Page 53 of The Arrow and the Alder

I n the quiet, Seph slept, her shapeless form numb in this world of black and stars, as if she were floating through the heavens.

Ahead of her, one of those stars burned brighter than the rest.

At first, Seph didn’t notice; her consciousness was a fractured thing, unspooling into the infinite abyss—forever unraveling, just like the enchantments that’d been woven into her soul—but something caught hold of that fraying thread and pulled.

The force of it roused Seph from slumber, though her mind kept sliding back, retreating into those endless depths.

Wake, daughter of light .

They were two voices—female voices—spoken together, and Seph spotted the little star ahead. The one growing brighter, drawing nearer. It reminded her of the little orbs she’d trained with in Velentis.

And like those orbs, this one split into two.

The other two Fates. Why they were here, why they were moving through the heavens to speak to her, Seph had no idea. She was supposed to be entering her next life, but this was…

Wake .

Seph’s consciousness aroused fully, and she gazed upon the vastness of the heavens surrounding her.

It is not time for you yet, child of light .

It took a moment for the words to have meaning.

But…I completed the task, Seph thought, hoping they could hear her as she heard them. I did what you needed me to .

Yes, they replied, and because of you, the light has been restored and our sister stands in judgment before Demas where she will answer for her defiance. But it is not time for you, Josephine Alistair, and so you have a choice to make: Human or Kith?

Seph was having a difficult time holding on to a thought. They kept sliding through her fingers as she tried to grasp them.

Another chance at life? A choice to be kith or human?

Seph thought of Alder.

She saw his face and his smile, she saw when he’d finally overcome the evil inside of him.

When the life left his eyes.

The Fates were being generous with her, offering her a second life, but right then, Seph just felt weary, and she couldn’t imagine a world—kith or mortal—that did not have Alder in it.

Ah. I see. Only one of the sisters spoke this time. She mourns the wayward prince .

The wayward prince.

Her wayward prince, who’d been bound in guilt and regret. Who had wanted to spend the rest of his life making it right, but he’d sacrificed that life for hers.

Because he had not wanted to die a wayward prince; he’d wanted to live and die rightly .

Seph’s thoughts became a solid thing, as did her resolution.

Would you give my gift to him? Seph asked.

The two bright stars pulsed.

Alder wanted so desperately to live rightly, Seph continued. He carried so much pain over his past, and he gave up that life for mine.

Again, those bright stars pulsed.

Give him a second chance at life, Seph persisted, bolder this time . His people need him. If Light has truly been restored, let him be the one to show Weald the way forward. Let him have this opportunity to be reborn.

Her words were met with silence.

As you wish, they said finally, in unison, and then the light winked out.