Page 144 of The Cruel Dawn

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To see my mother?

To see Veril?

Sybel should be here.

Or have all three spoken the word, choosing to leave this place instead of waiting to reunite with me? Is Father here? If Vallendor is gone, he’ll be here, too.

“Are we going to see my family?” I ask the daxinea.

She doesn’t respond. She drifts up and out of the canyon, crooning a song as she soars.

Dawn only shines

When it shines through the haze.

You, Precious One,

Are the fury and blaze…

I know this song. I know this song because I wrote it just for her.

PART IV

METAMORPHOSES

Beloved of Aetherium, Vallendor,

Vallendor, twilight kissed.

Wolves stalk these shadows deep

And lambs stalk these shadows deep.

I blessed you with fire to light their way.

Arise from the ashes to light their way.

Arise from embers to light their way, that they may

dance through flames,

That they may pray, these flames are those that

curl and cleanse.

Beloved of Aetherium, Vallendor,

Vallendor, twilight kissed.

Cold nights spark your terror vast

And barren sands spark your terror vast.

I blessed you with stars to fill your bones.

Soar from the chasms to be restored.

Soar from the abyss to be restored, so that you may

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