“Yes, I made it downstairs today. I’m very proud of myself.” Emma drew herself up. “Looks like you two chose to crash down here.”
Alexei was passed out in the seat across from me. He didn’t even stir at the sound of our voices.
“You should let him sleep until Kiara returns,” I suggested. “Last night was very… interesting.”
“I heard you got the scroll. How did it go?” she asked.
We left the main foyer and walked to the kitchen. I filled Emma in on what had happened over breakfast, which Faylin had just made. We were finishing up our meal in the dining hall when Finlay slid in the seat across from us.
“How you faring?” he asked.
Before we could reply, Finlay said, “Now, there’s been something I’ve been meaning to tell the both of you, and I think I’ve waited long enough to say so, so—”
“I’ve read the scroll.” Lucien burst into the room, bags under his eyes and looking tired. He sat beside Finlay and placed the scroll on the table. “Kiara has gone to rest, but we’re both nearly certain of the ceremony it describes.”
Finlay scowled at being interrupted. He put his head in his hand as Lucien unrolled the scroll between us.
“So? What does the scroll say?” Emma insisted.
“Once the Crystals of Harmony are found, they can be united at any time, on any day,” Lucien began. “The Worldweaver must bring the Crystals to the Sacred Gathering, and place them in a circle around it, in the exact order in which they were found.”
“There’s got to be more to it than that,” Emma said, narrowing her eyes as she peered at the scroll.
“There is an incantation,” Lucien said. “When the stones are in alignment, you must speak the following.”
Lucien’s voice became even deeper as he spoke the incantation. I hung on to his every word, preparing to commit the incantation to memory.
“Loyalty, bravery, faith and compassion,
In perfect harmony.
Crystals united here as one
To restore our history.
Edinmyre and Earth married true,
No longer may we roam
Light and dark now join together,
Guiding our way home.”
Lucien cleared his throat. “You must be aware that uniting the stones will render them useless. Opening the portal with the Crystals will destroy them. We’ll be unable to use them once you complete the ceremony.”
“But so will Droga, and that’s what matters,” Emma said firmly.
This was far too simple. I didn’t believe it. The thought of Emma’s prophecy and the words the hag had spoken came to me.
“Will this ceremony… kill Emma?” I asked.
Lucien hesitated. “There is a sacrifice… a blood offering… that is mentioned before the incantation is spoken. Though it’s not clearwhatthe Worldweaver has to offer to make the portal permanent. The wording itself isn’t clear.”
Emma rolled up the scroll and handed it back to Lucien with a stoic expression. “Thank you. At least now I know what I have to do.”
“I’ll keep this somewhere safe, and try to figure out what the scroll means as far as the blood offering,” Lucien said. “Don’t worry, my child. I’m sure it’s nothing too serious. I would never let anything happen to you.”
Emma was silent as Lucien tucked the scroll back into his pocket. She didn’t make a sound when Lucien retreated to put away the scroll— only sat back against her chair and appeared hollow.
