Page 170 of The Cruel Dawn
“I take a lot of breaths, dearest,” I say with a smirk. “You’re all those things, and yet I’d strayed so far from who I was—”
“No,” she says. “Even though you became so dangerous that I’d sentenced you to death, you were becoming who you were meant to be. Questioning. Loyal. Compassionate. Frustrating. Driven. There are none like you, Kai, and in your own way, you came around to see all of who you are. The beings of this realm, in this complicated world under tremendous threat, they needed a champion like you to make it this far. The Grand Defenders of those destroyed realms are no longer here, but you are. And hope begins in the dark—didn’t you say that?Youare hope.Youare the dark.Youare the dawn. You are all those things.”
We talk about her budding romance with Calyx; about the next realm she must visit; about those times as girls we’d run through the field of bluebells on Ithlon, the daystar Sandall high above us, the wind in our hair, and the freedom of the open fields stretched out before us.
The daystar soon drifts even lower into the western sky and paints the horizon in shades of burnt orange and deep purple.
Elyn stands with sadness in her eyes and takes my hands in hers. “Will you be all right here?” she asks again.
“Are you still worried about Orewid Rolse?” I ask. “All the Crusaders in Vallendor are dead.”
“I know, but…” She bites her lower lip. “But I didn’t see Rolse on the battlefield or among the dead.”
I shrug. “Running away and dodging fights is what he does, right? Fucking coward.”
“The Eserime are waiting for you at the Sanctum,” she says. “With all this lovely quiet, remember that you have work to do.”
I nod. “Don’t worry—I’ll join them soon.”
We hug, and I tightly squeeze the woman I’d hated for too long.
“You’ll visit?” I ask.
She walks down the pathway, and red cardinals immediately flutter around her. Two more sentinels wait at the foot of the walkway.
“Of course,” she says, walking backward. “I helped save this place. I have to make sure you don’t mess it up again.”
“And we’re visiting Sianiodin together, yes?”
She nods. “Right after Calyx and I…”
“Read every book in the abbey?” I ask, eyebrow cocked.
“Is that what it’s called now?” Elyn says, smirking.
I wave and blow her a kiss.
She blows a kiss back.
Sister.
Friend.
…
Veril’s amulet now hangs over the entryway to the sitting room. A new fire burns in the hearth, and the room smells of cinnamon and pine. The wooden floors sparkle, and outside the cottage’s windows, the halved nightstar hangs against the violet sky.
Once word spread that I preferred living in these woods instead of the Sanctum above Gasho, the people of Vallendor started to make pilgrimages here. Now, Raqiel sentinels stand at the bottom of the crooked walkway that Veril had once hidden. I hide that walkway any time I tire of being Lady of the Verdant Realm. Tomorrow, I will join the Eserime, Mera, and Renrian council of Vallendor, and we’ll discuss our plans for ongoing restoration. King Exley will request to lead this task, and Queen Alinor will request trade routes be rebuilt. Gasho and the new priests and ancresses have already asked that I attend their upcoming celebration.
Shari awakens from her nap in front of the fire. She stands and bounds over to the door.
Someone knocks.
I frown. It’s too late in the day for visitors. I open the door.
He stands there with his right arm wrapped in pristine bandages. He pulses with a blue glow. His skin looks clear, the color of healthy eucalyptus bark. His eyes shine bright lavender, their color at his birth. He smiles and says, “Hey.”
My heart stumbles in my chest and my knees buckle. I sink to the floor, whispering, “Jadon?” A sob bursts from my chest.
