Page 70 of Prince of the Phantom Sky

“Before the Mist, we’d arranged a chest of weapons to be shipped to the witches. An offering of an alliance in the face of war, with some of our most treasured things, one of which was the sister to your prized dagger. I assume James held onto it, until his death. Did you know all the pirates had been trapped on the outside of the Mist? They were sailing to Shannara at the time it happened. Like some sick cosmic timing. Despite the witches’ treaty with the Talmon Empire, we knew the empire would eventually betray them. Whether the Stagharts would decide to thwart them after all, or Barron would arise again, and enact the very violence he’s thriving in now.”

Aerion paused, his eyes glazing temporarily as he peered at the Mist through the windows.

“We couldn’t leave this island. For ten years, we couldn’t leave. When the Mist appeared, a rift had been created between our dysfunctional family. You, Aryn, and the pirates were all on the outside. The rest of us . . . we were stuck in here. It’d been so dark, K. So cold. You have no idea what we’ve done to survive. Then one day, Hector, Cassidy, and Leto appeared like a patchwork miracle in the thick of the Mist. Saying they’d finally encountered the infamous pirate-hunter, and that James was . . .”

Kora’s head dipped, vividly remembering the events of Demon Sea Siren chasing her through the archipelago by Peril Cove. Everything had unwound since that day. Since Raiden had lured her to the Mist. Her gut twisted. Had Cannon’s ship missed her on purpose? Had he been trying to save her? She bit her bottom lip. He’d spoken of taking her away, that her life hadn’t meant to be like this.

By the fucking gods.

Had Cannon planned to bring her here?

“We received reports of the outside world for the first time, from the pirate lords, and we started preparing for the day we could finally leave, and then . . .” Aerion stopped short, a small furrow consuming his brow before smoothing out.

“And then what?” Kora pressed.

“Doesn’t matter now,” Aerion sighed dramatically, before smiling. “What matters is you getting back to your full strength. We have a world to save.”

“So, this was mine?” Kora turned the blade in her hands over, scanning the fascinating patterns.

Aerion nodded. “Just like you prefer now, you previously wielded two daggers. Funny how that stayed the same.”

Kora couldn’t laugh with Aerion, not while Kordelia’s laugh cackled behind her ears.

How ingenuine. Copying your shadow.

“Interesting how the sister blade came across your path, almost as if fate intended it.”

“It wasn’t fate. It was Death that brought us together.”

Aerion blinked, his wise stare raking Kora in, as if he suddenly saw her for the first time. Her neck cricked, using the twinge to release the dark tension simmering within. Aerion raised his hand, and another two weapons floated down from the very top. Two perfect rings, with sharp edges and a handle through each centre for Aerion to hold.

The metal was sleek and thin, with a singular symbol etched repeatedly into the circle. Aerion rolled his shoulders and flicked his wrists and the symbols flared, a small, white glow sparkling from each individual one. “Follow me.”

Kora stepped into the nearest ring with Aerion, her body thrumming with anticipation. She’d never seen Aerion in a fight. She’d barely noticed him at Mossfell Castle, her entire attention had been pinned on Raiden, Erick and Agatha. Even on the ship before Barron had taken her, Aerion had had no weapons on him, and wielded his power with the smallest flick of his finger.

“These are called chakrams.” Aerion cut his weapons through the air, and Kora watched with fascination as he moved with them, flowing around the space with ease. “They’re designed to be wind resistant, and as you can see, are dangerous from all sides around my hands.”

Kora palmed the new dagger, twirling it around as Aerion wove closer. He raised a brow and dropped down into a defensive stance. “Let’s see if you can get past them.”

She didn’t wait. Like a viper, Kora pounced, the perfection of this new blade arching effortlessly. Aerion deflected her with a grunt and she cringed, leaning back as the curve of the chakrams nearly caught her chest. Shit.

“Careful, K. These babies can slice through armour.” Aerion winked, and didn’t give Kora a moment as a blast of wind propelled him over her head. The chakrams came at her, a spinning blade of death, and Kora slammed into the floor, her back smarting as her dagger clattered to the side.

“Aerion!” Raiden’s yell carried on the winds, but Kora ignored it as she rolled, unsheathing her replacement daggers. Her lungs already burned, her muscles still weak from sparring with Aryn.

“I can’t use my magic yet,” Kora warned, sweat still dripping from her. Her energy sapped from her bones as she placed one foot in front of the other.

“Then don’t hold back.” Aerion nodded approvingly and Kora summoned the last scraps of her strength. She threw one dagger with precision, and as Aerion deflected it with his chakram, she slid across the ring, her knees burning as she collected the star dagger.

Distant footsteps pounded as she spun and raised the blade at Aerion. Something pulsed within, her water beast clawing up her back, hooking its claws into her chest, cracking it open with force. Kora gasped as the star-like pommel bloomed with blue light, similar to the talisman. Aerion grinned and she charged, leaping into the air with surprising force and her shining weapon soared down.

“Stop! You’re not ready!”

Raiden’s cry through her mind faded away as Aerion’s now shining chakrams met her blade. It bounced off an invisible force and Kora fell back onto her elbows, vibrating from the impact. Her dagger still shone, her palm pulsating in time with her heartbeat, and she stared at it in awe.

“That, sweet K, is called a rune.”

“What . . . what’s happening?” Kora shook as her power flowed into the blade, and her heart quickened as flashes of Bree stealing her gift tumbled through her mind.