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Leah was at a loss for words, so she just continued, “That was almost twenty years ago. I wasn’t even born then. My… real father was the only survivor of the Umbraar family. I think he was a teenager then, but not too young.” Not too young to disgrace and humiliate Leah’s mother. “I… didn’t know he was my father. I was raised by the Frostlake king, thinking I was a necromancer.”
“How did it work?”
“I could… revive dead animals. For a few seconds. That was all my magic.”
“It’s like you were using your deathbringing backwards, like some people when they whistle by sucking in air.”
“Can you even do that?”
“Apparently yes, if you’re saying so.”
Leah had meant the whistling, but it was something too foolish to discuss. The fae had her head down, covered with her hands.
“I guess… you won’t need me anymore.” Leah realized she might have made a mistake telling the truth to the fae. “Now that you think there’s nobody to be saved.”
The fae snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous. There are still humans, for once. I’m part human. You might be right that the Ancients are hiding. And even if they aren’t, if I was meant to survive, there’s a reason.”
“I’m really sorry.”
“Nonsense. It is what it is. And it’s true, maybe it was just a way to stop that war, to find peace. Maybe the Ancients are living happily somewhere. If the Breaker hasn’t found them.” She sighed. “What else do you want to tell me? You know more, don’t you?”
Leah had to figure out what was going on, and this was her chance. “I think… This Breaker has been speaking in my mind. I… I killed people. Killed in self-defense, which was good, but also killed when I didn’t have to. I felt a rush of power, excitement. Then… I had a dream. There was a woman, in this very realm, calling herself the Queen of Darkness, saying I could be much more, as if offering to give me more power, but it was a woman.” Leah stared at the fae again, wondering if by any chance they were one and the same.
“The Breaker doesn’t have a form. I can see you’re wondering if you saw me. Maybe it was a farseeing dream that got somewhat contaminated. It’s hard to explain.”
“What if he’s here, now?”
“Do you hear him?”
Leah shook her head. “Nothing after I put on this.” She touched the necklace. “But there was more, before. You mentioned opening a door, and I did it. It was during a battle. Ironhold was attacking Umbraar.”
“You’re at war again?”
“It’s recent. Anyway, they were attacking them, and I asked for help. Some strange creatures came from the sky. They helped me, but then they didn’t. I think it might have had something to do with the Breaker.”
“What did the creatures look like?”
“Some of them had wings, some didn’t.”
“Maybe you got some from the Fourth realm, but couldn’t control them. They also suck life force. How did you defeat them?”
“Fire.”
“Regular fire?” The woman was suspicious.
Leah wasn’t ready to say anything about Fel, so she was going to say she wasn’t sure, but then she felt something pricking her throat and felt difficulty breathing.
“Say it,” Iona insisted. “It was your idea to make the deal, so it will hold you to that.”
“Dragon fire.” Leah took a large gulp of air. That had been horrible. “Please, don’t make me explain how or why. I don’t think it matters.”
“Their magic is very powerful, Leah. If dragon lords have come to Aluria, maybe they’re after something. Are they involved in your war?”
“No. They’re not. The person who did it didn’t know he was a dragon, but he was able to take his dragon form and then summon fire to defeat the creatures. I’m not sure how it happened, or even why he’s a dragon. I really don’t know.”
“You need to be careful. If the Breaker knows about this dragon, he’ll certainly spare no efforts trying to target or kill him.”
“I know. I heard his voice in my head, and that’s why I ran away, to stay away from him, to drive this voice away from the dragon.”
