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She shrugged, growing frustrated with his visit.

“This seems to have been a waste of a trip,” he said. “All in the effort of settling your magic.”

“I’m sorry, I appreciate the effort you went through.”

“I suppose your god of air told you all about these Steelsworn?” Scholar Alar asked, watching her closely. “They’re an interesting group.”

“We know they’re Noshtiz’s followers, that they worship him.” And that was about all they knew, other than the horrific dual-forgings they sometimes performed.

Scholar Alar blinked, his gaze sharpening. “No, they never worshiped Noshtiz. They worshiped a monster of myth, one of metal and fire magic. They believed it would one day walk Istri again, culling the weak. If they’re helping Noshtiz now, it’s likely in service to that creature.”

Her eyes shot to Pyetar, who was watching all too focused now. What were the odds this was the monster Noshtiz was helping them create?

“I see this is news to you.” Scholar Alar sounded far too pleased with himself.

“And what do you want for that information?” she demanded, remembering how transactional he had been with the Grand Keepers of Air.

He was quiet for a moment, just watching her. Perhaps judging how much she could pay.

His voice was almost monotone, empty, when he finally answered. “I chose to dedicate my life to Noshtiz, the study of his magic and the forgings. What’s happening now—I know the order had nothing to do with it, but perhaps we’re still culpable. Perhaps we should have seen it coming. I rushed here to help. Freely.”

Her eyes widened. “Thank you.”

Pyetar came to stand at her side, one hand resting on her back. “Anything you can tell us would be a great help.”

Iryana nodded, deciding to share her new theory. “These Steelsworn might be bringing this monster to life with Noshtiz’s help, using the magic from the well,” Iryana told the scholar. “Thelbiz and the other gods have tasked us with stopping it.”

Scholar Alar tensed as he seemed to consider this. “I assume you know which well this is?”

She nodded.

“The references I could find to this cult talked about how they only operated at the deepest wells, ones with enough magic for this monster to be born. I had to cross-reference the records of all the wells to find one that could have enough magic… there is only one anywhere close to these highlands. I imagine that is the one you’re headed to.”

Scholar Alar pulled a scroll out of a fold in his robe and slowly unfurled it. After a hesitant glance at whatever it held, he turned it toward them.

“It’s like a bird,” Iryana mumbled, staring at the intricate drawing of the beast. The body was a dark purple, almost black, and a great set of wings spread from its shoulders, bearing purple, red, and orange feathers. And it appeared to be on fire. Instead of tail feathers, there were long tendrils of purple fire, and instead of a beak, its mouth bore two long fangs like a snake.

“They call it a nemak,” the scholar told them. “It’s said to have feathers sharp as obsidian, able to cut through anything it flies past. Great fangs that can pierce any prey. And with each beat of its wings, can produce a whirlwind of fire. It’s a monster of destruction.”

Iryana felt the color draining from her face. “How do you fight something like that?”

“Hopefully, we don’t.” Pyetar swallowed. “We need to stop them before they create this creature.”

Iryana couldn’t look away from the drawing on the scroll. If this monster ever came to life, they would be utterly fucked.

“This is my own conjecture, but you are double-forged, Third,” Scholar Alar reminded her. “In their fight against the other, each magic has grown strong. Metal forgings will be neutral to the metal magic in the creature, but weak to the fire magic. However, you are water-forged too, which is strong against fire. Perhaps this is why the gods are sending you.”

She remembered how Karvek’s forgings had shattered her own, how vulnerable the others that were only metal-forged would be. Pyetar’s hand was tight against her shoulder now, and she glanced up to meet his eyes. Their blue depths were churning with terror.

“It’ll be okay,” she whispered to him. “We need to get there as soon as we can, so that we’re not too late.”

He nodded.

They had to stop the Steelsworn from creating the nemak.

Chapter Thirty-Two

They set out in the dead of night, the growing half-moon reflecting off the snow, making the world glow an unearthly blue. Despite their furs and fire-imbued clothing, each step was a struggle as they fought the wind.