Page 165 of The Blade in the Ashes
“No, she’s too young.” Ayanna didn’t bother looking up from the book as she continued leafing through it. “A God needs time for their powers to settle initially before they can attempt their Forging. It took time for Theadora’s powers to regulate and strengthen. Camilla will need the same.”
She was right. Thea had barely summoned the tiniest sparks of magic when I’d first met her. In that first year at the palace, though, her power had grown steadily, morphing into a force strong enough to wipe out armies.
Ayanna placed the book down on the table. “I’ve read this before. Several times, in fact. I’m an expert in all forms of Godly weaponry and in the history of Godly creation and maturation. I can help with the Forging.”
She glanced around the table, frowning as she realized we were all staring at her in surprise. After a moment, she shrugged and sank back further into her seat.
Perhaps I had been wrong, and Ayanna had deserved a seat at this table after all.
“Very well,” I nodded.
“It says I have to go to the seat of my power,” Thea explained, shifting to better look at Ayanna. “Do you know what that means?”
The instructor gazed at the ceiling thoughtfully. “It could be referencing a place where your power is strongest. Zion, for example, is strongest in the sky. Hyrax in the Underworld. Palaemon in the ocean.”
Thea frowned, eyes going distant as she considered.
“The bridge, maybe?” Iris suggested.
As much as I hated to admit it, that would make sense. The bridge leading into the castle was where Thea had first appeared during her creation. I had no idea how we could safely get her to perform a ritual like this right in front of the damn castle Hyrax was currently rebuilding, though.
Thea shook her head, frowning as her fingertips lifted to slide against her throat, almost as if she were tracing the memory of a necklace.
“Veilstones,” she murmured, lifting her head to gaze at Nikolai. “Is there a cavern nearby with Veilstones?”
He snorted. “There used to be one close to here. It was looted decades ago, though. I doubt you’ll find any left.”
“That doesn’t matter.” She straightened excitedly, turning once more towards Ayanna. “They form where the Veil between realms is the thinnest.”
Ayanna pursed her lips with narrowed eyes before nodding. “I suppose that would work.”
“Then that’s where we’ll go. Immediately.”
“I’m coming with you.” It wasn’t a question. There was no way I was letting her do this alone.
I expected her to protest. And if not her, then I expected Rankor, Kent, or Iris to give some reason it was better I stayed behind, but there seemed to be a simple acceptance amongst us all.
We would not lose her again.
Rankor cleared his throat. “The Inanis ships are sailing towards us now. I can send word to them that they should prepare to attack from the west at landfall, all while we begin arming our forces and readying to march. We will have prepared by the time you finish."
The feeling of resolution that fell over me wasn’t entirely unlike the last time we had gathered in this room and made a plan. Only so much was different. New faces had joined us. Old friends who had turned enemies were now assets. Thea was at my side once more.
I took a single breath in, vowing to myself, to Zion, and to any other Gods listening that I would do whatever it took to serve these people seated around me and protect not only my kingdom, but the entirety of the Mortal Realm.
"Alright," I stood, resting my palms on the table as the others all followed me and rose. "Let's end this."
Chapter Forty-Eight
Thea
The air felt oddly charged as Clay, Ayanna, and I descended into the Veilstone caverns. There was a strange dampness to it that hung on my skin and an odd metallic tang that seemed to linger in my nose.
Clay held onto my fingers, helping to hold me steady over the slippery patches of wet rock. He’d offered to help Ayanna, too, but she’d simply narrowed her eyes as if the offer offended her.
She was an interesting addition to our court. She seemed entirely unfazed in the presence of a king and seemed to revel in annoying Rankor, but got along with Iris as if they were old friends. So far, though, I didn’t mind her presence. Although, my mind was far too preoccupied with the Forging to pay her much notice at all.
Our footsteps seemed to echo on and on, tiny droplets of water louder than they should be as we made our way through.
