Page 118 of Winds of Ruin
I stood my ground. He had made no move to attack. Yet.
“We seek the last relic of Isolde,” I answered.
Emmerick stiffened.
The barnacled figure laughed. “And why would the Source of Water possess such a thing?” He stepped forward, assessing me. Emmerick’s sword pointed at the creature’s head.
“You are Aquas,” I said, and my brow furrowed. “The Book of Isoldeclaims you were the first to be cast away from this world.”
The Origin’s inky lips turned up at the sides. “Yet other legends claim I avoided Caym’s wrath by sinking to the ocean floor. Which version of events do you place your faith in, child of Siro?”
I straightened and motioned for Emmerick to lower his blade. He hesitantly dropped it only an inch.
“I place faith in my niece’s ability to defeat the Death Origin by whatever means,” I answered.
The Water Origin cackled. “On her own, she will try and fail.”
Cold fear licked down my spine. Damn the Sources and Reverists alike for their cryptic guidance. What did hemeanshe would fail? “The prophecy says—”
“That book is flawed!” the Origin barked.
With a racing heart, I stepped forward, unwilling to believe all that we had worked for would be for nothing.
Emmerick, remaining in a stiff, defensive stance, followed me forward. “Then, the last relic—how is it wielded?” he pressed with gritted teeth.
I found the question odd, considering we hadn’t yetfoundthe relic.
Aquas laughed with menace, and a barnacle fell from his cheek. “You must bring the relic to me. Isolde had no part in creating him. She enlisted our help to craft a key to reach Caym. His power can only be unlocked by the Sources themselves now that he is ready.”
He?
“The final relic is a person?” I gasped.
When I glanced at Emmerick, his expression went stony and unreadable.He’d known.
My heart lurched; did it have something to do with what he needed to tell me? I found myself tired of our hiding from one another, dodging truths that could shape our fates.
He… a man crafted by the Sources. Like a babe left in a burning wood, born in their in-between plane.
“Dritan,” I whispered.
Emmerick grew more rigid, more imposing. “And what will you do to him if we bring him here?” Em growled out. The man before me was every bit a hardened Constable—all softness gone.
Aquas waved his hand as though this conversation was beneath him. “You should not fear what I will do to him but what he might do toyoushould you let him stray. Keep him from Caym’s grasp or we cannot help you.”
Emmerick huffed out an exasperated breath. Nothing added up, but clearly something had clicked into place for Emmerick.
“I would leave now, children of Siro and Astros. Return only when you understand.”
“Stay. Tell us more,” I demanded.
“I grow weak being away from the water. Also, she who lives here approaches with ravenous intent. I’d make haste.” Aquas sank abruptly back into the depths of the pool. The hair on my arms and neck stood on end.
Emmerick’s palm still shone light as we retreated from the water’s edge.
Before we’d taken even two steps, a tentacle the size of one of Mayra’s wings shot from the pool. It hooked Emmerick’s ankle, and he slammed to the ground with a grunt. All the light flickered out for a moment. Then the blue and green glass above glowed.
A beast rose from the depths of the pool, squeezing itself out into the cavern.
