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“She won’t do it,” I said. “And is looking for every reason not to battle Nerys. She could use such a request to invalidate the challenge.”

“The only natural counterbalance is aevumite,” Kael said. “Which is difficult to find. Impossible outside Gyoria.”

Their group went silent at the same time as the council broke apart.

“We have our decision,” Veylin said, addressing the queen but with an eye on us as well.

None asked how I knew, but they would. What mattered though was that this council was about to allow the challenge, and the queen had a means to defeat Nerys by cheating.

“It will be allowed.”

A roar erupted from the crowd, both on the beach and above us as onlookers all but hung over the railings.

“Nerys, you cannot compete this way. We must call her out if there is no other way.”

“I must compete.”

“What’s happening?”

Caelum and Marek appeared as everything happened at once. The queen consulted with her inner circle as preparations began. Marek had explained that he and the Tidebreaker fleet would assemble and escort Nerys and the queen to the docks where they would board a ship, taking them out to sea so they could harness water from all around.

As Marek approached the queen and council, Nerys explained to Caelum that Lirael planned to use a shard of the abyss during their battle.

“How do you?—”

“I saw it.”

There was no other way to explain. “You… saw it?”

“There is one other way.”

Thalon hobbled up to us from where he stood, close enough, apparently, to have overheard some of our discussion.

“Nerys, you brought an ancient scroll to me once after Seren told you of its presence. One your mother particularly enjoyed studying as it was buried in the deepest part of the Deep Archives.”

Nerys’s eyes widened. “Purification Rites.”

“What are they?” Mev asked.

“Magic so old, it has mostly been forgotten,” Nerys said.

“It is time,” Veylin announced, his voice now amplified using an Aetherian Echo Stone. A hush fell across the crowd. The queen, now stripped of her robes, stood with Marek and her guards.

“Water rituals are not just about control,” Thalan said to Nerys, who leaned closer to him to hear over the cheers of the crowd. “They are about communion with the natural flow of life itself. Use that knowledge to perform the Ritual of the Sacred Waters.”

“The only magic strong enough to purify the abyss’s corruption,” Nerys interrupted to explain to the rest of us. “But it hasn’t been used for centuries, Thalan. Even if I could remember it, I?—”

“You can remember it, Nerys. Trust yourself. The Sacred Waters are near; use them.”

“Are you certain we should not ask the queen to be searched?” Kael’s eyes narrowed on the woman in question. “The abyss is a strong, dark magic source. Even the small shard from it will amplify her power.”

I was inclined to agree with him. And yet, in my vision, she had the gemstone upon her. It was up to Nerys to decide. I said as much.

“I cannot risk her using my request to invalidate the challenge. I will perform the Ritual and nullify her advantage.”

“While battling her?” Mev asked, clearly concerned.

Nerys reached out and took Mev’s hand. “Thank you for coming. If not for you, and Prince Kael, this challenge may not have taken place. Thank you all.” She released Mev’s hand and glanced at Thalon, Caelum and then rested her gaze on me. “For your guidance and support. But now it is my turn to do what must be done.”