Chapter 435 (2/2)
Sylvie shi+fted in her seat “It’s difficult to describe to anyone who hasn’t seen Epheotus, but according to asuran history, the soil of Mount Geolus spread life to the entire realm”
Virion’s face was turned toward the table, and a tear dropped froainst the stone Bairon rested a hand on Virion’s back, looking down helplessly
When Virion finally looked up, his eyes were red but e “It is this, life rather than death, that ht hope—for so long a distant and unreachable thing—into my heart Thank you”
“Good Well, then” I paused, searching for what I was trying to say
Wren hadin Ellie’s ear My sister was concentrating very hard on the staff in her hands, but it didn’t seeh, then hurriedly slapped her hand over her mouth in embarrassment
“There is another reason I’ve asked all of you to be here,” I continued “As part of ons to Dicathen to protect the people froh, when dealing with asura”
Varay was the first to respond “You’re worried about the dragonspublic support in favor of Kezess instead of our own leaders—such as you”
I lettothe potentially dire circumstances “I’ve never desired to beco else But if the dragons gain enough sway over the citizens, Kezess will use it against us The people may not see it now, but there would be very little difference between life under Kezess’s rule than Agrona’s”
Everyone was nodding along as I spoke I hadn’t expected any dissent, but I was still glad not to be taken by surprise “Dicathen needs not only hope, but strength We need to empower humans, dwarves, and elves alike so that their only choice isn't to bohatever higher power they see as the lesser evil Which is why Wren Kain IV”—I indicated Wren, as still standing beside Ellie—“is going to be working onjust that I’ that you help him and Gideon in any way they need”
“Help them how?” Bairon asked, the first words he’d uttered since his arrival
Sparing them too many extraneous details, I explained so to accomplish, as well as how I expected Kezess to proceed with this new phase of the war There were several questions, but after a fewto establish soroups
“We’ll do e can,” Virion said as the conversation began cooling down “The dragons have hardly acknowledged me, but the elves still see me as their de facto leader for the moment Those of us who are left”
Mica leaned away from the wall and strode up to the table She rested her elbows on it and leaned forward, her steely gaze juons don’t make slaves of us all, then you know I’, but she didn’t need to
I stood, and everyone else followed suit “We’re leaving i for one Do your best to ons Keep their focus onattention to yourselves if you can avoid it”
I opened the doors, and Virion strode out first, clutching the box tightly in both hands He gave me a small nod and a distant smile, an expression that ht behind him “Don’t take a year this time, eh?”
“Only a couple of months”
Bairon frowned at my attempted joke “Farewell, Arthur”
Behind him, Mica adjusted her cloak and levered her thuht? I’ll take care of things here”
Varay rested her hand on my arm for just a moment, then followed the other Lances out
“Don’t die, kid, as that would be incredibly inconvenient,” Gideon gru past with barely a look in my direction
Wren’s chair had disconnected fro in Gideon’s ith Wren lounging atop it Instead of addressing me as he left, he focused on my sister “Don’t overdo it with that weapon Just because it has chosen you doesn’t mean it won’t burn you up if you invest toothe i with ered, her arly nervous
Knoould need to move quickly, I had already seen to all the necessary preparations for an extended journey, which were safely stored insideno ave off a waring like an oil spill in the air “Regis, you go first” Regis leapt into the portal without hesitation
Chul didn’t wait for h Instead, he loudly proclai and I will clear the path for our coh behind hi and took a step back Ellie shotinto the portal, and Boo trundled in just behind her
“I can’t say how long we’ll be gone,” I told
“Well, at least I’ve got the stone thing,” she said, s
“The Orb of Long-Ranged Stalking,” I said, suppressing a grin at her expression “Bye, Moavetall andher deterh to push ain
Drawing the teh the portal
The transition was searound chaht sunshi+ne A cool breeze was blowing fro with it the smell of ash Beneath our feet was a smooth, cobbled path We had arrived in the first of a series of encampments that skirted the border between the Elenoir Wastes and the Beast Glades
The portal faded out behind s had been erected in rough rows along the path They were grayish-brown, and I suspected the bricks that fore nu us warily Most wore simple tunics and breeches, and they were al thatI was immediately struck by how normal they looked without their black and red armor or their runic tattoos proudly displayed They could have been fare in Sapin
“We’re looking for Lyra of Highblood Dreide,” I announced, scanning the crowd
Many of the Alacryans exchanged looks with their neighbors, and a fehispered a themselves, their words too quiet for me to pick up
A bald e across his cheek stuck the shovel he was carrying into the ground “Lady Lyra will be here soon She does her rounds every day, s are in order and everyone has what they need” There was a bitterness in his voice that didn’t seeeted at Lyra
“She visits every encampment each day?” I asked, surprised
“Unlike the person who sent us here to barely survive in this wasteland,” the round
“Thoren!” a ive hient We appreciate what you’ve done for us! But not everyone transitions fro a hunter or farmer easily”
I stepped up to the Alacryan she’d called Thoren, my expression leveled but stern “I understand your frustration, but I’ree with me that this is better than the inside of a prison cell—or the botto in the signs of life and community in the once-desolate land “The fact that you’ve been so successful in carving out a chance at survival here, under the guidance of the one Alacryan leader who has shown she cares for your wellbeing, tells ht decision”
The round “Yes, well, I suppose when you put it like that” He marched aithout another word, his shoulders hunched and shovel held like a spear
“What’s going on here—Regent Leywin!” a honey-rich voice said Turning around, I found the once-retainer, Lyra Dreide, striding confidently along the pathway in our direction Her fla out in stark contrast against the plain, rustic clothes she’d adopted “Ah, and Lady Caera as well I’ll admit, I feared for you in the clutches of that beast, Vajrakor”
“Retainer Lyra,” Caera said, giving the other Alacryan a s for you”
The crowd around us broke up, the Alacryans going back to their duties, and Lyra gestured for us to follow her We walked along between the rows of buildings Most had planters full of herbs out front, and I sahere tells had been erected Everything was geared toward purpose, nothing appeared to be orna, was colorless Even the ground, where no grass greas just a darker shade of gray against the lighter cobblestone path To our right, the horizon grew dark with greenery fro plots broke up the landscape Dozens of Alacryans were hard at work hauling soil and water,new beds with a coical labor Beyond the the Beast Glades
On the other side of the village, the northward horizon siray hills
“Not exactly a great view, is it?” Lyra ht “Still, we’ve done quite well here There is a certain…peace to it”
A keening cry suddenly interrupted the rustic silence, and it took nize the sound
“A baby,” Sylvie said, arriving at that conclusion a moht hair from her face “Our first An Alacryan child born on Dicathian soil What exactly does that ent?”
I didn’t know, but Lyra savedfor an answer “Our presence draws a steady supply of edible mana beasts out of the Beast Glades, and we have found several h south when…and we’ve ed to start a few crops with seed sent by that Helen Shard woman Yes, I’d say we’ve done as well as could be hoped, considering”
Turning south, Lyra led us away froe of the forest that an Clusters of yellow grass grew up here and there, and then a few sparse, living trees a the black remains of many more dead ones It wasn’t until we approached within a few hundred feet of the denser forests that she stopped beneath the outstretched lie,” she said, standing with her hands on her hips “Eleanor, lad to see you, of course And Regis, you too I suppose But who are these others?”
“I am Chul” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked down his nose at Lyra “I cannot say I am pleased to meet an Alacryan, but Arthur considers you an ally, so I must do the same”
“And this is my bond, Lady Sylvie of Clan Indrath,” I continued
“Indrath…” Lyra’s eyes widened as she stared at Sylvie “Oh lanced between us, perhaps the only time I’d ever seen her at a loss for words “Well, these are strange times But it is of course a pleasure to meet you, Lady Sylvie”
“Just Sylvie,” she said “I’m about as much an Indrath at theaway
Lyra chuckled, relaxing “So, why are you here?”
“Retainer Lyra, we need to knohat’s become of Scythe Seris,” Caera said into the silence that followed
Lyra bit her lip, frowning “I’m not surprised you hadn’t heard I’ll tell you what I can”
Activating a die roll of parch a table, and she laid out the parchment to reveal a map of Alacrya It was covered with notes A few more pieces of parchment appeared froically around the acy, we learned, had torn down the shi+eld around Sehz-Clar and cornered Seris In typical fashi+on for her, however, she was ready for Cecilia, broadcasting the confrontation for the entire continent to see
“But then, and this was a true stroke of genius, her forces attacked the Relicto the ascension portals and preventing anyone else fro,” Lyra explained, her voice rich with awe
“No,” Caera gasped, her hand covering herwas possible, but I never thought…”
Lyra held up a scroll that I recognized as an artifact to transreat distances “Indeed My sources are a couple of weeks old, but there has been no news froo If I know anything about the High Sovereign, I think it is likely he is si her out The second level has no crops or industry No matter hoell prepared she was, she can’t host her rebellion within the Relictombs indefinitely”
I felt Sylvie’s confusion bubble up through our connection as she tried to get a grasp on everything being said Regis took the lead in filling in the gaps for her while I focused on Lyra
“We need to get to Alacrya and verify that nothing has changed,” I told the others “If she’s still holed up in the Relictoet to her—a fact that no doubt played a role in her plan”
“It see the Relictoent, but that has been months,” Lyra said warily “She will have undoubtedly planned for potential delays and tangents, but even she has certainly been pushed to the very end of her resources”