Total pages in book: 362
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
“I do. I’ll never forget it,” Penellaphe whispered, clearing her throat. “From the desperation of golden crowns and born of mortal flesh, a great primal power rises as the heir to the lands and seas, to the skies and all the realms. A shadow in the ember, a light in the flame, to become a fire in the flesh.” She exhaled raggedly as she stared, her eyes unfocused.
“When the stars fall from the night, the great mountains crumble into the seas, and old bones raise their swords beside the gods, the false one will be stripped from glory until two born of the same misdeeds, born of the same great and Primal power in the mortal realm. A first daughter, with blood full of fire, fated for the once-promised King.” She cleared her throat.
“And the second daughter, with blood full of ash and ice, the other half of the future King. Together, they will remake the realms as they usher in the end. And so it will begin with the last Chosen blood spilled, the great conspirator birthed from the flesh and fire of the Primals will awaken as the Harbinger and the Bringer of Death and Destruction to the lands gifted by the gods. Beware, for the end will come from the west to destroy the east and lay waste to all which lies between.”
Another chill curled its way down my spine, raising the small hairs on my nape. “There is another part,” I said. “A part Kolis claims is the end of the vision. It’s about the one born of blood and ash, and the bearer of two crowns. I wish I remembered it exactly, but the title I was given was included in that part. The part about being bathed in the flames—”
“Of the brightest moon.” Penellaphe stood suddenly. “Keella.”
Reaver lifted his head, watching the goddess as I frowned. “What?”
“It was something she said during your coronation.” Penellaphe bent, placing her cup and saucer on the table. “She reacted strongly to the title Nyktos gave you, especially the brightest-moon part.”
I stiffened, remembering they had been sitting together during the coronation. “She inquired about that when she approached us, asking why he had chosen that.”
“Clearly, that part references you. The bearer of two crowns,” Penellaphe stated. “The rightful heir to Lasania, and you as the Consort.”
“That’s what Kolis believes.”
“Is there more?” Ward asked, his forehead creased.
“Yes, and it’s pretty…creepy.” My fingers pressed into my knees. Closing my eyes, I concentrated hard on what Kolis had said. “Great…great powers will stumble and fall. Those left standing will tremble as they kneel, will weaken as they become forgotten. For finally, the Primal rises, the giver of blood and the bringer of bone, the Primal of Blood and Ash.” I opened my eyes. “That’s not the whole thing exactly, but it’s the general gist of it.”
Penellaphe stared at me, her lips parted. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if she breathed.
“He thinks it’s talking about him,” I continued. “That he will make the great powers stumble and fall as he rises as the Primal of Blood and Bone.”
Penellaphe continued to stare.
“Are you all right?” Ward asked, touching her arm. A moment passed before she nodded. “Then can you sit?”
Her gown billowed around her as she did as he asked.
“And maybe speak?” I added. “You’re starting to make me nervous.”
Penellaphe blinked rapidly. “He…he says that’s the end of the prophecy?”
“Yes.”
Her hands curled into tight fists as strands of eather lashed through her eyes. “He’s wrong.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“I know what I saw. Wars yet to take place. Cities yet to fall and rise once more. I saw them hundreds of years from now. Longer. A near millennium. I saw her. The Queen of Flesh and Fire in the mortal realm, where blood trees grow.”
“I remember you speaking of her and a King.” I racked my memory. “You said they…felt right.”
“They felt like hope,” she whispered, squeezing her eyes tight. “This part he speaks of? The giver of blood and the bringer of bone? I think I know what that means. Blood symbolizes life.”
“Bone represents death,” I murmured, my mind flashing to when I stood with Aydun beneath Aios’s trees.
“Yes. Life and death. Blood and bone,” Penellaphe said, her knuckles turning white as she fisted the skirt of her gown. “That part speaks of a Primal of Life and Death.”
“That’s what we figured, too. And the giver of blood and the bringer of bone?” I frowned. “You think that’s referencing something or someone else?”
Her gaze lowered as she shook her head. “Possibly. It makes sense. But what I do know is that what I saw happens in the future. The part that involves the two daughters?” Her lashes swept up. Eather pulsed brightly in her eyes. “It is they who will remake the realms. They will usher in the end. Not Kolis.”