Page 115 of The Musician and the Monster

They have to do something. We have to—

In the midst of the chaos and bloodshed, a section from the third movement ofThe Blessings of the Goddessslipped into her head, sung in a musical voice that was not her own.

To test the hearts of man, she gifted darkness too,

A temptation one can only resist if they stay true.

To balance the two, magicless humans remained,

Their gray the counterpoint to the magic strain.

The blade, when wielded with a heart of gray,

Can quench the magic of any gifted this way.

Gray to balance the darkness. Drystan contained both light and dark. They warred within him.They warred.

Never could the two blend. Light and dark could not merge to make the gray. But someone who contained neither…

The song strengthened her heart. The shaking in her limbs halted. Resolve gave her strength as she pushed to her feet and stepped away from the wall.

“Ceridwen. Don’t,” Malik pleaded.

She ignored him. This was her task, hers alone, and she wouldn’t fail.

Ceridwen’s heart thundered as she closed her hand around the hilt of the Gray Blade, still bloody from where it had pierced the king’s side.

Drystan yelped and whined as the king’s fangs sank into his leg. The larger beast tossed him across the stage.

Hang on. Just a moment longer.

The king’s attention remained on Drystan as he stalked back and forth, looking for another opportunity to pounce on his wounded prey.

With a burst of courage, Ceridwen ran forward and plunged the dagger into the beast’s back.

It howled in pain and swung a grotesque arm in her direction. She didn’t have the chance to blink, much less move, before it sent her sailing across the stage and crashing into the wood.

Sharp pain roared through her back, arms, and head. Buzzing rang in her ears. Her sight faded until she saw nothing other than blinding white and a pale, blond-haired woman staring at her.

Mother?

Her expression softened into a gentle smile that filled Ceridwen with warmth and comfort.

The world returned in a rush of color and sound.

Bronwyn slid to a stop at her side. “Ceridwen! Where does it hurt? Speak to me!”

Pain radiated through her, but her fingers moved and her toes. She could roll her head side to side.

A deep male voice screamed in pain. The king. Human.

“The king!”

“Heisa monster!”

Various shouts from the guard rang out.

“He killed King Jesstin and stole his crown! Remember what he’s done!” Adair yelled.

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