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But sword or not, I am the Sworn Protector of the Realms. So I speak the words.

Not the ones they expect.

“We’ll forge new ones.”

Eyes drift toward mine.

“We’ll forge new ones,” I repeat. “Craft a new Sword of the Protector and a new Bow of Radiance. We have the mythkarite. Is it still here in Florendel?”

“I’ve personally ensured its safety,” Tilla says quietly.

“Kel, it’s madness.” Ezryn’s grip tightens on his hammer. “The divine weapons were forged by Rafael, the first High Prince of Spring. His secrets are long lost. And regardless, George and I ran thousands of experiments with the mythkarite. There’s no forge hot enough in the Vale to melt it.”

“Ezryn’s right,” Justus says. “There’s only one forge with the capabilities to work the mythkarite. And it’s in the heart of the Above.”

“The Celestial Landing,” I breathe. Memories swarm through me. Months ago, Justus had taken me there, to the gateway Aurelia had created. A bridge between the surface and the Above. “We can power it. Create a way to the Above ourselves.”

The air in the room seems to crackle with possibility. I’m leaning on the table now, my hair falling in front of my face as my stare burrows into Justus. Tell me it’s possible.

But the ancient fae averts his gaze and kneads the bridge of his nose. “Keldarion… I’m sorry. That’s why I took the tokens. Because I had the same thought you did.” Finally, he raises his eyes to meet mine. “Once upon a time, Aurelia had ways of powering the gateway herself, but it’s not plausible for anyone but her. The Celestial Landing must be opened with five divine weapons. I tried to use three, but the connection is too unstable. The way is lost.”

I take a step back. No. No, if it worked, if we could tread a path to the land of the first fae and recreate the weapons…

Together, we could stand a chance against Sira.

There has to be another way. There has to be.

My palm closes around the snowflake token. I close my eyes, letting that hum of magic flow through me.

There is still magic in the Vale. In my token. In the kernel within my heart that allowed me to reopen the rosebush.

And there is still magic in Castletree.

I open my eyes, and this time, I look at Rosalina. “You heard Sira. She said the roots of Castletree still live. That means there’s magic in the Vale.”

Rosalina drags her gaze to mine. Her shoulders are slumped, face pale, as if this meeting has all but destroyed her. “So what?”

“Maybe we can power the bridge between the Celestial Landing and the Above differently. Three divine weapons…and Aurelia’s heir, the Princess of Castletree.”

She shakes her head. “I have no magic.”

“We have to try. You got us into the Vale.”

“With all of you. Why aren’t you listening?” She slams her palms flat down on the table. “I. Have. No. Magic.”

I stride toward her, footsteps pounding on the stone. “There is still magic in the Vale. There is still magic in you.”

Her chair screeches across the floor as she stands to face me. “I have no magic!”

We’re chest to chest, her chin arched up to mine, that beautiful mouth in a downturned scowl. Her eyes are so filled with rage, I’m glad no one’s brought a basket of bread for the table.

How often we’ve been here, my stubbornness versus her determination, neither willing to relent. And this time, I’m going to try something different.

My body softens, shoulders bowing around her. A smile whispers up my face. “My fierce Rose,” I say, “you are magic.”

Her eyes widen, mouth opening ever so slightly.

I can’t, Kel, she says in my mind. My briars are gone. I couldn’t save Castletree. I’ll fail again.