“I chose the Sea of Skulls for my exile because the bones scattered here serve my purpose,” she said. “Because the last person that matters to me lies here. I buried him myself, with my hands and my tears. I raise all these daeva because I intend to have my vengeance for his sake and for the sake of other friends who have fallen. Both asha and the Faceless will pay for taking everything from me—my friends, my love, my identity. The Willows will not protect them. No fortress or stronghold that shields them will be spared, wherever they may be.

“This is my new family. This is my new identity. I will be the bone witch the kingdom fears, and I will make them pay.”

She knelt before the grave one last time. She pressed her lips against the stone and then rose. The daeva flanked her, sensing their mistress’ intentions; they were no longer affectionate and playful, now baying and primed for war. Her fingers traveled along the breeze, mapping out a new rune in its wake.

The ground underneath the headstone shuddered, split open. A figure rose from the hole that yawned before us, fingers digging into the dirt. He was tall and garbed in military black; it was obvious from the deep wounds on his chest that he had died fighting.

The girl took something out of her waist wrap. It was the small jeweled case I had seen before on her table, surrounded by the bezoars. Inside lay a silver heartsglass, shining bright as the sun.

“Welcome back, my love.”

“Your brother?” I whispered, staring at the boy.

“My brother and I are no longer on speaking terms. He chose to stay behind and defend the Willows.”

“But what of the bond you share?”

“An unexpected effect of my black heartsglass is that he can no longer sense me, and the reverse holds true. But for as long as I live, so will he.” She smiled. “He might even seek to kill me, though it will cost him his own life. We have come a long way only to fall apart. But if he cannot stand with us, then he must stand against us.”

The man in black approached us, cloak fluttering in the wind. He took her hand.

“You can join us if you choose to, Bard. The story is far from over, and we still have many kingdoms to take.” She smiled at the boy she had just raised from the grave. “Don’t we, my love?”