Page 63 of A Kiss of Hammer and Flame

‘What I mean is,’ Wyldaern cleared her throat, ‘the Reliquus is not a human male. Hael is… a Netherworldly being.’

Cahra thought of Hael’s fires, of him healing her knee. ‘I guess that’s true,’ she said. ‘But how? How come no one knows about him?’

‘Much has been lost since the fall and the Reliquus simply faded from public view, replaced by the concept of an “ultimate weapon”,’ Wyldaern explained. ‘Less dangerous, particularly when the kingdoms declared war.’

‘How do you figure?’ Cahra said, frowning. ‘Look at what the idea of the weapon has done, the way the Steward reigns over Kolyath. It’s allbecauseof the weapon. The Steward wants to crush the other kingdoms with its power.’

Wyldaern fixed her gaze on Cahra. ‘Because a weapon, conventionally defined, depends on physicality; reach, contact and the like, to strike. Whereas the Reliquus, Hael…’ She trailed off. ‘Let us say, the stakes are different. The Oracle did not correct such thinking, that the weapon was merely a tool. It would only have served to galvanise the tri-kingdoms if they knew the Reliquus could single-handedly fell a military force.’

He can what?!Despite the sun’s warmth, a chill sunk into her bones.

Wyldaern smiled, a token that somehow didn’t meet her eyes. ‘He was granted dark powers that we cannot comprehend. Magicks from the Nether, from between—’

‘The veil and void,’ Cahra finished, the Seer nodding. ‘But Hael’s not evil?’

This time, when the Seer smiled, it was in earnest. ‘No, that he is not. There is no light without darkness, no creation without destruction. Despite Hael’s origins, he is part of the great balance.’

So Cahra’s instincts had been right about him. That was a relief, after Thierre.

Wyldaern was watching her. ‘The two of you are in contact early.’

‘Hael said he’d tried to contact me before, when I was in danger. Maybe the other Scions were less reckless,’ Cahra said, only half-joking.

The Seer was still studying her.

Cahra’s fingers grazed the bench. ‘And you know about him. Because you’re a Seer?’

‘Because of the Oracle. So, yes, I suppose.’

‘Have you met him?’

‘No.’ Wyldaern laughed softly. ‘It would squander the precious magicks he has left. He needs those to communicate with you.’

The Seer’s answer caught Cahra off guard. She had seen with her own eyes just how weakened Hael had been. It never occurred to her she might be the cause.

Or, as it turned out, the solution. Well, her suffering. ‘But why?’

Again, Wyldaern gave her that look, the one that said she’d have to wait.

Cahra groaned. ‘Fine, but you have to answer this one. When you said “tell none” about our first conversation, which part? The white light, or something else?’

Wyldaern sagged in relief. So shecouldanswer. ‘I knew then, of Luminaux’s Prince masquerading as Lord Terryl. As I said, you did not know who you could trust.’ She went on, ‘Though it appears that he was right, about this kingdom. It is not Kolyath or Ozumbre.’

Cahra had to agree. Regardless of what she thought about any one individual, Thierre’s family was doing something right. Quillon and Leon at the smithy seemed happy.

Another reason she’d never fit in here.

‘You couldn’t, you know,seethat before?’

Wyldaern smiled ruefully. ‘No. The Oracle, She has far greater powers than I. My visions are more discriminating as to when, or even if, they appear.’

‘Can I ask you,’ Cahra found herself whispering, ‘how does it work?’

Wyldaern’s hand intuitively went to her necklace, thumbing the Sigil of the Seers. ‘Sometimes, as I said, I am gifted visions. I am also learning to scry for answers.’

Thinking of how little she knew, about everything, Cahra mumbled, ‘Sounds handy.’

Wyldaern held her gaze. ‘You will get answers. That, I can promise.’