Page 164 of The Cruel Dawn
I head over to Sybel, whose hands hover over the body of a living yet unconscious ancress of Gasho. “Will she survive?” I ask.
Sybel offers me an encouraging smile. “She and several others will pull through. This province is not entirely a graveyard.”
I bow my head. “And am I closer to who I was meant to be?”
Sybel takes my hand in hers. “You aremore. That’s all we ever wanted.” She squeezes my hand and adds, “Lyra would fall in love with you all over again.”
My father talks with his generals, their voices low but firm, discussing the division of work that lies ahead. He’s changed out of his dirty orange-and-red robes and now wears a sleek gown made of black fabric that drapes elegantly over his broad shoulders.
I approach the group, offering a quiet but heartfelt thanks for all they’d done for Vallendor and for me.
Father rests his hand lightly on my shoulder, a silent command to stay beside him until the other Mera leave us to carry out his orders. Once they leave us:
“How did it feel to fight again?” I ask him, smiling.
He chuckles. “My blood moved through my veins like lightning. But my heart aches… I don’t miss this part.” He gazes out at a realm that cries out for healing—the sick, the dead and dying, the choking smoke, the remnants of life crumpled and crumbling beneath the weight of destruction. Exhaustion lines his face. He sees that so much has been lost.
I see it, too.But!There’s evidence of good things to come, a hopeful future after the chaos.
I point to the growing pool of water that would take humans half a day to reach. “That will soon be a new lake that will quench the thirst of those living here.”
I point to the large gaps in the land to the west. “Those will be beautiful canyons. Though the dirt is now red with blood, it will one day become another place of new life and learning. A river will run through it all, and it will be one of the most beautiful places on Vallendor. And—”
I pause, allowing the weight of the possibilities to sink in. “Gasho will once again become a center for knowledge, for growth, for everything this land was before and shall be.”
It will take time, but even the deepest scars will one day be flooded with new life.
And I’ll see it through.
Still…my face falls as I consider another truth. “If I hadn’t been defeated so many times—”
“Those defeats still moved you toward victory,” Father says, lifting my chin. “And now, you stand here and Vallendorians will once again feel your love. They’ll crave your touch, and that will lead them to each other.”
I smile and say, “Yes.”
“Lord Megidrail?” Another Mera general approaches with a large, heavy bag. She opens the pack and presents the contents to us: Danar Rrivae’s scythe and amulet.
“Will you take all of it back to Linione?” I ask Father.
“Immediately.” He nods back to his general and then turns to kiss my forehead. “Return to the abbey after you set everyone their tasks for the next age. Let’s have dinner together before I return to Linione.”
I nod, smile, and accept another kiss on the forehead. I say nothing as he steps back with apop!
He’s gone—only a lick of Spryte flame marks where he just stood.
Elyn stands at the entrance to the Temple of Celestial, her armor dull with dried blood, her hair stuck to her skull with the same gore, and her mouth set in a frown.
I groan. “Don’t you bring me bad news now.”
Her frown deepens.
My pulse flares in my chest.“What?”
…
“So where is he, then?” I ask, following Elyn back out to the blood-soaked desert, alarm hot in my throat.
“I don’t know,” Elyn admits as she leads me across this transformed landscape.
