Yet, all he’d done was to give the world a temporary reprieve. In all likelihood, Kahkon would consolidate his strength with the resources provided by the Great Divide. That didn’t even bring into account that he possessed the vasumbrals.
Then there was still the Nine. The netherling in the Iluminus had to be one of them.
A shift in the essences made him focus on the gate through the Vallum of Light at the Iluminus. One of Kahkon’s traps was there. A massive shadeling army stationed outside, ready for any breach. The Setian remnants would be opening that gate at any moment. He allowed himself a smile.
With squeeze of his hand, he called on the heat stored within the Vallum.
Kachien was dying. For all his power, Ancel could do nothing about it. Tears streamed from his eyes.
The survivors formed a convoy heading toward the Cogal Drin Mountains and the city of Benez somewhere on the other side of those peaks. Behind them, the Vallum of Light lit up the sky. A field swathed in black marked where Ryne had destroyed thousands of shadelings at the Vallum’s gate.
The trap suggested that either he had more traitors among his people, or it was a coincidence. He no longer believed in coincidences. Galiana would have liked that. More tears dribbled down his cheeks. She had died holding off the Tribunal’s Matii as well as a netherling within the Iluminus. May Ilumni keep your soul safe. For the briefest of moments, disorientation took him. If not for a heart heavy with grief, he would have smiled.
“Don’t shed tears for me,” Kachien said, her voice raspy. “I died well. Fighting. An Alzari could ask for nothing more.” Black veins were appearing along her skin. “Finish me.”
Wiping at his face, Ancel eased his other hand from hers. He lacked the will to speak, so he mouthed, “I’m sorry.” He stood.
In one motion, he unsheathed his sword, triggered its Etchings, and took her head. With his other hand, he Forged fire to consume the body. Heat scoured his face, but he did not turn away. He watched until it went out. When it did, he drew on the wind and scattered the ashes.
A hand on his shoulder made him turn. Mirza nodded to him, his eyes red and puffy. Irmina stood near, her wary gaze centered on Ryne. Halvor and Kendin’s monolithic forms matched the sands upon which they stood. Jerem had left to seek some alliance with the Cardians and Astocans, or at least to plead for one.
“Walk with me, Ryne.” As they strode across the dunes, Ancel asked, “What happened? I felt you losing.”
“The thing you fought, the Skadwaz, are more powerful than I once thought. They have formed some coupling with netherlings to grant them more strength. We knew Amuni was experimenting with something of the sort, but we thought it was never completed.”
“You were wrong.”
Ryne nodded.
“What does this mean?”
“We need Prima to defeat them, as we do to stop the Nine. As of now, I used the Sanctums of Shelter to trap Kahkon at the Great Divide. At least one of the Nine is free, locked in the Iluminus for now by use of the Bastions within it. I would not wager against there being more of them. Before you can hope to face them, you must complete your training. You need all of the Streams.”
“How do I attain the others?”
“The guardian of heat resides within the Broken Lands. The one who guards cold is far north in Everland. You must gain them both before I can give you my shade.”
Ancel stopped in his tracks. “You held both light and shade?”
“Yes, I once thought I was supposed to be the Aegis. However, Kahkon, the one I fought at the Sanctums, now possesses a great deal of what was once mine. He tricked me into seizing my power. Now, he rules the Great Divide. I am certain he is releasing everything we guardians once imprisoned there.”
“How do we deal with him?”
“You don’t. Your brother will keep him at bay for now. With the second Chainin broken, three Eztezians dead, only six seals remain. Mine, Kalvor’s, the other two guardians, and two Chainin. The gods’ return is near unavoidable.”
Ancel frowned. Much of what Ryne had said he barely heard. One word dominated his mind. “My brother? I have no brothers.”
“Actually, you do. A brother and sister. Anton and Celina. No, they aren’t dead. They are what complete the Aegis.”
Ancel’s pendant vibrated harder than he ever remembered.
Mother.