Page 122 of A Kiss of Hammer and Flame

But these were thoughts for another time. There was so much to do, and she had to focus on the path ahead, magick or no magick. Cahra took Hael’s hand.

He watched her carefully, as if the flames in his eyes sought the source of her tension. Finally, Hael said softly, ‘Is this to your liking?’

Cahra dragged her gaze with effort from the dark paradise awaiting her to settle on the wine-red of Hael’s billowing flames.

‘It’s beautiful,’ she breathed in astonishment, in spite of the thoughts that swirled inside her. ‘How did you…?’

Hael picked a tiny bud from the prickly shrub at Cahra’s feet. Placing it in her cupped hand, he touched it, watching as one by one the petals unfurled, shimmering, opening to reveal a ruby-red rose blossoming in the centre of Cahra’s outstretched palm.

Hael retracted his hand and she looked up at him. ‘You were right, to say that I was more than simply the weapon. Legend knows me as such, a creature of destruction, yet my Nether-magicks are also born of creation. They are the dual aspects of life,’ Hael said. ‘This is your seat of power, now, Cahra.’ He gestured to the glorious capital around them.

‘I can shape it to whatever you may wish.’

She gazed around, taking it all in. ‘I love it. Exactly as it stands.’

Love.

She remembered her bizarre conversation with the figure on the River Tenebri. Before, love was a word that had never carried any real meaning for Cahra. She’d never been in love, or been loved that way, not until she left Kolyath. Even her feelings for Thierre had been infatuation more than anything else, she’d come to understand. While he’d been the first to show her attention, affection, maybe even something deeper, it had not meant the Prince was the one for her. It just meant he’d been the first. Not good, not bad, just first.

But first hadn’t been enough. Not once she’d realised how little she knew of Thierre, of his whole self when it came to trust and love. Somewhere along the way, she’d known she needed more, from whoever might occupy her heart, if one day at all. Someone who could, would, not just see all of her, but share the same things. Someone who wouldn’t keep secrets. Someone Cahra could be herself with, and simply be.

She’d once seen herself as someone who hid and ran. After all, it had been her life. But with Thierre, she’d opened up. She’d dared to step up and trust someone. Now, she craved someone who would bare themselves to her in kind. Someone brave enough to try. Someone she could not only love, but also respect.

Was Hael it?

She stopped looking at the lovely landscape and gazed up at him, smiling. They had time, she thought, to find out.

Then Cahra asked, ‘Hael, who is Andruit?’

Hael paused, his face giving away nothing. ‘That is a name that I have not heard in a tremendously long time. A name that belongs to a life past, to a human man who once was and, I suppose, in some ways, still is now. A name that belongs to a long, complicated story. However, I will tell you about it, later… if you like.’

Cahra’s smile widened. ‘I would, very much,’ she said. Then she turned to Wyldaern. ‘So you and I have new jobs now.’

‘We do,’ Wyldaern granted, softly.

‘I was thinking… maybe we could both learn together?’ Cahra blew out a breath. ‘Because honestly? I’m going to need all the help I can get.’

‘I would appreciate that,’ Wyldaern said in earnest. ‘Thelaema left so quickly, and her memories – there is a lot of history to sort through.’ The Oracle glanced to Hael.

‘There is a lot of history I’d like to change,’ Cahra replied, frowning. ‘Scions to improve on. An Oracularus whose actions cannot be allowed to happen again.’

‘Well, I, for one, am certainly not about to misappropriate the Reliquus’ magicks, of that you can be assured.’ Wyldaern inclined to Cahra. ‘You have my oath, I swear it.’

‘This timewillbe different. That’s what I can swear,’ Cahra told her. ‘For me, that’s no bowing, no curtseying, from either of you. Never from you, and never to me.’

‘I…’ Wyldaern looked at Hael, as he nodded. ‘As you wish,’ she said.

‘Good.’ Cahra paced a few steps. ‘And no titles, no—’

Wyldaern laughed, taking her arm. ‘As Hael said, there is much for us to discuss.’ The Oracle stilled then, staring up at Hael’stromia’s pyramid, the palatial temple.

Their new home, the three of them: Empress, Oraculine and Reliquus. Cahra looked at Hael, the immortal weapon, whose life was inexplicably bound to hers; then at Wyldaern, her Seer friend who’d walked alongside her through trials and triumphs alike. Cahra wasn’t alone. They would face any challenges as they had today.

Cahra smiled. ‘Then let us begin.’

And with that, Cahra, Wyldaern and Hael continued onwards through Hael’stromia to forge a new path, a new era. A new alliance. Together.

EPILOGUE

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