Page 106 of A Cage of Crystal

“A ward woven to keep the Blood of Darius at bay.”

“Can the Veil be destroyed?”

“When true Morkara is born, the Veil will be torn, setting into motion the end of the Blood of Darius.”

Desmond’s voice deepened. “Who is thistrue Morkara? How will they end the Blood of Darius?”

Emylia winced, her eyes darting rapidly now. “The true Morkara is the Blood of Ailan, born under the black mountain. He will unite three crowns and return El’Ara’s heart.”

“But who is this person? Where can I find the true Morkara?”

Emylia paused, head bobbing slightly side to side. “You will never know him.”

Desmond’s jaw tightened.

“But…but you may find his mother.”

“Who is his mother?”

She winced again, and a sheen of sweat coated her brow. “She too is the Blood of Ailan, but with the beauty of Satsara. She has the blood of the witch, blood of the Elvyn, and blood of the crown. The unicorn will signify her awakening.”

“What about this black mountain you mentioned?”

“A black mountain…over a field of violets.”

“I’ve never seen such a place.” Shaking his head, he stood and paced before the desk, hands clasped behind his back. “But if I can find it, then…then how do I put an end to the true Morkara?”

“If you end the true Morkara, the Veil will never be torn. The Blood of Darius will forever be barred from El’Ara.”

“But if I don’t end the true Morkara, he will end the Blood of Darius?”

“Yes,” Emylia said.

Teryn’s mind reeled to comprehend what he was hearing.Morkarasounded so much like Morkai, but he didn’t know what it meant. Was it a name? A title? And while Desmond seemed to know who theBlood of Dariuswas, Teryn hadn’t a clue. Then there were the other names: Satsara, Ailan.

“There has to be a way,” Desmond said. “Tell me a way! Where do I find the black mountain over a field of violets? What is the true Morkara’s name? His mother’s name? Who are Satsara and Ailan?”

Emylia began to tremble, and her voice came out weak and strained. “Desmond, that’s too much. I can’t…I can’t see any more than that. I need to come out of the channel—”

“No!” His shout made her jump in her seat. He softened his tone. “No, Emy, you’re doing great. We can keep going. I’ll find a better question.” He hung his head and planted his hands at the end of the desk. “It isn't El’Ara my father needs. Not for what he needs to do. It’s the power of the Morkaius.”

Morkaius. Another word that sounded so much like Morkai.

He returned to Emylia’s side and kneeled on the floor again. “Can one claim the power of the Morkaius without entering El’Ara? Can one become Morkaius ofthisworld?”

Emylia shifted in her seat, shaking her head. “I don't like this. I’m seeing too much darkness.”

“You can do this, Emy. I believe in you. Ineedyou to do this.”

She shuddered but settled back into her trance. After a deep exhale, her voice regained its steady tone. “To gain the power of the Morkaius, one must first become King of Magic, a crown given, not taken, and reign over El’Ara’s abandoned heart.”

“What is El’Ara’s abandoned heart? Where do I find it?”

“A land left in the wake of the Veil. A heart that once was one, now split by three crowns. One crown rests upon the birthplace of the mother you seek. To become Morkaius of El’Ara’s heart, harness the magic that seeps from its center.”

Desmond’s face broke into a grin. He grabbed paper, ink, and quill from the desk and began to write. “A crown given, not taken. Reign over El’Ara’s heart. Harness the magic—”

“He who harnesses the magic will be destroyed by it.”

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