Page 240 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
Skibs looked to Saldr and Fely. Saldr said, “It will become difficult for her to return here the longer she is present there. Time works differently in Valora. If she…if she passed first, then her soul will remain there until she chooses to move on. There will be no bringing her back.”
Kase didn’t let go of his mother, but he looked up, clinging to that preciousifwith all his strength. “But there’s a chance?”
“Jagamot’s wording was vague, and he is deceptive—even if Miss Walker is not dead, it would serve his purposes to make us believe so. I would not give up hope until we see for ourselves.” Despite the hopeful words, Saldr’s quiet voice was heavy with dread. “Despite that demon entering the Gate, he will survive. He must be stopped. The last sliver of Toro’s soul lay within. If he destroys it, no sword or anything Miss Walker might do will stop the end to come.”
“I’ll go,” Skibs said, holding the sword Harlan had dropped. “When we kill him, I should be able to bring us back through the Gate to the right time and place.”
“I’m going, too,” Kase said. If there was even a chance Hallie could be saved, he would find her. He would bring her home. That had always been his promise.
“As will we,” Stowe said, at the same time Zelda snapped, “I’m not leaving her alone with that monster.”
Monster was too tame. Kase would end the helviter.
Kase tightened his hold on his mother before kissing her clammy cheek. “I love you.”
His mother reached and squeezed his hand, but she couldn’t get any words out. Kase understood.
It didn’t feel right leaving her—not now. But Hallie needed him. If he didn’t go, he would never forgive himself. He needed to know if she could be saved. If not, this might be his final goodbye.
He looked at his brother, whose eyes warred between sorrow and anger. Jove nodded. “Come back…or I’ll track you down myself and make whatever Jagamot has planned for you look merciful.”
Kase’s jaw wobbled as he squeezed his brother’s shoulder and then stepped up to the Gate. Skibs handed him his father’s sword. “You take this one.”
The leather grip was warm and the weight of the weapon was perfect. It felt right in his hands. Saldr reached out and handed Skibs the shadow sword. “I am needed here among my brethren.”
Fely stepped around Kase and placed a hand on Skibs’ shoulder. “If you see Filip, please tell him your uncle is gone. He can no longer hurt anyone else. I…I want him to know.”
Skibs didn’t react other than to say, “Of course.”
She and Saldr passed by and waited on the other side of the corridor. Kase looked back one more time at his family. His mother watched him, her blue eyes red and swollen. His brother held her still, ever the eldest brother, the one who kept them all together. First Ana, then Zeke, now his father. Half his family was dead. Would Kase be next?
He gripped the sword tighter and tore himself away from the sight. The image through the Gate was beautiful and peaceful, unlike the one behind him. Flowers dotted the rolling hillside. A little cottage sat tucked into the trees. Majestic blue mountains stood like kings in the distance. “This the right one?”
Skibs nodded. “To the end, brother.”
“To the end.”
And then Kase stepped through, golden light blinding him once again.
I’m coming, Hals. Just hold on. For me.
Chapter 47
JUST BEYOND
Hallie
THE NEXT DAY BROUGHT ON tired eyes and a need for something stronger than peppermint tea—and tasted much better than whatever Jack had in those tea bags. Wind howled and battered the cottage all night long, though Jack insisted it was normal. She’d told him most of her story, and sleep hadn’t come easily afterward. The sleep she did get was much too light, thrust awake by every quake and quiver in the storm-ridden night.
Her brother let her have his bed while he slept in the loft, and at dawn, he yanked the covers away to wake her so they could go into the village to track down Gran—and some breakfast.
She still hadn’t forgiven him for the rude awakening.
The early morning sunlight hitting the meadow daisies just right was exactly what Hallie needed. She ached to sketch the scene with the mountains in the background and the achinglycozy cottage tucked into the towering oaks. If this was truly dead, then maybe it wouldn’t be so bad when it was actually her turn to stay.
Jack led her around the cottage and toward the chicken coop. “Need to check in on the girls before we go. They appreciate the doting, ‘specially since Gran didn’t greet ‘em last night.”
Hallie rolled her eyes, but she followed along. The nightmare of yesterday faded a little in the fresh morning air. Hopefully Gran—Navara—would know how she could get back to Kyvena and be able to help her get started.
