Page 142 of House of Embers
“I can do it,” Fordham said, ignoring her. “I will wield it.”
Kerrigan looked back at her love. “I could never risk you.”
“So we can riskyoubut not me?”
“I have his blood. I have his magic. The crown is most likely to recognize me. That’s the point. Titania’s isolation was waiting for someone of his line to right the wrongs. She has done her time. She has paid her debt by her disappearing and then giving us the information we need to fix these things. This is what it has all led up to.”
“But—”
“You said that I had to lead,” she told him with tears in her eyes. “So let me lead.”
He took her hand in his and pressed a kiss to it. “I said I could not survive this without you too.”
“And that we would do it together,” she promised him.
“Yes,” he agreed. “Together.”
“Go with my blessing,” Titania said as she placed her hand on where theirs joined. “May you find the crown. May you wield it and win this war.”
Kerrigan nodded at her. “And then your isolation is over.”
Titania nodded once. She clapped her hands, and the magic dissolved all around them. Suddenly they were standing back on the outside of Titania’s magic in their snow gear.
Fordham cursed as they both adjusted to the freezing temperatures again. “Promise me something, Kerrigan. If we do not find the crown this time, we will leave this foolish burden behind.”
“Yes,” she agreed easily.
Because she knew where it was.
Chapter Fifty
The Metal Crown
A second later, Fordham jumped them out of the snow and back into the mountain cave. The riders were long gone, and only Aurelie remained. They recalled their dragons and were back in the skies within hours. Kerrigan argued for using her bangle, but Fordham insisted that they needed all the magic they could get. If she found the crown, then she couldn’t risk it.
It was nearly midnight when they landed back in the aerie. Aurelie headed to find her family. The poor girl was exhausted from the three quick flights, but she didn’t say so much as a word as she disappeared. They hadn’t told her what had happened on the mountaintop, neither of them trusting that it wouldn’t get out to the troops. It was suspicious enough that they’d fled right before they were supposed to be leaving for battle.
Thankfully no one else was in the aerie when they arrived so they didn’t have to make any explanations for their rushed return either. Dozan’s spies would likely whisper in his ear, but hopefully Kerrigan would be done with what needed doing before he heard.
“Well, we’re back,” Fordham said. “Where to now?”
“Down.”
They started down the long, winding steps inside Ravinia Mountain. She had lived here long enough that she had a better sense of direction. To think, the first time she had ever been here, she had been terrified that they’d kill her. Now she could walk the halls like it was her home—and soon she would be their queen. So long as they won.
“Titania said that Samil was dead,” Kerrigan began, retracing the path she’d taken in her mind for where the crown would be. If she gave Fordham the pieces, surely he’d put it together too. “Samil was Irena’s father, but Samil is also…”
Fordham frowned. “Descended of Mab?”
“Yes. And so are you, through Mab’s line through Samil.” Kerrigan came to a stop before the door that led even lower in the mountain—the etched eye that stared back at them. “Which makes you descended of Irena as well.”
“Not necessarily,” Fordham argued. “Samil had many children. Irena was just one of many.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “I considered that. I think that the entire House of Shadows is descended from Samil’s line. Branched away long ago to the children with gifts—shadow wielding, lightning, and ice. The powers that only the House of Shadows possesses.”
“What are you saying?”
Kerrigan grasped a torch and lit the way as she yanked open the door. “Irena wielded shadows.”
