Page 106 of The Crown's Awakening
“What?” I demand.
“When I crossed the wards,” he says, “I saw one. It tore through a cluster of undead and vanished.”
Cold spreads through me. “What does that have to do with the wards?”
“It is why no one came for you sooner,” Uralish says, and there is something like regret in his voice. “I stayed away because I believed you were safer here. Happier.”
His gaze darkens. “The others stayed away because of strategy.”
“Why?”
“Morrath lies close to here. If the Morraks are released, they will tear through the Threns and the undead without resistance.”
“And Alarna?”
“Alarna has never been their target,” he says. “We stayed neutral. Veynar has always held that power.”
He exhales. “The Threns fought Veynar for years without understanding what stood behind it. Not just the Morraks already there, but the fact that Sevrin can create more.”
He snorts. “Not to mention, Morrath has more than Morraks. It has feeders who look like you and I, who wield all kinds of power.”
His voice is quiet. “They are trapped there by the rules of the magic. And I bet they wish to leave.”
A chill runs through me.
“That threat does not disappear,” he says. “Not unless Morrath is destroyed… or controlled.”
“That’s why Teorin wants Veynar,” I murmur.
“Yes,” Uralish says. “But do not mistake him. He may not want to destroy it. He may want to wield it.”
He looks to Colsar. “You likely saw a Morrak. Sightings have been increasing.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“It means Sevrin is stirring,” he says quietly.
“You think he’s looking for me.”
“Yes.”
Colsar’s voice is grim beside me. “And he won’t stop.”
Uralish nods once. “Still… he may be the lesser danger compared to Teorin.”
My head snaps toward him. “What are you saying?”
“You need to go to Veynar.”
Silence.
“And do what?” I ask. I know the answer before he says it. This was never about returning. It was about taking control of something no one else could be trusted to hold.
“Find the key to the Blind Gate,” he says. “And end this before it begins.”
“How?” Colsar demands.
Uralish’s expression is grim. “Take control of Morrath. Or force Sevrin to destroy it. I don’t care which. But if no one does, it will end in ruin.”
