Page 18 of A Blightress of Wrath
Adetailed mapofArcaynenIslewas spread out before us on the white marble floor ofViridis.Thegarden library had once housed the most maps on the entire isle.Now, it contained only a handful of rolled pieces of parchment in long tubes tucked into the shelves.Threequarters of the stacks were mere crumbling dust whenIhad searched for the mapsIknewViridisused to hold.ButtheBlight, which had ravaged its way throughViridisfor years, had taken its toll on this section.
“Thistrail”—Ilyennapointed—“is no longer there.TheCarrowRoadwas widened beforeIwas born and this one lost its use.”
Ilyenna,Clairannia,Figuerah, andIknelt on the hard floor, peering over the only complete map ofArcaynenIcould find.Evenoutdated by a hundred years, it was the best we had.
“You’resure?”Iquestioned. “Becausethat road would certainly be the fastest route fromLythglyntoRadyx.”Ipointed to the small city at the base of the foothills of the mountains whereMadameZoreyahwould meet us in one week.Wewould gather some of her channelers and others in theSpireto train inFelgren, building our forces against theBlightress.
Ilyennanodded, cupping her swollen belly as she leaned forward, tracing the trail with her finger. “Evenwhen it was used, it was difficult to traverse.ThewordTectusmeans?—”
“Hidden,”Ifinished, nodding.Thenglancing to her face,Iput a hand on her shoulder. “Sorry.Idon’t mean to interrupt.Please, go on.”
Shegave me a sheepish grin and continued. “Yes.TectusTrailmeans hidden trail in the magical language.Itwas carved out by sheep herders who traveled from the foothills of the mountains to theSpireto sell wool.”
Figuerahadded, “Thestory goes that the trail was outlawed by aMadamea hundred years ago, after the mother of one of the channelers killed by the madBaronjumped from the highest cliff to her death.It’ssaid to be haunted by her spirit and no one goes there.”
Clairanniaasked, “TheBaronwho killed his channelers after theirOfferings?”
“Yes.Baron…”Figuerahlooked to me to fill in the name.
“Ereyth,”Ianswered. “BaronEreythwas the man who killed his channelers right after he’d gathered them from theirOfferingsinHyrithia.”Isighed and rubbed the back of my neck. “Karusrecently learned theBlightresshad a hand in that as well.”
Clairanniagasped. “TheBlightressactually killed them?”
“No.Notaccording to her, anyway.TheBlightresstoldKarusshe killed theBaronafter he murdered his channelers.Sheclaimed it wasn’t the first timeEreythhad hurt women.”
“Whywould she care what he did?”Ilyennaasked, sitting back and tucking her feet underneath her.
“Idon’t know,”Ianswered. “AllIknow is that event began theTreatyandBaronThaliushad already been training asBaronEreyth’sreplacement for a year.BaronThaliuswas the one to sign theTreatyand adhere to it.”
“Nochannelers could be taken fromHyrithia?”Ilyennaquestioned.
Ihuffed, staring down at the map. “NotuntilKarusanyway.”
“BaronThalius…”Figuerahstarted. “WheredoIknow that name?”
Ididn’t glance up asImumbled, “Heimlen’spredecessor.”
Figuerah’shand reached for mine and squeezed. “Thenwe got you.ThenKarus.”Shesmiled, her honey eyes sparkling asClairanniaplaced her hand over mine as well. “ThebestBaronsFelgrenhas ever seen.”
Ichuckled, pulling my hand out from under theirs and squeezing them both back before standing and shoving them into my pockets. “Thankyou for your help.It’ssettled for certain then.Weleave in the morning.Alleleven of us.”
“You’restill bringingPhilius?”Figuerahasked, folding her arms at her chest. “Yousaid theBlightresscan access his mind.WhatifKaruscannot teach him to block her out before we leave?Whatif he lets slip something important?”
Ibent down to roll up the map, sliding it back into its blackened wood tube. “Shecan help him.She’sthe only one who’s been able to help him in anything so far.Wewon’t discuss important details around him.We’llkeep him in the dark, but he needs to train,Figuerah.”
Shescoffed. “Whathe needs is a boot to his royal behind.”
Ilaughed, catchingClairannia’ssnicker. “Perhaps.ButIbelieve in him.Hehas a part yet to play here.Ican feel it.”
Figuerahsighed, pulling an arm aroundClairannia’sshoulders. “Ifyou’re done with us,Rev, we’ve got a nursery to help plan.”
Clairanniasquealed excitedly and began talking about a certain painting she had in mind for the ceiling of the baby’s room.
Itucked the wooden tube under my arm, hopingViridiswould let me leave with it.Iturned toIlyennawho stood, gripping the railing overlooking five floors to the garden courtyard below.
Itugged at her sleeve, saying, “Don’thold that.Idon’t trust the integrity of these rails anymore.”Igestured around as she let go and took a step back. “Whilewe’re gone, this isPompeii’sproject.He’salready ordered workers from theSpireto come replace what’s been lost to theBlight.”
Shehummed in agreement. “Therails on this floor are solid.It’sthe third floor to the east you need to replace first.”Shepointed across the hall to the blackened rails below.
