Echoes of the Raven (The Eldrystone #2)

11. CHAPTER 11

11

RíFíOR

“I was wrong. We’re not safe.”

Reina Amira Plumanegra (Casa Plumanegra) - Queen of Castella - 21 AV

D esperation brought me here, and now it is too late to turn back. For twenty long years, I have searched for The Eldrystone, losing hope so many times, thinking I would never hold the amulet in my hands again, and I would forever be trapped in Castella.

Then I saw Simón Plumanegra’s portrait hanging in a cheap tavern. He wore a crown and velvet cape. Never could I have imagined that the man who helped Loreleia Elhice slip through my fingers was the King of Castella himself.

My hope was reborn.

I told myself that even though it would not be easy to get to the monarch, it was only a matter of time until I found a way. It took me an entire year, but I did it. My patience and efforts paid off, and then there it was, right in front of me, between Valeria’s fingers—the only thing that can reopen the veil and take me to the place where I can remake my life after Saethara destroyed it.

Except Valeria… she got right in my way .

And now, here we stand, reenacting the same tableau in just a handful of days. Me, demanding she give me The Eldrystone. Her, eyes gleaming with the desire for power and the hunger for destruction, while I am left at her mercy, which by degrees dies a slow death as I watch her across the desk.

Surprisingly, for a moment, doubt shapes her features. I should be dead already, broken by her simple will, the same way Orys was, but she’s holding back. I see the conflict play in her expression as easily as if she had spoken it out loud. She is a far better person than me.

We stand here, both aware of the futility of my threat against her sister—for what is a man-made weapon against the power of a goddess? Yet, this is my only option. If I’m to recover The Eldrystone, I must place myself at Niamhara’s mercy. I must face her judgment and hope she can forgive my blunders for the sake of my kin.

I am willing to face death for them. The road has been long, and I am tired.

Squaring my shoulders, I gaze at Valeria, waiting for her inner conflict to resolve itself. In the end, she is not as good as she would have me believe, and as I expected, greed wins. She wants the power of The Eldrystone for herself. And perhaps she also wants revenge for that night of weakness I shared with her.

Mayhap, I deserve this end.

I did not deserve Saethara’s betrayal, but my subsequent actions, following the devastation she wrought upon me, have undeniably led me here.

With no time to even blink, I watch a smile stretch Valeria’s lips as she slashes her hand downward.

I wait for the blow, for magic to reduce me to dust…

…

…

It never comes .

Valeria blinks, then flicks her hand again, more forcefully this time. Nothing happens. She attempts a third time. Still nothing.

My hopelessness turns to relief in the span of a breath. The Eldrystone is not responding to her commands. Niamhara is merciful.

Having witnessed Valeria’s complete annihilation of Orys, I dared dream the goddess would spare me, but now I realize I never honestly believed it.

Channeling anger and determination through the stone is easy. Only the finer tasks require care and control. I remember well how difficult it was to master subtlety, to weave intricate spells. And since Valeria excelled at the former, it seems I resigned myself to die, and coming here was little more than an act of self-destruction. Deep down, I thought I deserved death, but Niamhara disagrees.

Even after all this time, the amulet is still mine.

I let the dagger cut into the human queen’s neck. I feel when the pressure gives and her skin breaks, then the scent of blood enters my nostrils, I do not have to see the wound to know she is bleeding.

“Put. The. Amulet. On. The. Desk,” I say, my words bitter shards of ice.

Valeria was willing to kill me and showed no mercy. I shall do the same.

Her lower lip trembles. I deny the relief that seems to flash across her features. It is not there. She wants me dead. She can feel no relief at the sight of me still standing, still threatening to end her sister’s life.

Taking a step forward, she lowers her trembling hand to the desk and reluctantly places the amulet there.

“Walk back and press your back to the door. Do not make any sudden movements.”

She follows my instructions perfectly, keeping her hands in sight.

I force Amira forward, until the top of her legs hit the desk. Once there, I shove her aside and send her stumbling to the floor. With my now-free hand, I snatch The Eldrystone from the desk, my chest nearly bursting with elation.

Finally. Finally. FINALLY.

I doubted so many times, thought this moment would never come. I felt lost without it, felt like a failure, and after all this time, I finally hold it in my hand.

Almost dizzy, I take several steps back, blinking, staring at the amulet, its pale opal appearing so inconsequential, belying the absolute power it channels.

I hear her voice as if through a tunnel. “Go ahead, Rífíor, destroy us.”

Drunk from the mixture of emotions assailing me, I glance up at Valeria. She has moved from the door and now stands next to her sister. They hold each other in solidarity, their twin brown gazes full of recrimination and rancor.

Valeria opens her mouth to speak once more, but Amira, the human queen, pulls her back and steps forward, taking control of the situation.

“You… have what you came for.” Her voice is weak at first, but it gains in strength with each word. “Perhaps you should leave now.” She raises a hand toward the door. “I will order them to let you go.”

Thoughts and emotions crash against me.

Incredulity, relief, righteousness, fury, and more. Thoughts for Tirnanog, the veilfallen, my family, all the years lost… the toxic mixture makes my ears ring and my heart ache and…

“You treated us like vermin,” I roar, remembering the humiliation, the hunger, the pain.

“Queen Amira, we’re coming in,” someone shouts from behind the closed door.

I hold the amulet high, a threat of destruction.

“No!” she cries at the door. “Remain outside.” Fear trembles in her voice and in her eyes. Turning in my direction and putting both hands up, she speaks calmly. “We can talk about this. ”

“You sent your men to murder us,” I say, spittle flying from my mouth, my grip around The Eldrystone tightening. “Nearly half of the veilfallen are dead. My people have suffered for two decades.”

“Your people murdered my mother and my father,” she shouts, losing her temper. “You took my sister. I wasn’t going to let you kill her, too.”

My anger crashes against hers, but fury is all she has, while I hold real power in my hand.

All the pain I have felt since the last day I saw Tirnanog breaks through, and guided by hatred alone, I wish for the destruction of this godsforsaken realm.

As that familiar warmth spreads from my hand to the center of my very being, my gaze locks with Valeria’s. Her mouth opens in a silent no , but it’s too late.

Castella is doomed.