joy that comes from such a thing.
Inodded, forcing back tears of my own and stepped through my mother’s portal.
Chapter50
Thevin
“Rightside, rank up!”Lanna’svoice boomed in the fray of war.Mysword was already drawn, slicing through a black vine, thick as my leg, as it crept over the decayed soil.
