“For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Kane Nervosso. I’ve been forced to serve King Cimmerian for the past fiveyears. I won’t bore you with the details. You all should have a pretty good idea of what he’s capable of. Today we’re here to talk about the past few months. Ryder has asked me what his next move is, and the truth is I’m not entirely sure.” There’s a wave of grunts around the table. “But what I do know is that the king’s priority is not to just win a war. He wants genocide.”
Multiple conversations rumble around the table but cease the moment Ryder stands.
“My father is a patient man. If what Kane says is true, he will take his time gathering his forces, readying them to eliminate every last person in the Shadow Lands.”
“As you all know, he’s been looking for the Vircilian Scepter. Once Demetri came back from the caves empty handed, it didn’t take long for one of his calligraphers to figure out it’s probably with Casstia Nircosa’s tomb. Ever since then, he hasn’t had much luck finding the island.” Ryder’s eyes seem to narrow on each person sitting around the table. When they land on me it sends a shiver down my spine. “Don’t think for a second that has stopped him. There are other relics he’s been able to corrupt in the meantime. In addition, he’s also made a deal with the creatures in the Dread Woods. In exchange for his help releasing them from the spell that keeps them trapped there, they will fight for him.”
A giant pit forms in my stomach thinking about the Lybrates and Serenities that attacked us. That was only a small taste of what lies in those woods. If they join the king’s army then our odds of winning just got a hell of a lot worse.
“As if all of that wasn’t bad enough, he’s also added to his Collectables. Once he thought Reign was dead and saw Slader had escaped, he decided to re-up his arsenal. Now, he has twelve others under his direct command and their gifts are lethal to say the least.”
It pains me to hear that he’s taken more prisoners. To know that he’s forcing more people to do his bidding against their will. To know that another innocent life occupies my cell.
“What of the armies?” Jace asks.
“He made them all seal their allegiance with a blood oath. I think you all need to get comfortable with the idea that there will be no saving them from King Cimmerian.” Kane looks to Ryder for his input.
“I did what I could, giving everyone a choice. Whatever reason it may have been, the ones who stayed to serve him have chosen their path. It is now them and us. There’s no room for any grey area when it comes to war. Do you do understand?” The others around the table nod, including Damien.
The pit that has taken form in my stomach is followed by a wave of nausea. I wasn’t built for this. I wasn’t raised to view those who couldn’t find the strength to leave as the enemy. I’m not naïve. I know there are thousands who would gladly stand by the king and serve him, but I can’t ignore the fact that so many were just too scared to leave at the time and I don’t blame them for that.
“And the realms?” Artemus cuts in, directing the question back to Kane.
He shakes his head. “Avelion, Nazrelia, and parts of Cyron are unrecognizable. Fires and bombings have destroyed shops and homes. Executions are a regular occurrence. The streets are plagued with dead bodies tied to light posts as a reminder of what will happen if you attempt to escape or fight back. He knows civilians won’t be much of an asset to him in the upcoming war, so he views them as expendable. Instead, he’s prioritized Strellesia and Aexetan, creating a divide between them and the other realms. Cyron’s resources are too valuable to go all in, but his threats have made most of those who livethere fall in line. Over the past month, he began withholding food and supplies.” Kane drops his head. “Life in the lower three realms has turned into a fight for survival.”
My heart shatters, thinking of Avelion being torn apart from within. For most of my life I wanted out of there, but it will forever be my home and hearing what it has turned into makes my eyes burn.
Though I may have spent most of my life growing up having nothing, many in Avelion lived just fine. They don’t know what it’s like to scavenge or live uncomfortably. A life of survival takes years to adjust to. They aren’t prepared for that. If the king has taken away their livelihood, it’s only a matter of time before they start to turn on each other. Neighbors. Friends. It won’t matter. Desperation has a way of bringing out the worst in people and the fear he continues to inflict will only escalate things.
Soon, the king won’t need to be the one doing the killing.
“Anything else?” Jace asks with a wary look.
“That’s all I know.”
Kane sits back down, and a ripple of low moans makes its way around the room.
His report is sobering. It’s clear that whatever façade King Cimmerian used to put on has now been ripped to shreds. There’s no more illusion of what the Great Six Realms are like now. Only the ugly truth that losing this war is not an option and the price that comes with such victory is inevitable.
Am I really ready to take innocent lives? Am I ready to draw the line between my new home and my old one?
The answer is an overwhelming no.
I’m not ready.
Chapter 41
Reign
“Ihave seen the war play out many times.” The Oracle’s iridescent cloak flows like there is a gentle breeze passing through. “And every time you’ve lost. That is, until you died.”
“I don’t understand.”
“When you rose as a phoenix, the outcome changed. There are infinite possibilities for the war ahead. But your death has set in motion new possibilities. In many, you lose. But each day it changes. His side. Your side. The only thing I do know is that your rebirth has given the Shadow Lands a fighting chance, which is something they didn’t have before.”
“REIGN! Reign, wake up!”
I open my eyes to find Amaya standing over me, shaking me awake. The words the Oracle spoke still linger in my mind as I try to come to my senses.
