Page 24

24

A NEW DIRECTION

Darina

I groan as I stretch, my eyes prickling.

I don't even know how many books I've paged through. Hundreds, it feels like. I fell asleep at least twice.

It's all very fascinating, of course. Legends I haven't ever heard of, tales of dragon shifters, true dragons who remained in their beast forms all the time, their riders, their enemies, and sirens in their deep-sea kingdoms, or fae men and women with animal traits—like real furry cat ears or tails.

And there is also plenty of information on gods. Minor gods, such as the deity ruling over one specific river and with very little power outside of it, and the great gods of creation, said to have made the folk, humanity, and so many things in between.

But none really seems to be about them. Us .

"My head's gonna explode," Rachel mutters.

I certainly share the sentiment.

"You ought to rest," Loch tells her without looking up from the large, deep green volume on his lap. "The coronation is in six hours, at most, and mortals need more sleep than the rest of us."

"We all ought to rest," Relva retorts. "Especially since this is getting nowhere."

She has a point, little as I like to admit it. We've been reading since dawn, and it's mid-afternoon. I don't think any of us have found even one promising lead.

"Perhaps there's a reason for that," Caenan muses. "All these tales, they either occur here on Ilvaris, or at the very least, after the creation of our world. And whatever happened between the All and Undoing? It's old. Ilvaris was built as a prison to contain them. Presumably, their issues started before that."

We all stare at him. Personally, I'm feeling incredibly dumb.

"That's highly logical," says Calreth, shutting his book. "And I'm annoyed I didn't think of it first."

"Next time, can you come up with that before we waste eight hours of our lives?" Loch snaps.

Caenan shrugs. "It just occurred to me."

"I, for one, will take a nap," Relva declares, standing up. "There's still plenty to do for the coronation. Just because we're doing it in haste doesn't mean we shouldn't do it in style. Darina, I'll send your dress up as soon as it's ready."

Valdred is equally fast on his feet.

I nod rather than thanking her. "What now?"

I'm reluctant to go to sleep, given what happened the last time I drifted off.

"Just because these books don't go back far enough doesn't mean there isn't a record of what occurred. Just not in this world," Calreth says slowly. "We need to look in an older world."

I blink several time. "An older world? Like, where? Earth?"

Ryther shakes his head. "Earth is much younger than Ilvaris."

I did get that impression.

"The hells and heavens came first," my brother says. "And then the gods shoved the mortals out of their backyards once they figured out they were annoying neighbors—I'm sure you've read some rendition of that tale."

"I mean, kinda. But wait a minute, hells and heavens. Plural?" Rachel says.

"There are at least three that I know of, and each have various kingdoms," Ryther tells her. "The problem is, one doesn't just portal into a hell. There are guardians, things meant to keep intruders out—intruders a lot more powerful than us. That's twice as true for the heavens."

Calreth nods. "What we need is a witch. Someone capable of communicating between dimensions without physically going there."

"And a contact to communicate with ," Loch adds with a deep sigh. "Demons and angels aren't known for offering up knowledge for free. They'll want to make a deal."

"We have a witch," I say. "Rain, my best friend. She's part of a powerful coven." I bite my lip, thinking. "And, well, I kind of know a demon? Maybe. Possibly."

"You know a demon ?" Rachel blink several times.

"I told you what happened when Junis took me from Night Hall, into that weird, underground pub."

"The halfway house of the pathfinders," Ryther remembers.

"Someone is going to have to explain that one to me," his twin says.

"When Darina was brought here, Junis used a pathfinder portal. So he took her to one of their halfway house—pubs where their clients wait for passage—and there, she was…used as entertainment. With an incubus, right?"

"Seevar," I recall. "Incubi are sort of demons, aren't they?"

"And that one owes you a life debt. It could work. If your witch can get in touch with him, and he is either old enough to remember, or has enough influence to ask someone who does…"

That's a lot of ifs, but at least we have a plan. And better yet, it doesn't involve reading anymore dusty books.

Calreth stands. "I'll make contact with the witch. I can travel across world with ease, and I'm the least needed amongst us for tonight. I'll make it if I can, but no one truly expects me at the coronation."

Just him showing up at the council last night was enough to show he’s on my side. Calreth might be a lord of Ilvaris, but he and his court generally care little about this world in general. I only have his support thanks to Ryther.

"I owe you so much," I say. "All of you."

Calreth rolls his eyes. "I'm sure you'll even the score, if we manage to keep you alive for long enough."

On that note, he bows and follow the others out.

"Speaking of debts," Ryther says, "after the coronation, I will join the many supplicants who will ask a favor of you.Have a care when you think of whether to grant or deny it and make it clear to the court you’re pondering and how you reached your decision."

Before I can ask what, he continues.

"We should not discuss it at all in private, because they’ll tell us we have and we’ll be able to say no. I merely advise you to think on whether it is fair."

Of course. Everything he does in public is for show, to make a point about his place or mine.

I pout."Then why tell me at all? I’ll wonder about it all day now."

He smirks. "Because I didn’t think it wise for you to be taken entirely by surprise. Ask Loch, ask Valdred, ask anyone at all their opinion, so that they may see you listen to the advice you're given and think for yourself."

"Can't I have a hint?" I ask.

It's Loch who replies. "No. He's already said too much. This is clever. He should treat you as he would any queen. And you ought to think on how you'd reply if the request came from a complete stranger."

"Ruling is complicated." I'm fully aware of how whiny I sound.

"It’s all rather simple," Loch contradicts me. "You have to say yes in order to say no. The more you like something you more you deny it. And if you have any enemies? Well, fall in love with them. There are few greater punishments than the love of a queen."

"How is any of that simple, exactly?" Rachel retorts.

Loch is quick to explain. "In any situation, consider the least pleasant and that’s the right one. See? Simple."

"But hardly easy," I say.

"If it were easy anyone could do it and no one would need a monarch at all. Your choices don’t have to be popular. They merely need to be right."

"I wonder if our mother thought something similar before she condemned you to death and me to a thousand years in the form of a stone."

My brother tips his head. "In all likelihood? Yes."