Page 126 of Duskbound

"It's worth trying," Vexa said, surprising me. "What other choice do we have? Valkan's men will retaliate at some point. We need to be as strong as we can before they descend on Ravenfell—our tethers at their peak."

"We'll need to move fast," I said. "Before the Council has time to reorganize, before Draxon's forces can mobilize. Raven, you could be our eyes and ears here in Ravenfell."

He looked me over and nodded, that mysterious glint returning to his eye.

"And what happens if we're surrounded by Sídhe forces the second we find these mines?" Theron asked.

"Then we die trying to save our realm," Aether said simply. "Instead of watching it wither away to nothing."

The room fell quiet again as they considered his words. I watched their faces as doubt warred with hope, fear with determination. Finally, Vexa stepped forward.

"I'm in."

"Me too," Effie said, "though I'd prefer not to die, if we can help it."

"The archives might have maps of Riftdremar from before the burning," Raven offered. "Details about where the arcanite stores were."

Mira exchanged a look with Theron before nodding. "After what happened to Lael... I'm done watching us lose people while we wait for orders."

"We'll need to move carefully," Rethlyn said, already shifting into tactical mode. "Scout the territory first, plan our approach?—"

"No time for that," Aether cut in.

"When do we leave?" Vexa asked.

"Tomorrow night." Aether's voice left no room for argument. "The Council will still be in chaos from Valkan's death. Urkin won't be back from Stravene. It's our best chance."

"That's... soon," Effie said.

"It's not soon enough," Aether countered, and for a split second, I could see the leader that the Council had wanted all those years ago. The tone of his voice, the determination written across his forehead, the commanding presence that nearly seeped off of him.

A moment passed as they all considered what they were agreeing to. What it would mean to desert their posts, to go against direct orders. To risk everything on a theory that might not even work.

"You're right," Vexa finally said.

The others nodded, and something settled in my chest—something laced with fear, but also something lighter, something that blazed through me. We had a plan. It wasn't much, but it was something. A chance to actually make a difference.

"Get some rest," Aether said.

As the others filed out, I caught Raven's arm at the door. "Stay." My eyes found Vexa and Aether, still murmuring in the corner of the room. Effie sat alone, her head in her hands.

I walked towards them, my boots scraping against the stone floor.

"There's something you all need to know."

The heaviness in my voice must have carried weight, because Raven closed the door immediately and took a seat in front of me.

"I haven't exactly been transparent about all of my abilities," I said, feeling the anxiety clawing as all of their eyes fell on me and darkened slightly.

"Beyond controlling minds, beyond seeing them behind barriers..." I drew in a breath, forcing myself to continue. "There's something else. Something I've barely begun to understand myself."

Aether sat back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest and giving me a look that nearly made my mouth go dry. "Go on."

My fingers twisted together as I searched for the right words. "I dream. But not normal dreams. I see through other people's eyes, experience their memories, their moments. Sometimes they're from the past, sometimes they're happening right now. And I can't control when they come, or why they show me what they do."

I turned to Vexa, whose violet eyes had narrowed. "Last year, I lived through someone forging a dagger. Every strike of the hammer, every marking carved into the blade." My gaze fell to her weapons. "Your markings."

Her hand drifted to the hilt at her side, fingers tracing patterns she carved herself.

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