Page 19 of The Ashborn

“The Eternal Mother calls when you’re ready. Do you have your memories back?”

Danek nodded, then cringed. More memories flooded his mind than he cared to acknowledge, but the Goddess was right. He couldn’t let them drown him. It would only lead to darkness, and he had no interest in that. He wanted more. He wanted to be strong. To be worthy. It was why he fought the void above. It was time Danek claimed his strength. “I’d like you to train me,” he said to Connak. “As a Hollow Blade.”

Connak’s brows knitted together. “Not as a Galeweaver? Or Duskveil?”

“You have the same magic as I do. Three powers. Not one. They wouldn’t be able to train me in the same way, and I think it’s time we start acknowledging the kinship that ties us.”

A carousel of emotions spun on Connak’s face before he wiped it away. “Welcome to the Blades, Danek. Follow me.”

Connak led him through the forest for miles up the hills until they reached the edge of Trinity. It wasn’t until the city curled into itself and disappeared from their sight that Connak stopped. “My Blades are a peculiar bunch. They’ll be able to make you stronger and faster, but not with magic. They don’t have any.”

Danek tilted his head. “I thought all Elvish had magic.”

Connak only shrugged, then shook his head. “We tried to catch those born without it before the Elvish could cast them out.” He held up his hand as Danek asked for further clarity. “The Eternal Mother watches out for them as they watch out for her. Children aren’t born with magic anymore, but we keep their lack of magic a secret just in case. Are you in or out?”

Danek stepped forward eagerly. “I’m in. What do you need me to do?”

“We’re going back to the Malintale. Your training will start there.”

Danek was excited to return to the Malintale, though his memory sparked. The Malintale was close to River Storm. There was hesitation in his step. “I saw something on the island,” he said quietly. “I fear River Storm is making moves.”

Connak nodded, his fingers drumming against his leg. “We have eyes on them. I don’t know what their plan is yet, but I fear it has to do with Fire Storm.”

“The volcanic lands? Why?”

“They have shadow creatures,” Connak admitted. “Wards protect our realm by keeping them in. They have since Sinmara was banished, but I’ve been getting hints lately that maybe Alistile’s wards are Vaerin’s target.”

Danek’s brows knit in the center of his forehead. “Sinmara?”

“Another time, Danek. We have a lot of work to do.”

“Tristian is okay with us leaving?”

Connak laughed. “Tristian will be fine. Unless you need to say goodbye to anyone else, I suggest we go. The best training is now, when the forest is dark. We’ll stop in Dove Port on the way.”

Chapter 8

—Kienna—

Kienna sat on the navy velvet couch in their new apartment with Moira, shocked that Moira secured this place and the furniture in it. Though Kienna pressed, Moira wouldn’t tell where it all came from, only that she accepted help from around the city so they could live comfortably.

It was Tislin, Ruva howled as she gnawed on a bone on the floor. You know it was Tislin.

Probably, but I’m fine with letting them pretend they’re a secret.

Ruva hummed to that. Like you. And your triad of men.

Kienna peered over the couch and rested her arm on the golden crest. What are you talking about?

The wolf laughed but didn’t elaborate.

Kienna sat back. She’d done her best to replace the planks that protruded from the floor, but there were still a few here and there. A splintered one jutted out close to Ruva, reminding her that she needed to go to the sawmill to get more oak wood cut.

Moira was on her fifth read through of the book she borrowed from Elowen. It must have been one hell of a story. Curiosity sparked Kienna’s interest more than once, tempted to sneak into Moira’s room and find the book when she slept, but she withheld. This was a secret Moira needed to hold onto, and Kienna was building a trust with her she didn’t want to break.

“I’m starving,” Moira said, closing the pages and running her hand over her stomach. “Should we prepare something?”

Kienna curled her knees to her chest to cozy up, realizing she’d never made her own meals. Everything was prepared for her most of the time. She couldn’t tell if that made her privileged or poorly prepared. “Honestly, I have no idea how to.”