Chapter 26

After that, there was nothing we could do but wait for the traders to bring the news of the Challenge to Zarin. We spent the days trying to pass the time, and I watched Iris examine the talking stones, trying to figure out how they were built so we could replicate them.

Would the Masters in Akkadia be willing to work with us if we reached out to them? After all, even Lucius had decided to help us even though he didn’t agree with our ways. Iris seemed fond of him, even if he and Dalor rarely agreed on anything, or maybe because of that. He’d even given us a seeing glass, a long wooden tube with crystals mounted into it that let you see in the distance. If we really weren’t enemies, wouldn’t it be better to work together against the Worms, just like they said?

Once Mitrandes finally told us that we would set out, it was a relief. As we made our way to the square on the final evening, the townspeople were waiting for us, clasping our hands and murmuring well wishes and words of encouragement as we passed, but for once, it wasn’t me who was the centre of attention. Instead, they turned to Luna, and she hesitantly paused every so often when someone reached out or asked for a blessing.

Once we were all on board, Vessa gestured for her to go and stand by the railing, and a cheer went through the crowd as she carefully waved at them. I heard Mitrandes call, and we took to the air, and I watched the lights of Tovira grow smaller below us until they were nothing more than specks in the distance.

We spent the first time preparing before the days blurred into a restless wait as we made our way through the pouring rain. It was decided that we would let Fain off once we were close enough, and he would make the last part of the journey to Zarin on foot, continuing to spread the news of the Challenge as he passed through the villages. Mitrandes said that once we knew Tanur had accepted, we would leap to the temple at the same time as the Challenge and take the Crystal.

I shivered. It would be the first time I touched the Flow since that day in Tovira when we defeated Lucius. Would the Worms know I’d seen through their lies? But if I hadn’t reached out, how could they? The others had said that it was only through the Flow that they could see you, so they shouldn’t be able to know what I’d found out.

Once the evening came when Kine finally announced we were getting closer, we gathered below deck. Mitrandes gave Fain a talking stone, telling him to use it to let us know once he’d reached Zarin. He would leave at dawn and, with some hope, would reach the city later the same day.

I barely slept that night, and when Tore knocked on the door the next morning, we stumbled out of bed. Fain was already standing by the railing as we came up onto the deck, peering down into the jungle below. He had the strap Iris had given us buckled on, letting him abseil down to the ground on his own.

I shivered as Mitrandes walked over and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Be safe, my friend.”

Fain clasped his hand.

“You too.”

He clambered over the railing and gave us one last nod before starting to descend, and we stood in silence until the rope yanked twice, the signal that he had landed safely. Tore pulled it back up, and I felt us take to the air.

Aase leaned over the railing, peering through the seeing glass, and it didn’t take long until she announced,

“I can see it!”

I walked over to her. There, in the distance, I thought I could see the glow of the Crystal. I shivered, and Ifrim put a hand on my shoulder.

“We’ll do it together.”

I hesitantly nodded as Mitrandes called,

“We’ll wait out of sight. Taking off!”

It seemed like time went on forever, and even though I knew we were too far away to hear any commotion, I strained my ears, flinching every time I thought I heard a noise. The sun was already high in the sky when Mitrandes finally clambered up on deck, waving a small strip of paper in his hand.

“Fain has reached Zarin.”

I scrambled up and hurried over to him.

“Did Tanur accept?” Kine asked.

Mitrandes nodded.

“Just as we hoped, too many people saw Fain coming for him to refuse.”

“When will they hold the Challenge?” Aase asked.

“This afternoon.”

I shivered.

“I’ll bring us lower, and we’ll be ready.”

Ifrim took Iris’ rifle and hung a long bronze sword and a dagger on his belt before coming and standing with me by the railing. I shivered seeing the faint glow of the Crystal growing larger as we descended until we halted just out of view. Vessa leaned over the railing, peering through the seeing glass until she finally called out,

“They're about to start. There is a large crowd in the square, and more are coming.”

Luna came up on my other side, slipping her hand into mine, and I could hear Ifrim muttering,

“You can do this.”

I nodded, staring straight ahead as Mitrandes took us close enough to see the temple with our own eyes.

“Ready?” I heard Kine call.

I nodded and reached out to touch the Flow, and moments later, we soared through the air.

And so you came…

The moment my feet touched the ground, the temple erupted in flames. I stumbled, losing Luna’s hand as the ground shook in an explosion.

“Silje!”

I touched the Flow and pushed against the flames when they suddenly diminished, and I saw a tall Sanoor standing by the Crystal. His arms stretched out above him, and he grinned as he saw me. Tanur…? He reached out, touching the Flow, when there was a loud boom, and his leg shattered, and he collapsed on the ground.

“Luna, get the Crystal!” Ifrim yelled.

Luna…

“Luna!”

I stared around.

“Luna!”

She was huddled on the ground, and I rushed over to her.

“The Crystal..."

She struggled to her feet, and I touched the Flow and poured it into her.

You know we can help you…

“You lie!”

“Silje…?”

Luna stared at me, and for a moment I was brought back to the temple.

“We need to get the Crystal…” she whispered.

She let go of me, and we ran over to the Crystal floating in the air when my gaze fell on Tanur. He was sprawled on the floor, his right leg blown off by what must have been Iris’ rifle. He caught my gaze, struggling up onto one elbow, when the air began to shimmer around him.

Would you rather have the Council rule this world? You don’t know what they have done.

Tanur’s figure suddenly collapsed, threshing on the ground in a soundless scream, and sickly green tendrils shot from his chest.

We told you you couldn’t trust them… They’ve done our bidding in the past. They might do it again…

Ifrim rushed forward, slashing at the body, but the cuts closed the moment the sword passed through, and the tendrils merged into a swarm of red eyes, hovering in the air above Tanur.

“No, you lie!”

We don’t lie, Silje. You know it.

The tendrils shot out towards me when Tanur’s dying figure suddenly screamed, and I saw an arrow lodged in what was left of him.

“Silje! Get out of there!”

I turned to see Aegon hovering above us. Aase was leaning over the railing, and I took hold of Luna and Ifrim and reached out to touch the Flow, and we leapt.