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)
Someone brings up Poppy’s claim to the throne being contestable, and it makes Jasper laugh. When Alastir makes his move against Poppy, Jasper shifts and lunges for him, but a shadowshade-dipped arrow finds its mark, which forces him to shift back to his mortal form before his skin hardens and turns icy.
Jasper joins the group that rescues Poppy in Irelone. He kills the Descenter who shoots Poppy with a crossbow and snaps and snarls at Valyn when he tries to intervene and stop Cas from doing what he needs to do.
Once Poppy is better, he goes with Kieran to her and Cas’s chambers to discuss the Gyrms and the Unseen. He’s very irritated that Valyn didn’t tell him about them. They flip through the book he brought to learn more, and Jasper remarks that they aren’t living creatures.
He later reveals the location of Iliseeum and tells Poppy that she’s the only one who can get there alive. The mist there is said to be deadly to anyone it doesn’t recognize as a god. He also tells them that Valyn and Eloana have killed to keep Iliseeum’s location a secret.
When they’re talking about Primal magic, Jasper mentions that Dominik and I are likely the only ones who know about Iliseeum or how to use the magic needed to conjure Gyrms. I don’t think that’s entirely true, but I was happy to share what I knew when they asked.
When Poppy’s brother comes and requests an audience, Jasper joins the group that goes to Spessa’s End. After meeting the Ascended, he remarks that Ian is one hell of an actor and talks about Alastir having lots of beliefs that don’t make any sense.
After Poppy returns from Oak Ambler, Jasper is en route to Evaemon with Kirha and their new daughter.
KIRHA:
Pregnant and almost ready to give birth, Kirha sleeps through the Unseen/Gyrm attack.
The following day, Cas asks her about Gianna’s whereabouts, and she tells him that she’s likely in Evaemon or close, somewhere in Aegea.
When Kirha meets Poppy for the first time, she’s sorting through some yarn with Kieran. They talk about her pregnancy, and she reveals that she’s only a month from giving birth and that the Healers think it’s a girl. She also mentions her hope that this is their last baby.
Before the group heads out, she tells Poppy that their house is always open to her and Cas and hugs her. She also tells her that Cas’s parents are good people, and once they get over the shock of all that’s happened, they will welcome her with open arms.
After it’s announced that the wolven will accompany Cas and Poppy to the Spessa’s End meeting, she tells them not to worry about her—she isn’t going to have the baby in the next week.
Just after giving birth, she and Jasper make their way to Evaemon to meet with everyone.
DIARY ENTRY ~ THE PORTRAIT OF DESIRE
Oh, Diary, do I have a story to tell you.
I may have mentioned my desire to have my portrait done. I try to have my likeness captured every so often, just to remind myself of the passing of time. It can become a blur occasionally to one who has been around as long as I.
Anyway, I attended a party a few weeks ago where the Lord and Lady had some delightful art on the walls of their keep. I inquired about the talent, and the master of the manor told me about a highly sought-after husband and wife in Spessa’s End. Given their gifts, I could see why people coveted their work.
As I bathed that night, a vision came to me of a stunning couple. As events unfolded, the knowledge of who they were came to me. The wife was Kieran and Vonetta Contou’s aunt, Kirha’s sister, tying them not only to the head of the wolven but also the Atlantian Prince and the Crown.
With that information in mind, and anticipation running high, I made the journey and asked at the local tavern where I might find the couple. The innkeeper pointed me toward the outskirts of town and gave me the general direction of the artists’ abode.
As I rode up, the sights immediately struck me. The cottage sat near the coast of Stygian Bay, the glistening waters casting crystalline shards over the clay and sandstone façade of the dwelling. The Skotos Mountains rose like silent sentinels beyond, framing the area perfectly. It seemed the ideal place for artists to reside, as even one such as I, with no artistic talent to speak of beyond my ability to put words to paper, could see how inspiring it was.
As I dismounted and straightened my gown and cloak, I felt a little shiver run down my spine. My lips tipped in a small smile. I knew that feeling. It was my gift. And while it may not have thrown images into my mind’s eye just yet, my intuition knew that this meeting would be fortuitous indeed—and likely in more ways than one.