CS - Chapters 31 to 34

Chapter 31

Gavyn yelling from inside the Council chamber drove away any thoughts of being careful. I slammed into the doors, and they burst open. As I stumbled into the room, I heard the twins enter behind me.

Lylly sat slumped in a chair at the head of the table with Hal’yorn across her knees. She appeared dazed. Around the table sat the King, Queen, Lore Master, Commander Jase, and a woman I didn’t recognize. All of them appeared to be asleep. Drinks and food covered the floor where kitchen staff had fallen while carrying their trays or pitchers.

Behind Lylly and Gavyn, held in a stand surrounded by bright shakers, was Trah’Vadha.

My entrance brought Lylly out of her daze and she locked gazes with me. Tears streamed down her face and her shoulders shook.

“Put them under,” Gavyn said. “Now!”

“I’m sorry,” Lylly said to me.

“Why are you helping them?” I asked. “Fight Hal’yorn. You’re the only one who can stop this.”

“I’m sorry,” Lylly said again.

The twins stood next to me. Shanah on my right and Lanah on my left.

“Lylly, I can tell you don’t want to do this. Fight your weapon.”

“So tired. Can’t fight any more. Lost control. My family –”

Gavyn hissed, interrupting Lylly. “Do it. You know the consequences.”

“The sword’s drawn, Top. I’m sorry.”

I walked toward Lylly. “I don’t believe that.”

Lylly ran a finger down the blade of her sword, Hal’yorn, and whispered a single word, which still seemed loud in the silence of the room. “Sleep.”

The word wrapped around my brain like a warm blanket. I closed my eyes and heard the twins collapse behind me. My balance wavered.

Random memories flickered through my thoughts as my mind reeled from Lylly’s command. I fell to my knees.

My first memory of Mom, more than half my life ago, filled my thoughts. Her dark hair touched her shoulders, her eyes golden mirrors of mine, her bracelets, one red and one silver, brushed my cheeks as she pushed my hair behind my ears. I could hear her, like it was yesterday…

“It all begins with a breath,” Mom said.

I took a deep breath and forced it out, like a long sigh.

“No, Cevin, like this, even and deep. Feel it enter your lungs, the air feeding your mind. Clearing it. There is nothing but your breath. One, two, three.”

…the memory faded and I fell forward. My arms keeping me from striking the floor.

It all began with a breath.

One. I breathed in deeply, letting it out slowly, ignoring the thoughts to lay down and sleep.

I pushed myself to my knees.

Two. I took another breath. The air like sunlight in a dark room. The urge to sleep subsided.

I stood.

Three. A deep breath. I could almost smell the cedar of Mom’s soap. My mind cleared, and I opened my eyes.

Gavyn stood behind Lylly. “Who trained you in resistance? Is someone in your family a Seeker?”

I ignored Gavyn and faced Lylly. “I’m your friend.”

“Don’t say that,” Lylly sobbed.

“It’s true,” I replied.

“You don’t know me!” Lylly screamed.

“You need to kill him,” Gavyn said.

Lylly stood and walked toward me with her sword out in front of her.

“I know you’re a good person,” I said. “How is he making you do this?”

“My family,” Lylly whispered as she drew near. “It began with my family. I’m sorry, but I need to protect them.”

I blinked and threw myself to the right before my eyes had reopened. Lylly swung her sword at my head, blade sideways. She wanted to knock me out, not kill me. But I’d already been moving when I’d blinked, remembering how she’d struck in the hallway three days ago. Her sword missed me, and I dashed toward Trah’Vadha.

“Stop!” Gavyn yelled and slammed into me.

We both fell to the ground. I twisted my body and landed on my side, sliding through a pool of cider.

The air smelled like apples and my shirt stuck to my chest, soaked. Another breath, and I pushed myself to my feet. A third, and I ran.

“Stop him, Lylly, or they all die!” Gavyn shouted.

Lylly’s rapid steps echoed behind me. As I neared the pedestal that held Trah’Vadha I jumped, and I felt the rush of air as Lylly’s blade passed near my neck.

I struck the pedestal like a rock hitting a window. Shakers scattered, throwing shadows all over the walls and ceiling. I got to my knees and reached for Trah’Vadha.

The tip of Lylly’s blade appeared in front of my nose. I sat back, resting on my feet and placing my hands on my thighs.

“You don’t want to do this,” I said.

“Of course I don’t.”

I forced myself to stand. “Then why, Lylly?”

Tears ran down her cheeks, dripping onto her beautiful red jacket.

Gavyn stood twenty feet behind Lylly. “Because I’ll kill her family if she doesn’t. Sacrifices for the greater good, but I won’t need to do that will I, Lylly. Just a few more minutes and we’ll be finished here. This will all be over, and your family will be safe.”

I pieced together what had happened. Gavyn, likely not getting the initial cooperation he required from Lylly for his weapon project months ago, had threatened her family. So she’d complied and worked with Gavyn to force weapons to bond. When I’d revealed to Gavyn how to heal someone who’d touched an unbound weapon, he’d used that information to speed up his project.

This increase in pace had exhausted Lylly and allowed Hal’yorn to gain far more power over her mind than normal. Enough that Lylly could no longer easily resist her sword’s desires, which centered on control and manipulation.

And Hal’yorn had found a perfect vessel for its desires in Gavyn, who also yearned for domination. The sword, unable to completely control Lylly, had possessed Gavyn and repurposed the man’s threats to her family to gain full control of her.

Gavyn might be under Hal’yorn’s control right now, but threatening to harm Lylly’s family to begin with was a crime he deserved punishment for.

“Please go to sleep, Top,” Lylly said softly. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Lylly’s voice entered my mind like a sandstorm, striking my thoughts in waves that made thinking almost impossible.

“Hal’yorn will force you to kill everyone here, Lylly. It’s out of control.”

For a moment the storm paused, and I took three deep breaths. Lylly’s fear for her family would win. If I wanted to escape this, I needed to help myself.

The rune Hif’Wa Bren had helped me fight Trah’Vadha in the forge room. Maybe it would also work against Hal’yorn. I focused my mind on the rune, a five-pointed star, but nothing happened.

Trah’Vadha lay a few feet away, where it had fallen when I’d struck the pedestal. Maybe I needed to hold the sword for the rune to work.

I only needed to buy enough time to get Lid in the slot. My movements slowed as Hal’yorn forced its way into my mind. With the last of my strength, I dived for Trah’Vadha.

My hand touched the hilt and pain like a thousand icy needles shot up my arm and into my brain. Inside my head, Trah’Vadha crashed into Hal’yorn, and the two detonated.

Everything went white, and my body whipsawed between frigid spears of pain and molten waves of agony. I squeezed my eyes shut as the torment surged.

Now that I held Trah’Vadha, I tried to summon the rune Hif’Wa Bren. I needed to stop the pain and regain control of my body.

Nothing happened.

Why did the rune symbols only work sometimes? The two times they’d succeeded I’d been in terrible situations, but my current one seemed worse, and yet nothing had happened.

In the locked room under the Archive Tower, I’d felt as upset as any other time, and the pain and fear I experienced right now dwarfed anything from the previous three days.

If only Mom was here, she’d tell me what to do, and I’d listen this time. Not ignore her like I’d done thousands of times in the desert.

Mom.

I had thought about Mom in the forge room when I summoned Hif’Wa Bren. When Shag’la Rath had worked outside the ninth-floor window, I’d been remembering my sisters. Maybe it wasn’t just any emotion that triggered the symbols, but a specific one. One that I felt when I thought of my family.

Love.

I needed protection from the warring swords inside my mind. This time I pictured Mom drawing three squares on my forehead, one inside the other like a small pyramid. I repeated the singsong words and let the rune sink deep into my brain.

The cliffs of Rav’ka Yin.

My strength, a stone.

Like a mountain, I endure.

Endure like Rav’ka Yin.

The pyramid ignited brightly in my mind, and my misery faded as Rav’ka Yin expanded and forced the swords from my head and burned away the tiredness from my muscles.

The hand holding Trah’Vadha turned grey and hardened. Electricity wrapped around my hand, but I felt no pain. Sparks climbed the blade of Trah’Vadha and the room turned a bright blue.

“Kill him,” Gavyn screamed.

Hal’yorn’s tip hovered inches from my heart. One quick thrust and Lylly could end my life. Her entire arm shook and she whispered. “I can’t. I won’t.”

Hal’yorn and Gavyn had forced Lylly to do these things because she held the key to all their power and control. Hal’yorn remained bonded to Lylly but couldn’t completely control her. The sword had possessed Gavyn and used its power to force a bond between Trah’Vadha and the scribe. Hal’yorn would wield Trah’Vadha’s power through Gavyn and nothing good would come from that.

Lylly stood in front of me, her sword pointed at my chest, not moving. Gavyn screamed at her, and Hal’yorn shook as it exerted its power over her, but she stood like a mountain in a storm. The pair had finally asked too much of her.

“Break Gavyn’s bond with Trah’Vadha,” I whispered.

“I don’t have the will left for something like that,” Lylly whispered back. “I barely have the power to resist them.”

Not enough power. Lid had told me yesterday that when weapons touched, they transferred energy. He also said it was unpredictable.

A plan formed in my mind, and I didn’t have time to think of a better option. I knew what I needed to do, but I didn’t want to risk hurting Lylly. I needed to get Hal’yorn away from her.

Gavyn strode forward, and I knew time had run out.

I threw myself forward, directly onto Lylly’s sword.

Hal’yorn slid under my right collarbone and out my back causing Lylly to scream in shock. Rav’ka Yin had hardened my hand around Trah’Vadha’s hilt, or I would’ve dropped the sword from the sudden pain.

I twisted my body, which yanked Hal’yorn out of Lylly’s hand.

The pain from my shoulder dimmed my vision, and I worried I might pass out. Hal’yorn’s voice had become deafening now that it pierced my body, but for the moment, the rune Rav’ka Yin kept me conscious and safe from the sword’s control.

“Lylly, you’ve killed me,” I shouted.

Lylly’s eyes widened in disbelief, but more importantly, Gavyn stopped advancing. His face split into a smile as he watched me stagger backward.

I reached up with my left hand and yanked Hal’yorn from my shoulder. I had to pull it out at an angle, and it made the wound larger. The blade scraped against my collarbone and blood gushed from the wound.

Hal’yorn’s voice became a howl in my mind. It along with Trah’Vadha raged against Rav’ka Yin and coupled with the pain from my injury the swords began to overwhelm the rune. I only had a few seconds of sanity left.

Blue lightning surrounded Trah’Vadha. Violet fingers as lightning arced outward from the sword, burning the air, and causing my hair to stand. Hal’yorn vibrated in my grip so hard my arm turned numb.

I held two of the Kingdom’s most powerful swords, precious beyond comprehension. I wanted to save Lid, but first I needed to stop Gavyn and Hal’yorn, because they’d kill everyone in this room.

My thoughts slowed, but I only had one thing left to do, even though it might cost me my life.

Lylly needed more power to fight Hal’yorn and break the forced bond between Trah’Vadha and Gavyn.

Trah’Vadha would provide that power.

I had come to this place to get a sword, to lead soldiers into battle, and bring peace. To bring my brother and sisters, everyone’s family, home.

Instead, I would likely die in this room.

I thought of Beitris showing me how to get water from a cactus…Tomyd laughing as we slid down a sand dune…the sound of Mom’s feet on the dirt as we ran through the night, our footfalls like music in the darkness…playing hide and go find with Muir, who was always impossible to find…the smell of sweat as Dad hugged me…of Shanah and Lanah and their bird handshake…

The cost was worth it.

“Be ready,” I whispered to Lylly.

“Ready for wh —”

With all my strength, I slammed Hal’yorn and Trah’Vadha together.

Chapter 32

An explosion of blue and violet light threw me backward. My body turned numb and the rune in my mind went out like a snuffed candle. My ears rang, and I could taste blood in my mouth. I raised my arms, glad to see the explosion hadn’t blown them off. It occurred to me that I’d survived.

I rolled onto my good shoulder and pushed myself up. Standing, I wobbled on my feet, but remained standing. My shoulder wound continued to bleed, the blood loss would soon turn serious.

Gavyn lay unconscious thirty feet from me, and Lylly sat on her knees, dazed, halfway between us. To my left, Hal’yorn lay on the cracked floor, the silver blade so hot the air shimmered around it. To my right Trah’Vadha, still in one piece, had blackened the floor from released energy.

I needed to help Lylly, and see if she’d broken the link between Trah’Vadha and Gavyn.

My thoughts still felt slow, and it took a lot of effort to keep from falling. I might be more seriously injured than I thought.

A loud crack caused me look up.

As I stared at the ceiling, covered in black streaks from Trah’Vadha’s lightning, small pieces fell. After a few seconds, the pieces became larger, and then the ceiling above me collapsed.

I tried to jump away, but my body refused to move. The combination of blood loss, the explosion, and channeling the power of two swords had finally taken its toll.

Something struck me around the waist, throwing me backward, and the ceiling hit the floor with a loud crash. Shattered pieces or rock pelted me like a sandstorm, and dust surrounded me.

I covered my mouth with my good arm, and Lylly coughed next to me. I reached over and pulled her shirt over her nose to protect her breathing from the dust. We sat like that until the dust settled.

Lylly pulled the shirt off her nose. “You just watched it fall.”

“I know.”

“Normal people move when things fall on them.”

“Yeah.”

My thoughts cleared a little, and I locked eyes with Lylly. “Trah’Vadha and Gavyn–”

Lylly pointed at where Gavyn had lain on the floor. Large chunks of the ceiling now covered the whole area. Gavyn had not survived.

“Hal’yorn?” I asked.

“Injured and weak. Now that I know what to expect, I won’t lose control again.”

“Then it’s over,” I stated matter of factly.

Lylly came to the same conclusion because she leaned over and hugged me, put her head on my injured shoulder and sobbed. I put my good arm around her, grimacing at the pain that filled my body.

We stayed like that for a dozen heartbeats, as pieces of the ceiling continued to crack and fall like some odd hailstorm.

Part of me felt guilty, sad even, that Gavyn had died. He’d been a victim of Hal’yorn, but he’d also threatened to hurt people to get what he wanted. I hadn’t intended for him to die, but I also felt relieved that he was gone. The people I cared about were safe now, with just one exception.

“We need to get everyone out of here,” Lylly said. “I’ll wake them up.”

“They’re safe over there. Don’t wake them yet. I need to do something first.”

Lylly studied the ceiling. “You better make it quick.” Then she removed her coat, picked up the still smoking Hal’yorn, and walked unsteadily to the others.

Dust covered me, the white powder mostly hiding my injuries. My shoulder had turned the powder pink as the blood seeped through. The pain felt dull, and I realized I was in shock.

I limped over to Trah’Vadha and sat cross-legged in front of it. I held Lid’s hexagon over the same shaped indentation under the handguard. They looked identical.

A strange reluctance filled me. What if I’d killed Lid by smashing the swords together? Or messed up whatever he’d planned. If this didn’t work, it meant I’d lost my friend forever.

I took a deep breath and inserted the hexagon, careful not to touch the sword.

Lid?

Lid didn’t answer, and my heart pounded. This had to work. Maybe I needed to hold the sword, and the lightning would bring Lid back to life. I considered if I had enough energy left to use another rune symbol, and realized I probably didn’t. Maybe I could touch Trah’Vadha just long enough to test my theory, but short enough to survive.

You really have the worst ideas, Lid said.

I laughed as my vision blurred.

It’s good to hear your voice, I said, wiping my eyes. What took you so long?

Long? Do you have any idea how much information I just…where are we?

Trah’Vadha vibrated as Lid sent out his feelers.

Is this mess your fault? Lid asked.

Most of it.

Hmmm. Not as bad as I feared. Can I look through your memories?

Thoughts of Hal’yorn flashed through my head, and I almost said no, but Lid was my friend, and I trusted him.

Sure.

My stomach turned as everything that had happened to me since they’d taken Lid zipped through my head in a heartbeat.

Lid remained quiet.

What was that hexagon thing? I asked.

I told you earlier. A backup of me.

What does that mean?

I had to hide in a way the Seekers could not sense. Kind of like hibernation.

And the depression in the hilt woke you up?

Yes. When they melted me, I left one instruction behind. To make that slot and wake me up when you placed me there.

That sounds complicated. You’re lucky it worked.

I learned long ago that you make your own luck.

I’m worried about Lylly and Hal’yorn.

Lylly will be fine, and Hal’yorn expended so much energy in this plot, that he will be harmless for generations. Only you and Lylly know what happened after everyone was put to sleep. Some of the details can be left out.

Like her stabbing me?

Technically you stabbed yourself. Talk about luck. Your ideas are terrible.

I’m glad you’re back. I missed you.

Warmth spread from the top of my head to my chest. Likewise.

I studied Trah’Vadha. What are we going to do about your current shape? I can’t stay here at the Academy without a weapon.

I thought about that. I know you wanted an epic sword, and as moody as Trah’Vadha is, she is also powerful. I can stay here, protect you from her, and you can live your dream. Not exactly the flaming sword you wanted, or one that calls the stars down from the heavens, but throwing lightning around still makes for a good story. You will be famous.

I imagined the songs they’d write about me if I wielded Trah’Vadha. The poor desert boy who came to the Academy to wield the Royal sword. Lid was right, I would be famous. It was everything I’d always wanted, and with Trah’Vadha’s power, I could make a difference.

The tapestry hanging behind Gavyn on my first day here filled my thoughts. My dad had been the hero holding that black sword. He had everything I wanted and had given it up. He didn’t want to be a hero, at least not like that.

Maybe the cost of being in a tapestry, or having a song made about you, was too high. I wondered if there might be other ways to stop all the fighting. Beitris always told me there was more than one way to cook a fish, and I’d been forced to try most of her attempts.

Can I be that super-librarian you mentioned if you’re like this?

Probably not. Our methods are more subtle than lightning storms.

And all of Mom’s training will be for nothing.

Of all people your mom knows the importance of free choice. She will understand.

I ran my hand over Trah’Vadha, careful not to touch her. But this isn’t really you. Won’t it make everything harder for you?

It will take some getting used to, but you are my family now. We are a team, remember.

We were family.

And Beitris’ cooking had taught me two valuable things. There were many ways to ruin a fish, and even the worst meal was bearable if you were with the people you loved.

I remember.

Chapter 33

Guards and staff still ran around the Council chamber. I stood in front of the collapsed ceiling and looked at the adults standing like a row of trees in front of me. The King and Queen, Commander Jase, and the Lore Master. Shanah and Lanah remained at the table, both still groggy.

“Trah’Vadha exploded?” the King asked again.

I snapped my fingers. “Hal’yorn blew up just like that as soon as it touched Trah’Vadha. Then Lylly saved us all from Gavyn before the explosion brought the ceiling down.”

You told them Trah’Vadha caused it the first time, Lid said. Keep to the story.

Right.

“The explosion of power from Trah’Vadha is what I mean,” I corrected.

“And Gavyn had threatened your family?” Commander Jase asked Lylly.

Lylly looked uncomfortable but I’d convinced her the Council didn’t need all the details.

“Yes, sir. He threatened to kill them if I didn’t help or if I told anyone. I regret it was only at the end, and seeing Cevin’s bravery, that I did the right thing.”

I frowned at Lylly. Her honor would get her into more trouble than she deserved. I spoke up to stop her.

“She saved me when the explosion brought the ceiling down,” I said.

The Queen had not taken her eyes off of me, and I avoided her gaze, worried I might give something away. Of all the adults, she worried me the most.

I wiped my brow, Lid cool against my forehead.

“And the explosion is when Trah’Vadha broke?” the Lore Master asked.

I nodded. “I couldn’t really see with all the light and explosions, but I think so.”

What is it with you and everything exploding? Lid asked.

Sorry, I get excited.

The Queen tilted her head. “We are fortunate you didn’t suffer any severe injuries with all the exploding swords, electricity filled rooms, and tons of falling rock.”

She is on to you, Lid said.

The King looked down at Trah’Vadha, now in two pieces again. “I’m sorry, son, about your weapon. The spirit of Gavyn’s work was noble. He only wanted to find a way to end the wars, and your sword offered a chance. I’m sorry his desire twisted his mind with power, and he put you, and all of us, at risk.”

“I’ll be sad to see you go,” Commander Jase said, his face saying the opposite.

He didn’t make me angry though. Every tapestry Commander Jase saw about Jasper Pass, or song he heard, or every time he looked at me, only reminded him of the day he lost his daughter. I didn’t like him, but I understood why he acted like he did now, and it made a difference.

I saluted Commander Jase. “Thank you for the opportunity, sir.”

Commander Jase frowned.

“We all owe you our lives,” the King said. “Is there anything the Kingdom can provide you?”

I should ask for Flasker’s room, I said.

How bad do you want to stay here?

I glanced at Shanah and Lanah both standing at the table now, palace staff hovering around them. Shanah met my gaze and smiled.

I was starting to like it here. I told Lid. I’m going to miss it.

I want to stay, too, and spend some time in the Archive Tower’s library. I have an idea.

Have you thought this one through?

Mostly, Lid replied.

Fine.

Repeat this…

I cleared my throat and repeated the words as Lid put them in my head. “I feel different. Something changed inside me when Trah’Vadha’s power surrounded me.”

“Different how?” the King asked.

“It’s hard to explain. I feel like a magnet. Things pull at me.”

The Lore Master stepped forward. “What things?”

I pointed at Trah’Vadha and then at the swords hanging from the waists of Commander Jase and the Queen.

It dawned on me what Lid was doing.

You’re making them believe I’m a Seeker, that I can sense the weapons, I said.

The Lore Master turned to the King. “We have searched for a way to find more Seekers. If he really has the ability now, we might be able to duplicate it. I want to take him to the Tower and test him.”

It should get us both in the Archive Tower, Lid said.

And we can stay.

“Are you okay, Cevin?” the King asked. “What do you think of the Lore Master’s plan?”

“Sorry, I hit my head pretty hard. During the explosion. The big one.”

Will you stop it with the explosions? By the time you get to the Tower you will have survived the total collapse of the palace.

Well, basically half of it fell on me.

A small portion of one room fell.

There was an explosion. My ears rang!

“Cevin?” the Queen asked.

I refocused on the Queen. Shanah and Lanah stood on either side of her now. All three stared at me intently.

“Yes?” I asked.

The Queen frowned at my odd behavior. “Do you want to stay here? See if you might be a Seeker?”

I glanced at Shanah and our eyes met. Her cheeks grew red, but she didn’t look away.

I faced the Queen. “I would like that.”

“Maybe we can be roommates, dumb-dumb,” Lanah said.

My breath caught, and I stared at Lanah. She winked at me, and I relaxed. She’d been joking. I was pretty sure she was joking.

That was a joke, right? I asked Lid.

Lid’s amusement vibrated across our link.

The Lore Master stepped forward and took my arm. “I’d like to get started right away. I’ll send some scribes to collect Trah’Vadha.”

The King nodded. “I’m glad you’re staying, Cevin. Thank you again.”

The Queen saluted me, and I saluted her back. Her gaze followed me as I left with the Lore Master. I had definitely made her suspicious. But, for now, I’d survived another day.

Chapter 34

The Lore Master strode out of the palace, pulled a shaker from his pocket, and gave it a hard shake. I squinted at the sudden light and looked away. The clouds had cleared, and the moon provided plenty of light for me to see.

We started toward the Tower. I followed behind, my feet dragging. The Queen had healed my injured shoulder, but I still felt tired. I really wanted to clean off all the dust, change my clothes, and eat something. But it didn’t seem like the Lore Master cared about any of that.

He is really excited to test you, Lid said.

It kind of worries me.

I am sure it will be fine. They never use the needles on the first day.

Needles!

I slowed down.

That was a joke!

I sped up again. Needles are nothing to joke about. Muir once stuck me full of them because she’d read they could –

“Lore Master!” Davot called.

We stopped and turned to see Davot jogging toward us, two shakers attached to his vest, the area in front of the soldier flooded with light.

“Yes?” the Lore Master asked.

“Commander Jase wants the boy to get his things from the Sword Pillar,” Davot said as soon as he reached us.

“Can’t that wait? I wanted to run some tests.”

Needles, I bet, Lid said.

Stop it!

Davot shrugged. “You know how the Commander is.”

The Lore Master frowned. “Fine, but I expect you to bring him straight to me as soon as possible.”

“Of course, sir,” Davot replied.

The Lore Master turned, muttering to himself, and strode away.

Davot watched him for a few seconds, like he wanted to make sure the man wouldn’t return. Then he faced me.

“I hear you did a good job in there. I knew I couldn’t catch you three, so I went for help. I underestimated your ability to handle things on your own.”

“I survived because I never do what I’m told.”

Davot laughed. “That I believe. Come on.”

Davot turned and marched toward the wall that separated the school from the palace grounds. Neither of us spoke. Davot walked much faster than the Lore Master, and we made it to the wall quickly. When we crossed through the wall and into the school grounds, instead of continuing toward the Sword Pillar, we turned and headed east toward a maple grove.

“Are we going to Sword Pillar?” I asked.

“In a bit.”

“Commander Jase didn’t give you orders, did he?”

Davot wiped his brow. “No.”

Davot had earned my trust, and I didn’t slow. “Where are we going?”

“It’s easier to show you,” Davot replied.

Davot pulled blinders over the shakers as we entered the maple trees and the light vanished. The temperature dropped as we walked deeper into the trees, and I rubbed my hands together. The tall maples blocked most of the moonlight, but Davot strode through the trees like a sun blazed above us.

Davot slowed and then stopped. “I got him.”

A figure stepped forward, wrapped in a cloak, a hood hiding their face.

“Now I owe you twice, Davot,” Dad said.

“Nonsense. You Glasach’s destroy everything. I’m doing the Kingdom a favor getting him away from the palace. You should see the Council chamber.”

“Thank you, friend,” Dad replied.

Davot saluted Dad. “I’ll walk the perimeter. Signal with a mountain owl when you’re done.”

Davot disappeared into the trees as Dad removed his hood and smiled at me.

My insides knotted up. Seeing someone that loved me and didn’t want to hurt me, or embarrass me, or get rid of me, made my chest warm, but all the secrets he’d kept from me burned like acid.

I didn’t know how to say any of that though.

“I thought you went home,” I said.

“Not with Commander Jase here. I figured there was a good chance he’d get you bounced out of school. I stayed close to keep an eye on things.”

My throat tightened up. He’d spied on me as well.

“I could have used some help,” I said.

“It seems like you did just fine on your own.”

“Fine? I’ve almost died three times. The last three days have felt like running along a cliff.”

“And yet you’re still here.”

“Only by luck!”

Dad shook his head. “Luck is another name for preparation.”

“But you didn’t prepare me! You ignored me!” I swallowed hard. “You didn’t tell me the truth.”

Dad stepped closer. “Only three people in this world had the power to stop what happened in the palace tonight. The Kingdom is lucky that one of them was there.”

I opened my mouth to argue. To tell him he didn’t know how scared, uncertain, and alone I’d been. That he didn’t know the pain I’d endured these last three days, or how I’d spent most of it thinking I was a failure. And worst of all, how terrible it felt to learn his secrets from strangers.

But some of those emotions felt hollow now. I shut my mouth and took a moment to think.

The truth was my parents had prepared me. I remembered the times Dad had sent me back inside as I begged him to let me practice the sword. His expression had always looked like frustration to me, but I could see the sadness now. It had been just as hard on him to not share the things he’d spent his life learning.

The secrets my parents had kept from me hadn’t been to hurt me, but to protect me. Protect me until I was ready to hear them.

I stepped forward and hugged Dad, and he immediately wrapped his arms around me.

“I’m really glad to see you,” I said.

Dad squeezed me, and I couldn’t breathe for a moment.

“I love you, Cev, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

We stood that way for a minute and the bitterness and anger of how I’d been raised disappeared. I felt lighter.

I stepped away from Dad.

“Davot told me he talked about Jasper. Your mom and I hide the truth from you kids until you’re assigned training. I didn’t expect Jase to appear. When he did, I was out of time, and I couldn’t tell you anything. I’m sorry.”

I nodded, my throat tight.

“There’s more to tell. More than I’ve told your siblings. What happened at Jasper, the choices Alfhyld and Wuk’Glea made that day, were in part for you.”

“How could they even –”

Dad held up his hands. “Not now. There will be plenty of time for that discussion later.”

A question had bothered me since I’d found out what Dad had done, and I forced it out. “Why did you stop fighting?”

Dad looked up into the trees for a while, and I worried I’d upset him.

He locked eyes with me. “What happened that day broke me. I went as far away from the war as I could. All the way to the desert.”

I waved my hand. “But with your power, you might have ended the war.”

Dad shook his head. “I realized at Jasper Pass that the wars would never end, and I was done killing farmers and bakers and other soldiers.”

“So you ran away?”

“I found a different path.”

“But you’re the hero of Jasper Pass.”

“I’m no hero. But I will be.”

“How?”

“Your mom found me and explained the real war. She has a plan.”

“Mom?”

“We’d need the rest of the night to talk about her, and I still don’t know what happened with Gavyn.”

I spent the next few minutes telling him what had happened.

“Protecting Lylly was a good choice,” Dad said once I’d finished.

Dad thinks I make good choices, I said.

First, your dad does not always have the best judgement. Second, you added another two explosions. Third, the fact that –

“And Lid’s Seeker idea is genius,” Dad said.

Third, your father has a real sense for brilliance.

“Do Seekers do anything with needles?” I asked.

Lid’s laughter felt like an itch inside my brain.

“Not that I’ve heard, but you should get going before the scribes come looking for you. We can talk more soon.”

Dad tilted his head back and hooted twice, the sound muted by all the trees.

“Soon? You’re staying here?”

“Yes, I’ll let you know where once I’m settled.”

“Does Mom know? Won’t she be worried?”

“Your Mom doesn’t worry. She acts. If it wasn’t for her…well neither of us would be here.”

Dad and I hugged again as Davot appeared.

The two men saluted each other and then Davot retraced our steps out of the grove. I followed behind him, my mind and body exhausted. Before long we were headed toward the Sword Pillar.

You know what I’m happiest about? I asked.

Explosions?

No! That I won’t need to walk up to the tenth floor everyday now. The Sword Pillar is behind me.

What? How much do you know about Seekers?

Nothing. They aren’t in any stories. The weapons always just appear back in the Hall of Glory, waiting for the next hero.

Oh, Lid said.

What do you mean, oh?

Maybe we should have talked about my idea a little more.

What didn’t you tell me?

Hey! It is hard to keep track of all the things you are ignorant about. It is like a full-time job.

What aren’t you telling me!

Lid paused for three seconds. Seekers need to learn all the weapons.

They study them in the Tower, right?

For the first year, yes.

What do you mean for the first year?

Seekers must train in every Pillar, too. Not just the Tower.

Every Pillar!

Well, maybe not every one. But the Sword, Blunt, Ranged, and Axe Pillars for sure.

I start every year as the new guy? We need to stop this!

I doubt the Lore Master will believe you are suddenly normal. His tests will probably get uncomfortable if you resist him. He seemed really excited.

What have you gotten me into?

How bad could the Tower be compared to the last three days?

True.

I felt a little better.

The other Pillars are far away, Lid continued. You have a year to relax in the Tower.

Also, true.

I relaxed. This might not be so bad.

At least this first year you will have plenty of time for your Leab’Ayl Ribnor training.

What training?

Now that you are the Silver Librarian, you need proper training.

Who’s going to do that?

The Red Librarian should be here in about ten days, Lid said, his voice happy.

How did the Red Librarian know to come?

The three of you are linked. The Black Librarian knows, too.

I don’t sense anything.

That is the point. You need training.

Do you know the Librarian that’s coming?

Oh, yes. I spent time with her family years ago. She and her husband helped me clean up a small mishap.

The amusement in Lid’s voice was clear.

What aren’t you telling me?

There is a lot I keep to myself. Your lifespan is not long enough to hear even –

Stop! I meant about the Red Librarian.

Well, I can tell you before she had her family, she was like a desert storm, but five kids has smoothed off her rough edges.

I got an uneasy feeling.

What’s the Red Librarian’s name? I asked, my heartbeat loud in my ears.

She has a lot of names. Her people called her Majesty before she became a Leab’Ayl Ribnor and gave up the desert throne. The pirates in the east call her Sea Shadow, and the tribes that roam the sands of Shag’la Rath call her the Eye of the Sun.

Lid paused long enough that I thought my heart might explode. He was enjoying this far too much.

You call her, Mom.

The End of Cevin’s Sword