Page 105 of House of Embers
Kerrigan quickly introduced Zina and Cleora, who got along immediately.
Cleora turned back to Kerrigan. “I assume you have a reason for calling me and for talk of He Who Reigns’ ascendancy?”
“Has anyone found the metal crown?” Kerrigan asked.
“Many have journeyed to the mountains where the crown was claimed to have been buried. He Who Reigns himself sent expeditions, but no one has ever located it.”
“It’s in our world,” Kerrigan told her.
Cleora’s eyes widened. “Ah. Well, that would explain a lot. And have you discovered it?”
“We’re looking.”
“Should I even begin to impart how dangerous this is?” Cleora asked.
“It might be our only way to win this war unless you think Keres Andromadix would jump over.”
Cleora frowned. “No, I do not think your mother is free. Just be careful. The weapon was made out of the death of one of the most powerful Domaran gods in existence. It holds the blood of He Who Reigns and Fairgate. It was made with ill intent and will bestow ill intent on anyone who handles it.”
“You’re going tofindit?” Danae asked. “And wait…it’s really real?”
Kerrigan explained how it had been used by the Fae to bind the dragons. Cleora looked scandalized, but explaining the curse put on it made a lot of sense. The crown was made for that sort of thing.
“If you use this,” Cleora warned, “for good or evil, it will exact a price, Kerrigan. Are you prepared for what that could be?”
“If it’s how we win the war,” Kerrigan told her.
Cleora nodded. “Make sure you know what you’re willing to give up for it.”
“I will. Do you have any idea how I could track this thing down? Where it might be? How to look for it?”
“There is no such thing.”
Danae leaned forward. “Actually, one of my father’s gladiators was a hunter of the crown. He said that the same pure white crystal that was used for the knife that killed Fairgate was a way to find magical artifacts.”
“They could not have been that intelligent if they continued looking for the crown when it was not even in Domara,” Cleora muttered.
“But they found other artifacts,” Danae argued. “It’s not nothing.”
“Pure white crystal,” Kerrigan said with a frown. “I wonder if they mean tendrille. Does it have magic immunity properties?”
“Yes!” Danae said. “That’s the one.”
“All right. It’s worth a try. Thank you. Both of you.”
“Good luck,” Cleora said. “Now, if you are going to win this war, we should finish our final lesson, should we not?”
“Energy magic?” Kerrigan gasped. “Is it really time?”
Cleora nodded once. “In theoretical spiritcasting, energy magic is the most difficult art to master and the one that has the most chance of backfiring. It should not be used lightly as it can easily kill everyone in the vicinity as well as yourself.”
“My kind of weapon,” Zina teased.
“I’ve used it before,” Kerrigan said. “Twice actually. Without knowing that I was using it. It was like a defense mechanism when I was going to be killed. I just exploded, and then everyone around me was dead.”
Danae covered her mouth with her hand. Zina looked appreciative.
But Cleora just shook her head. “That’s dangerous. It could have burned your magic out. It should always be intentionally used. Otherwise, you will self-destruct like a dying sun.”
