Trident of Arnan – Enez Islands. Irretrievable
Golden Arrow of Kerensa – ?? Possibly purely myth
Sword of Sai – Melted down and reforged ~year 250
“The sickle is in Minar, or it was once. Ronan and I had a dream that had a sickle in it. At least, he thinks it was a sickle. I didn’t see it.”
“You’re sharing dreams now?”
“Just the one.” I tell her about it, and she’s a bit disappointed that it isn’t a sexy dream.
“I mean, it’s all very weird and spooky, but I still don’t really see why it matters.”
“Could you ask your father? I’m convinced there’s more that he knows, but I don’t know if he’ll tell us. I’m not sure Ronan is going to be in any mood to hear him out any time soon, even if he does.”
“I’ll ask him tomorrow.”
Quinn seems like she’s ready for me to go, our business now concluded, but I can’t help but try to offer her someone to talk to, as much as I know that she still hates me. “Areyoualright? Not just about your father, but about. You know.”
“My stupid fucking legs? No, I’m very much not alright. But I’m dealing with it—”
She’s interrupted by a pounding knock on the door, so loud it shakes on its hinges.
Quinn turns suddenly, trying to see what’s going on. “What the fuck?”
“Open up!” shouts an unfamiliar voice.
I look at Quinn in terror. “I don’t think we should—”
“OPEN UP NOW! The city is under attack!”
Chapter Twenty-Four
We race through the halls to the library, the guards Ronan sent pushing Quinn while I carry the torch, which flickers knowingly in my hand.
“You knew, didn’t you?” I whisper to it.
“Are you talking to that torch?” asks Quinn.
“It’s not just a torch. Well, it is just a torch, but it’s also possibly Vayla’s torch?”
“What the fuck.”
Ronan is in the hallway waiting for us, surrounded by guards, scouts, and servants, frantically giving orders.
“Come here,” he says, wrapping his arm around my waist.
“What’s happening?”
“Someone let them in. Adria’s cavalry and several legions. They traveled under shadow-born darkness, and then someone on our side let them in the gate.”
“But I thought they were packing up their camp.” I had seen it myself on the battlefield just hours earlier. The legion we fought was one of the last remaining near Faros. The retreat was well underway.
“A ruse,” says Taran. “A clever ruse.” He looks at Seth, his gaze boring a hole through his head.
“You can’t think I knew anything about this. I never thought she’d be so reckless. If you defeat her now, it’s all over for her. There’s no coming back from this. It’s complete desperation. Lunacy. She’ll lose thousands, even if she wins.”
“Will it work?” Ronan asks. “How many are inside? Where is the fighting? How quickly can we muster the legions?”
