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Oz ran a hand through his hair, looking just like his father at that moment. “There is information about marriages, but those are separate from matings. I’m honestly not sure. If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say you both accepted the mating if you can feel the bond.” A pleased trill ran down the bond, one I echoed back to Kael. “But some of the Remnant’s cultures have stories about mating ceremonies. I know the Zerkir used to bite their mates to mark them.” Kael shifted, as if interested, and I had to fight not to graze my teeth along her neck. “And that the Kyrie had an intricate mating dance they did in flight, but we lost a lot of information about the other races as the empire expanded.”
Shame filled me when I remembered all the libraries Varzorn had ordered me to burn. Kael leaned back into my chest, eyeing Oz thoughtfully. “How do you know all this? Where did you learn it?”
Oz’s eyes held a faraway look. “Ancient histories, old tales buried deep. That’s why I went to Hundaelr in the first place—to read and learn from the scrolls about the Godsfall. After Rhazien was selected, we finally thought we were safe...” He glanced at the door to the tent, lowering his voice before he continued. “I found something hidden in the royal scrolls. Something that I wasn’t supposed to see.”
My brows drew together. “What was it?”
“After the humans struck down Vetia, Tiordan Carxidor saw how delicate our immortality was. He approached Eiran with his fears. Though Eiran’s forces retrieved and hid Endbringer once more, it did not appease Tiordan. He believed that for the Elves to ensure their immortality, Atar needed to be concealed from the world. Eiran... disagreed.”
Kael whistled low. “So that’s why Tiordan Carxidor overthrew Eiran?”
Oz nodded. “It was his treachery that caused the greatest rift among us. The Helekians and Heliots stood with Daelor against Tiordan’s coup, leading a revolt, but Tiordan had the Svartál on his side. They exterminated all the Sálfar in retaliation.”
“And Atar? What of him?” I asked.
“Tiordan ensnared and bound him, secluding him away from everyone. As Atar realized the depth of the betrayal, he placed a curse upon the Svartál, ensuring they could no longer harness the celestial metals before Tiordan fully bound him and put him into a waking sleep.”
“Trapped, not lost,” I murmured, staring at the tent wall, lost in thought. This changed everything. “Do you know where Atar is being held?”
Oz shook his head, frustration clear in his eyes. “I don’t. Zora and I had to escape the palace before I could read further. It was too chaotic.”
“Is there a way for the Remnants to regain their powers? If we find Atar and free him, could he help them?”
Kael turned in my arms, her eyes shining with pride as she pulled me into an embrace.
Oz’s gaze was distant, thoughtful. “I’m not sure. But he’d be the one to ask. Ydonja left thousands of years ago. He’s still here, hidden somewhere.”
I nodded, the idea of finding Atar morphing from a fantasy into something that could be achievable. “Then we’ll look for him,” I declared. “Do you think you’d be able to find Atar’s location?”
Oz took a deep breath before nodding. “I may be able to, but I’d need access to the palace library again.”
“Once we take the city,” I said confidently, “you’ll have it. But until then, let’s keep this information quiet.”
Kael and I exchanged a glance, silently agreeing. “Agreed. We don’t want to risk anything leaking out before we have a chance to act.”
Oz’s expression softened, and he put a hand on my shoulder. “I’m proud of you, cousin. You’ll make a wonderful king.”
I dipped my chin, praying that he was right.
Chapter 16
Kael
Theworldhadtakenon a crisp edge, each detail sharp and clear as we drew nearer to the Sarro lands and closer to war. It was an odd sensation, like being on the precipice of a cliff, knowing that a strong breeze would be enough to send you tumbling down.
Inside the command tent, maps sprawled across the main table, the dim candlelight casting long, erratic shadows.
The tent flap rustled, and Zerek entered, looking travel-worn. Roza straightened, her eyes sweeping over him. “Caelia’s forces are blocking our path to Hundaelr. There’s no way of crossing their territory unnoticed.”
Tightness gripped my chest. This was not the news I’d hoped for.
Theron blinked once, letting the information sink in. “How many?”
Zerek hesitated, “Thousands. Far more than we expected.”
Raenisa frowned. “We knew crossing the Sarro lands would be challenging, but this is too much. They’ll have prepared positions—we’ll be slaughtered.”
He leaned over the map, his fingers tracing potential routes. “If we go around, it’ll cost us time. Time we might not have.”
