Page 117 of Moonborn
“If you would shut up for just a moment and listen,” Aster snarls, his fury radiating like heat from a forge. He pushes a finger into Marduk’s chest. “I could have excused your ignorance since you so clearly do not know thatshe”—Aster points at me—“ismymate.”
Marduk’s face remains passive save for the single blink that flashes across it, a hairline crack in his composure. Llyr’s face, however, drains of all color, his skin turning ashen.
“What I have a hard time accepting”—Aster spins toward Llyr—“is how you, her father, would have allowed her to be sacrificed without a fight. Void, Llyr! As a devotee of Mah, youknowhow much she values choice—our choices are what make us who we are. Then who are you, Llyr? Someone who acts in blind faith, or someone who thinks for himself? Are you no better thanhispeople? No better than the people of Bronich?”
What?The world stops. My mind goes completely blank, thoughts scattering like startled birds. Cold sweat beads on my skin as the taste of disbelief turns bitter on my tongue. Llyr...Myfather? And my mother—did he give upherlife too? No. Not now. I can’t think about that right now. Icy fingers squeeze around my heart, crushing the air from my lungs. Not when my own father is willing to sacrifice me. The ground seems to tilt beneath my feet.
I can hardly make out Marduk’s words as he goes on. “Gods, this is even worse! Postponing this—havingheralive—is a risk we cannot take. What if Casimir gets his hands on her again? We will not stand a chance.”
“Maybe there is anoth—”
“No!” Marduk snaps, cutting Llyr off. “The real threat is howhe”—he points an accusatory finger toward Aster—“is willing to give upeverythingfor her. That makes her more dangerous than anything or anyone else. Because tohim, she is more important than the world.”
Like mist above a lake, his words hang in the silent night air.
When no one utters another word, I lift my chin, my voice trembling but defiant as I say, “You do not decide for me. None of you do.” The last word escapes as a choked sob. I cannot deal with this right now. I need space. Room to breathe.
Spinning on my heel, I set off across the Plains of Death, bones crunching beneath my feet as I run.
DAWN BREAKS AS I FINALLY slow my pace. Something dark glistens between the windswept trees ahead. I move toward it, my boots crunching over frost-covered ground. As I draw closer, the shape resolves—tall, ancient, its five black facets carved with symbols I can barely make out in the dim light.
It’s a veilstone. I let my fingers glide across its smooth surface. Was I the one who used the veilstone when we escaped Bronich, and not Llyr, as I thought? Llyr made it clear that only veilwalkers can use the pillars and that neither he nor anyone he knows had that skill. But what if Nana did? What ifIdo?
I circle the pillar, studying its different facets. If I can make it work, I can be far away from here in no time. This night has brought more revelations than I can handle, and I need a little time to figure things out—figuremyselfout—before I face any of them again. Especially Llyr. And Aster.
My pulse quickens as warmth spreads through my core. I press my hand to my chest, trying to slow my racing heart. No. I won’t let myself feel this way. Love is just another kind of cage, another way to lose control of my own life.
Craning my neck, I squint at the many symbols carved into the dark stone. I understand that its five facets lead to five different destinations, but the names are carved in glyphs I don’t know. I’ll have to take a chance.
Come on, Nana. Why isn’t this part of your memory?I’m sure you could read them at some point.But no matter how much I prod, there isn’t a sliver of recognition.
With my back against the pillar, I slide to the ground, finding refuge from the wind on the sheltered side. The surrounding windswept tundra is quiet except for the wind and a flock of distant birds chirping as they greet the new day. I can sense Seniia and Vilder somewhere to the northeast, and although I cannot pick up on their states at this distance, at least they seem to still be together. Pulling the warm, soft furs tighter around myself, I rest my forehead on my knees, trying toblock out the light. Under my skin, powers course through me, and the buzz is nothing if not intoxicating. Acutely aware of why others would want to seize it, I rub my temples, pushing back the incoming headache. Powerful or not, my body is on the brink of giving in. And although I intended to move, I don’t find the strength to do so as my eyelids slide shut. I just need a little time to rest. Then I’ll be fine.
THE FIRST THING I NOTICE when I open my eyes is the eerie stillness. There are no winds stirring the trees. No birds chirping. In fact, there is not one sound, as if the forest itself is holding its breath. The spindly leafless trees cast ghostly shadows across the clearing where I now sit with my back toward the veilstone.
I feel... different. A little similar to wearing a brace. I stare up at the thick gray cloud cover. It is more or less impossible to discern what time of day it is.
Pushing to my feet, I groan. My muscles are killing me. There’s a path leading out of the clearing, though I have no clue where it will lead. I shrug. At least I can use the brace to hide until I’m ready to face life again.The brace.I rummage through my satchel, relieved to find it still resting at the bottom of my pack.
The soft crunching sound of boots on frozen soil breaks the unnatural quiet, the sound thunderous in the eerie stillness, and I realize—much too late—that it was foolhardy of me to think I would be left alone, even here.
Hand on my shadowshard, I whirl, ready to rip apart anyone who dares stand between me and my freedom, only to have all the blood drain from my features.
Eyes the color of a midnight sea roam across my body. A heartbeat later, they lock with mine, and a vicious smile spreads across his devastatingly beautiful face.
“Hello, Nana, darling.”
