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Dravek’s jaw clenches, and he reaches for his sword, drawing it and holding it outward in a practiced motion. “With pleasure.”

They circle each other for a while, my father looking like a beast about to spring, and Myrzeth appearing amused by the whole thing.

“To be clear,” he drawls, bringing his hands together in front of his chest and massaging his knuckles. “If I win, you will immediately lose all your rights as Foremost in the Vale.”

“I won’t lose,” Father says.

Myrzeth raises an eyebrow. “Oh? Then don’t let it concern you.”

A snicker ripples around the clearing, causing a cold chill to race down my spine.

“But if you do?” The ghost-man paces in his nonchalant manner.

Father’s response is more a snarl than actual words. “The Vale will be yours.”

“Excellent.” Myrzeth drops his hands to his side and gives them a quick shake.

A roar erupts from the Foremost as he lunges at his adversary, bearing down on him with a powerful swing of his sword. The slight man, narrowly avoiding the edge of the blade, lets my father’s momentum propel him past. The valefolk’s derisive laughter adds insult to his fumble.

It isn’t exertion that makes my father’s skin redden. He glares at Myrzeth and tries a different approach, lunging forward and stabbing to the full reach of his arm. Again, Myrzeth seems to anticipate Father’s actions. His feet are quick, and where he pales in comparison to my father’s strength, he outstrips him in speed. As the Foremost’s temper flares and each swing loses him energy, a wicked laugh emanates from the challenger’s pale face.

Instead of demoralizing him, it seems to renew Dravek’s vigor. In a succession of quick blows, my father manages to take Myrzeth off guard, clipping him across the fleshy part of his forearm. Black blood drips from Myrzeth fingertips, and all the levity drains from the challenger’s face. My father grimaces—his version of a smile.

“So, you are flesh and blood after all,” he taunts.

A mistake. With a summoning motion of his wrists, Myrzeth calls the ténesomni to his aid. The shadows rush in, congealing together so I almost feel them whipping past my skin. They collect above him, and I look around the clearing in alarm. It is ... bright. I can see the treetops, leafy and lush, and shockingly green. And above that, a vast sea of deep blue.

But my eyes are sucked back to the writhing black entity suspended above Myrzeth’s uplifted hands. A hideous smile slices across his face. Time stops as my eyes find those of my father’s, huge with confusion and fear.

The challenger makes his final move. He flings his hands toward the Foremost, and the darkness obeys. My heart jumps to my throat as I watch every black thing in the entirety of the Vale collide like a gigantic fist in the center of my father’s chest.

The impact throws him backward, knocking the sword out of his hands. And that’s when Myrzeth springs into action. Releasing the shadows so they enshroud the world once more, he dashes to the blade and holds it over my father’s throat.

Unblinking, I stare at the still shape of my father, broken on the ground.

Don’t be . . .

A spluttering cough, a shuddering of the chest, and he comes to life.

Something akin to relief flutters in my chest, though I don’t understand it.

Myrzeth bends forward and says loud enough for all to hear. “Do you concede?”

Eyes wide, he gazes up at the newcomer. My father nods. The tension in his body evaporates in the humiliation of his defeat.

With that, I am freed from the burden of taking up his mantle.

And our family has been made destitute.

34. Amyrah

AMYRAH

“I COULD SEE THE SKY, PADA. Only for a moment.”

He peers at me with skepticism, as if I’m eight years old. “Can’t we always see it?”

I shake my head. “No, this was different. There wasmore.”