Page 109 of Synodic

Whatever spikes missed, the Wyn soldiers picked up the slack. One by one, Fou’s men fell to the ground, arrows and splintered crystals lodged in their limbs, eyes, and throats.

Dyani’s whipping hair caught my eye as she ferociously felled a wake of opponents in her path. Her movements and skill were unrivaled as she moved through the air like a hawk on a tailwind, even contending with Rowen’s formidable abilities.

Speaking of, my one-man army was cradled over me, unconsciously pinning me to the floor. I searched for Caeryn and Fou, and my eyes landed on a vengeful red beast and his petrified prey.

Watching Caeryn unleash his wrath on someone other than myself was a terrifying relief. He strode towards Aliphoura, quickly ending her smaller elite force of soldiers, leaving them crumpled, mangled, and unmoving on the cold stone floor.

Fou’s eyes were desperate and pleading, and her face ran with streaks of blood. “Caeryn, my beloved, I didn’t mean it,” she said as she scrambled at the cave wall she’d been backed into. “This was your final test to prove your love to me. And you’ve won it. I’m yours. Take me, Caeryn. Take me away—”

Caeryn knelt before his queen and affectionately cupped her face; the soft gesture disarming to witness. He wiped the tears from her eyes with his thumbs, whispering soothing words of comfort. Bringing his lips to hers, he kissed her with the love and devotion only a queen’s favored could. Then in one quick, twisting motion, with his lips still on hers, he snapped her neck just as easily as he would the stalk of a rose.

The echoing screams of horror, death, and blood filled the catacombs.

Then all was eerily silent.

* * *

The dust finally settled, and I had no idea who remained standing: friend or foe.

Rowen’s weight slowly lifted from my chest, and my body tried to chase him as he left me. I didn’t want him where I couldn’t see or feel him.

Nepta’s wise eyes appeared over me. “Good. You’re alive,” she said with a curt and to-the-point greeting.

Demil shouldered his way toward me and helped me sit up. Surrounding him were Nepta, Dyani, Alvar, Takoda, and several other warriors from the village. They were covered in blood with already bruising eyes, limbs, and lips, looking fierce in their post-victory adrenaline.

“Keira, we’ve been so worried. Why didn’t you stay put on the beach?” Demil asked, keeping me clasped in his hand as he swiped at a nick of blood on my cheek. “Takoda, heal her!”

Struggling to find any energy after my depleting blast, I pushed out of Demil’s hold. “I’m fine,” I said, desperately searching for any part of Rowen to lay my hands on. “Rowen first.”

During the quakes, I’d sustained a few minor cuts and scratches, but Rowen had taken the brunt of the damage. Apart from his lacerations, who knew the internal damage his body had suffered from being beaten into submission. But as Rowen slowly came to with Takoda’s masterful healing, my choking dread alleviated.

Fighting through tears of relief, I helped Rowen up as Takoda left to make his rounds, healing anyone in need while bypassing the littered bodies of the dead. Those who hadn’t surrendered fought to the death for their queen, and in death they followed her.

Rowen clasped my face in his hands, bringing my forehead to his. “It seems this world isn’t done with us yet,” he breathed against my lips.

“Good, because I’ve only just found it,” I said through laughing sobs, holding his face as he held mine.

“You’re lucky we made it in time,” Dyani interjected, wiping the gore from her blade.

Still in disbelief, I turned to Nepta. “How did you find us?”

“We followed your trail,” Nepta answered simply.

“What trail?”

“The trail of life. A dark magic tunnel leaves a stain upon the land, and once we found its end, a footpath of life growing from the deadened soil led us here.”

“How?” I asked in shock.

“Where are your shoes?” Nepta asked, though her eyes never dipped to my feet.

I grimaced at the memory. “I removed them during Celenova and I…I was forced to walk here barefoot.” Rowen flinched beside me as my eyes scanned for Caeryn, but he was nowhere in sight. Neither was Aliphoura’s body.

Nepta placed a comforting hand on my cheek. “Thank the Spirits that you did. It was by the bloodied soles of your feet that the forsaken forest was brought back to life, leading us to you both.”

“It is true,” Rowen said, addressing my look of bewilderment. “It is how I found your blade hidden within the brush. And another much smaller trail, like droplets of greenery, led me here.”

“I told you your blood sings to this land,” said a voice that had my head spinning around so fast that my vision swam. “It has healed what once was dead.” Rayal stood before our huddled group, a hopeful glint shimmering in her arresting eyes.

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