Chapter 18

The journey up was drastically different from the last time. Before there had been rustling leaves and roaming chipmunks and the restful gurgle of the stream. Now there was only silence, as if nature itself held its breath.

The air was hot and stuffy against my face and in my lungs as I ran, growing thinner the higher up I went. The sound of footsteps followed behind me. I assumed it was Cyrus, but I couldn't slow to check. Who knew what Grandmother might do? Who knew what secrets she kept?

The clearing was no longer the lush pocket that it had been. It was desolate, and every plant in the ring around the altar had withered and died. The golden chalice still sat atop the shrine. Grandmother stood in front of it, her eyes cold and resigned.

"Do not come within the circle." She swung her gnarled wooden staff in a semicircle arc in front of her.

I stepped forward. Something pushed me back, an invisible barrier, challenging me. I strained against it.

"You never understood the responsibility of being the Prime family." Grandmother's voice was hoarse and ragged. "I tried to guide you, to show you the webs you must weave to rule in this city. But you always shied away from making the real sacrifice."

Tears sprang to my eyes. I blinked through them. I was mad at myself that she could still wound me, that she still had that much power over me.

"I would have sacrificed anything." I channeled as much confidence into my words as I had available. "For you and for Greatfalls. I would have given my life."

"But you couldn't give up the myth of your own integrity." She squared her hips as if she were preparing an attack. "Your life is worth nothing. But your marriage, your friendships, even your connection with me, they should have all been fodder for the greatness of your city. You've always been obsessed with honesty. Honesty has no place in being a leader. Lies are your strongest weapons."

I shook my head, but didn't answer. She was wrong, but a tiny part of me still held her in esteem, still doubted myself, still told me I should listen.

"You're wrong."

Cyrus' voice hung in the still air next to me. I turned to him, and he smiled at me. It was sad and hard-won, but it was there. Between us, there was no doubt.

He turned back to Grandmother. "That is the way that you led, the way you taught your children. But that is not how it has to be. I am proof of that."

She laughed, and the sound was harsh and cold. "What kind of leader are you? Your people are starving."

"Because of you!" His jaw clenched, and I wanted to jump in, to fight for him. But he didn't need that. He needed me to stand beside him, as he would do for me.

"And you allowed it to continue," she countered. Bitterness soaked every word. "You are as weak as he is. Neither of you can do what needs to be done. But I can."

Grandmother moved to behind the altar, and thrust her staff into the ground. The gnarled knob of hickory at the top emitted a deep purple glow, casting an otherworldly light on the surrounding greenery. She held her wrist above the chalice.

"This is the Staff of Last Resort. It is the oldest and most powerful of Vazzart's artifacts, to be used only in the direst of circumstances. When triggered, every enemy within the city walls will die. All the artifact requires is the lifeblood of the Prime."

"Grandmother—"

"See what true sacrifice is, child." Grandmother pulled a dagger out of her robe and sliced across her left wrist. The blood flowed, dripping down her fingers into the golden chalice.

I pushed against the invisible barrier, but I couldn't break through.

"Skye, take my hand."

"I need to get to her—"

"Take my hand. I wear the Crown of Battle. You wear the Crown of Seeing. If you can reveal the barrier to me, I may be able to break through."

I grabbed Cyrus' hand, harder than I meant to, my desperation fueling me. At once, the two crowns ignited with orange and blue light, the colors mingling and producing a warm red-brown radiance. I peered into the clearing, willing the crown to show me what was invisible.

With a snap, the barrier solidified in front of our eyes. It was no longer transparent but a dull gray. Cracks ran across it in a web pattern. There were points where many cracks met, nodes where the structure was the weakest.

"There!"

Cyrus nodded. With his free hand, he gestured toward the spot. A ball of blue fire flew out, striking the weak point, and the whole thing shattered. Shards, like cloudy dull glass, fell to the ground around us.

We ran forward together, but Grandmother's scream stopped us. She stood atop the altar, her eyes wild. She shook from the loss of blood.

"It is too late now! Soon you will all be dust."

As I went to grab her, do anything, anything that might prevent this, I heard the voice of the God of Fire and Metal in my head.

Stop.

I froze, as did Cyrus. He had heard the voice as well.

"What—"

This no longer matters. Call my brother.

Cyrus looked to me, but I shook my head. "I don't know how to call him."

Vazzart has spoken to you, the only one of your family in generations. Call him, and he will come.

Cyrus released my hand and stood behind me, resting his hands on his shoulders. I felt his sweet breath on my neck. I closed my eyes and I remembered .

The buck, here in this clearing. I called out to him. The majestic antlers. The deep blue eyes that I lost myself in. The drip of water in the prison cell.

He was there. He was the enormous buck. He was the gurgling stream. He was the still pool.

"My lord." Grandmother was weak, but she understood what she was seeing, the presence she was feeling. "Please..."

The god did not answer her, but instead turned his presence to me.

Child, you have no need of concern.

But—

You have already made your choice. You pledged yourself to the people of Fyr. In my presence, you swore to take on their suffering. I granted you my favor. Did you think I'd allow my power to be used in this way?

"But…" I had no answer.

"No!" The scream ripped from my grandmother's throat. "God of the Water and the Forest, protect my legacy! I have given my life for this city. Do not let it fall."

The world shifted as the god turned his attention to the Prime.

You have lost your way. The only enemy of Greatfalls here is you.

She fell to her knees. Her blood pooled on the ground around her.

"Please...my people. They should not have to sacrifice. Just so that his people can continue to eke out their miserable existence?"

Prime of Greatfalls. Did you think I would allow you to misuse my artifact? It is blasphemous. Your city is safe under the rule of the Lords of Ashfuror.

One last tremor shook her tiny body, and she collapsed. She was gone. She had given her life for what she believed.

I felt nothing. Cyrus' arms gripped tightly around me, reminding of my foundation, of the support I now had. But there was no grief. I had already grieved for the family I wished I had, over and over again. There were no tears left to shed.

The god turned to us. The power of his presence overwhelmed us both, and we fell to our knees.

You have promised yourselves to both the water and the flame. Greatfalls is now yours. Treat all of Fyr better than those who came before you.

"We will," Cyrus and I said together.

Good. You have earned your respite. But do not rest too long. You have much to do.