Page 106 of A Conduit of Light
Thelight made it too difficult to see how far the spell reached.Butthe constant echo of renewed earth resounded throughout the forest, no doubt reaching theFortressitself.Ifanyone there wondered where they had gone, they no doubt would know by now.
Therenewed soil fell away softly under their boots as they slowed.
Sheknew he was breaking.
Hecollapsed a moment later, even as she held onto his hand and pushed more of herself into him.
“Ihave done allIcan.”
“Itis not enough!”
“Youmust take it now,Karus.Takeit and finish what we started.”
Realizationshook her core.
Hewas going to die and leave her here to finish the job.Itwouldn’t end with him—it would end with her.
Itwould end with two lives, not one.
“Youbastard.”
“Doyou see now,Karus?” he choked, his knees sinking into the soil, as the massive orb of sunlight fell dangerously low to the ground, the sound of decay still hissing all around them. “Youcould never be together because you were meant for more.Revichcould never join us in this task.Heis meant to becomeBaronand you…you were meant for this.Ihave done whatIcould to prepare you, train you into a different kind of conduit,Karus.Andthis—”Henodded to the orb of sunlight. “Thisis your trial.”
Hecouldn’t do this.
Hecouldn’t leave her without finishing what he had started.Allhe’d needed was her power, all he’d needed was what she channeled from the forest, not herlife.
Neverher life.
Sheshook her head and spoke through gritted teeth, “Iwill not die for you,Heimlen.”
Hesmiled, his body falling back onto the fresh earth of the forest floor, one arm outstretched still, holding what was hers to take. “Thendo it forFelgren,Karus.Diea conduit.Aconduit of light.”
Withthe last of his strength, he lifted the simulation of the sun toward her, its glow blinding.Shecould barely see him as he pulled his discolored fingers from hers, disconnecting their magic, his life leaving the shell of his body, and she was alone.
Sovery alone.
Itwas heavy.
Sovery, very heavy.
Shegrunted in agony with the weight of the sun she now carried, as hot tears ran down her glowing face.
Everythingshe had, every last part of her soul would have to be forced into this light.
Itgrew to enormous size as she stumbled forward, finally having a proper conduit to light the world with its brilliance.TheBlightstill withered, the vines still hissed in recession, much further now—hundreds of acres away—but loud and echoing among the trees.Shetried not to focus on how dense the simulated sun had become as it engulfed the forest, growing still, her green tendrils of magic expanding with its golden core.
Inmoments of great suffering comes great clarity.
Andshe understood she had to let go.Ifshe wanted to saveFelgren, she must fade to keep it from fading.Itwould take all of her power, her memories, her love.Everythingshe was would be needed and used to keep the sun aglow and destroy what she had been brought here to destroy.Memoriesflashed through her mind like the spokes of a wheel spinning on its axle as she made her decision.
Sheremembered the pear tree she had burned to ashes in theQueen’sgarden, the nights she listened to her stories, often sliding into bed withPrincePhiliusto giggle under the sheets before falling into a child’s careless sleep.
Sheremembered climbing the rocks along the ocean shores, once slipping, her hand caught byGeyrand.Thatwas the first time she had really noticed his quiet smile—it hit her differently then.Hernights with him had been reckless, she had used him to explore everything she could think of, their bodies consuming each other purely for pleasure.
Sheremembered theQueen’sface as she declared thatAsh’Arahwould be used as payment for the cure, the tears running down her worn cheeks in the setting sun.
Sheremembered the dress she wore into theFortressfor the first time.Darkgreen, hanging off her shoulders, yet tight on her waist, black beading woven in intricate designs all across her breasts.Ithad been complex.Ithad beenher.
