Page 31 of Burn Bright
"Weakened by the loss of her lover, Vashta was driven to her knees. Forced to face the Darkness alone, Ermady was tricked by its illusions, and fell to despair. Only Vashta, with the purity of the unicorn's blood upon her forehead, was able to see through the Darkness's illusions. But she was weak, and she was injured, and she had lost her heart. The firebird found her and let her drink of its blood, so she would not feel her wounds. Knowing she was dying, Vashta made one last stand, and fought the Darkness back into its prison. And then she fell, right here where we stand, and the firebird wept over her body, grieving the loss of its fellow guardians, and the loss of three brave souls. And where those tears fell, water pooled, covering Vashta'sbody."
I released the breath I'd been holding, feeling the weight of the story on my shoulders. "The Well of Tears," I whispered, seeing it form before me, as though illusions had guarded it from my eyes. "It'sreal."
I sank to my knees beside the stone lip of the well, reaching for the shimmeringwaters—
"If you touch those waters, your choice is made," Galina's voice sounded like a whipcrack.
I jerked my hand back. "Doesn't that suit yourpurpose?"
Then I'd be bound to serve her as a successor, whatever thatmeant.
"No. I would have you choose freely—or not at all. There are others who can bear my burden. Those with Vashta's blood in their veins... like the blood that flows throughyours."
I looked upsharply.
"Her courage flows in you, Neva, gifted through your father's bloodline, which can be traced all the way back to the child Vashta left behind. Why do you think I spared his life? Only those of Vashta's line can guard Gravenwold, and I need someone to replace me when I'm gone. Someone who loves the forest as much as Ido."
Vashta's blood flowed inmyveins? I looked at my palms, slightly paler than my skin. All my life she'd been a myth. A legend. A saint of theforest.
"Unless youwishto drink," Galina whispered, filled her cupped hands with water and lifting it to my lips. "Drink to rouse the Old Blood in your veins, Neva. Be a hero. Fulfill yourlegacy."
Cheers echoed in my ears, and suddenly I could see the bloodied forest floor where Vashta fell. Men and women gathered to salute her, tears streaming down their faces as they turned her from a mere human who'd done what she had to, to a saint, revered andworshipped.
Alarms sounded, the same aching echo within me that had resisted the call of the White Hart. I didn't want to be a hero. No matter how much the thought of glory temptedme.
I shook my head. "Ican't."
I didn't want to be a witcheither.
Galina let the water run through her fingers. "Second test passed," she said softly. "This is a burden I ask of you. Not glory. When they kill the firebird, you must come here," she said. "Only the waters will save you. Promise me you will come here to pass your thirdtest."
Kill?I started to my feet. "There's nothing to say we will findher."
"You will. She is old and weary, and sees her death coming forher."
"But she... she will be reborn, yes?" Every story I'd ever heard told of the firebird erupting into flames that would die down, only to reveal a chickwithin.
"She will be reborn," Galina said sadly, capturing my face in both hands. "You cannot stop them from killing her, but you must promise me one thing, NevaBane."
I noddedshortly.
"Do not let them take the new firebird to the city. She must belong here, in Gravenwold. The White Hart has forgotten what it once was. The dragon is asleep. Only the firebird remains vigilant. She must protect the forest and the waters from those who would take them. Don't let them take the firebird. Don't let them take the waters. Immortality is not a gift men should own. Or a new Darkness will rise, a conqueror who will stop at nothing to destroy theworld."
Bubbles rose within the Well of Tears as if something was surfacing beneath its calm waters. I couldn't tear my gaze away. "I won't let them take the firebird," I said softly. "I swear on Vashta's well I shall do all in my power to stopthem."
"And when she rises, you will come here," she repeated. "To the waters anddrink."
Lost in the mesmerizing swirl of water, something about that tugged at me as wrong. "I don't want to drink the waters. I just want to gohome."
"Neva,"someonecalled.
"The choice will be yours, of course," said her voice, far too close to myear.
"Neva!"
I blinked awake, lying in the furs, my heart hammering like a trapped animal in my chest. Casimir leaned over me, his fingers curled around my shoulders. "It's all right, Neva," he murmured. "You're safe, you're safe. Nothing can harm younow."
Casimir knelt over me, his knees resting on either side of my hips. I sat up, grabbing the furs to my chest as I looked around. "Where isshe?"
"Where iswho?"
Just in time I caught my tongue. Just a dream. Or was it? I could feel the burning touch of her fingertips on my forearm, and didn't dare turn it over, just in case there were actual burnsthere.
Would you kill the firebird for yourking?
Suddenly, the firebird was no longer a creature of myth and legend, but somethingreal.
And now I knew why she'd been created. I had to stop Evaron's quest, before it was toolate.
