Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
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 as (NOT UNTIL) the great powers will stumble and fall, some all at once, and they will fall through the fires into a void of nothing. Those left standing will tremble as they kneel, will weaken as they become small, as they become forgotten. For finally, the Primal rises, the giver of blood and the bringer of bone, the Primal of Blood and Ash.
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. 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.
While talking to Sera, she offers her some information about her paths, saying that knowledge is power, and then reveals that Sera always dies before the age of twenty-one. She says there are many ways she can die, several at Ash’s hands. She then tells them the only way for Sera to survive is with the blood of the Primal the ember she carries belonged to—Ash—and remarks that it’s unfair to both of them but that love, life, and fate are rarely fair.
As talk turns to Eythos, Penellaphe tells them that he wanted to keep Ash safe but also save the realms and take his revenge. So, he stashed the ember, hoping it would grow until a new Primal was ready to be born, and hid it with the one thing that could weaken his brother.
When Nyktos and Holland say that Sera is the Primal God of Life, Penellaphe confirms it and tells Sera she can’t afford to deny it. She reveals that other than Eythos, only Embris and Kolis knew the prophecy. Then she says that prophecies are confusing, even to those who receive them, and mentions the Gods of Divination and the oracles, explaining to Sera who and what they were and are.
Penellaphe offers that her mother was a God of Divination, which is likely why she could share a vision. However, she doesn’t have any of her mother’s other skills like the ability to see what is hidden or unknown and has never received any additional visions. She assumes that with the passing of the oracles and most of the Gods of Divination, that other visions have either been lost to time or are only known to the Ancients since prophecies are their dreams.
The group discusses what may come, and Penellaphe tells Sera that Bele’s Ascension would have been felt. She also says that if she looked like Sotoria and Kolis already saw her, he would have taken her on the spot. As they discuss how to keep her safe, Penellaphe says that becoming Nyktos’s Consort will offer some protection, but until then, any god can make a move against her, and he’ll have no support from others if he retaliates. Even the coronation poses a risk since some like to push the limits, though Kolis doesn’t usually make a habit of attending such events.
And if it was done in the Shadowlands, he may not have been able to attend anyway.
Penellaphe remarks that Kolis sending the dakkais was a warning, letting Nyktos know that he knows something in the Shadowlands can create life. She believes he hasn’t responded to Bele’s Ascension because it caught him off guard. She then asks Nyktos if he’s been summoned yet.
They discuss Kolis’s quest to create life, and Penellaphe says that’s not their biggest concern right now. What they should be worrying about is that he will do anything to get the embers of life, and if he finds out that Sera has Sotoria’s soul, he will stop at nothing to have her. He’ll burn the Shadowlands to the ground if that’s what it takes. She knows precisely how cruel Kolis can be.
When it’s revealed that Nyktos had his kardia removed, it stuns Penellaphe. She tells Sera that it is the piece of the soul that allows others to love irrevocably and selflessly. Then she says that having it removed must have been terribly painful and that he is genuinely unable to love.
Penellaphe offers to help prevent Sera from being taken from the Shadowlands against her will. As the Goddess of Wisdom, she knows things others do not, like spells that can prevent that. When she brings in Vikter to help with the charm, she reveals that he was the first viktor and is the only one who remembers his past lives. When Vikter shrugs off some praise, Penellaphe tells Sera he’s too humble and says that he saved the life of someone very important and paid a steep price for doing so. The Fates decided to reward him and later realized they could give aid without upsetting the balance. Wishing there was more she could do, Penellaphe apologizes and then leads Nyktos away to speak to him privately.