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Elodi parried, side-stepped, and slashed an imaginary blade at Toryn’s exposed neck. She laughed for the first time in days. ‘Now that would be interesting. But I can’t afford to be too confident. When we thought the Caerwal Gate was under attack, Kernlow was confident he alone could defend the Great Hall against the might of the Golesh hordes.’

‘Turns out he was right, eh, seeing as they don’t exist.’ Toryn grinned. ‘Although, he probably would have tripped over his own feet and hurt himself, or anyone else unfortunate to be in the way.’

Elodi’s smile faded as they approached the chasm. She stopped and looked up at the mountain wall opposite. ‘We shouldn’t make fun of him. By all accounts he was once an accomplished swordmaster and acquitted himself well serving in the north. But that was many years ago, and I fear his indecision may cost us dear.’

Toryn pointed to the ridge. ‘That’s where I stood when you led your forces across the bridge. I had the most terrible sense of dread. If only I had known what was about to unfold. Perhaps I could have prevented the carnage.’

Elodi touched his shoulder. ‘I remember the feeling. With hindsight, there were a few signs, but only a small part of Uluriel’s plan was known to each of us. Perhaps together we could have uncovered what awaited us on that fateful day. But if we had, could we have stopped it sooner? I doubt none would have taken our word over that of the Archon.’

Toryn could not take his eyes off the bridge. ‘Just before my punishment, a guard told me another had suffered the same fate the year before for being a wyke. A young lass as he described her. I wonder who she was. And how many like me are still out there?'

‘I wonder indeed. If there are more, I assume they will be like you, uncorrupted by the Ul-dalak, and therefore potential allies. Perhaps as Nyomae recovers she can locate them.’

They crossed the bridge as the evening sun tinged the mountains red. But as they walked through the Lower Gate and into the pass, the late warmth deserted them. Neither spoke as they approached the site where the Shreek’s Rage had obliterated the armies gathered to strike against an imaginary foe. The eerie silence stopped them in their tracks. Raised wooden walkways crisscrossed the ground allowing for easier passage over the rubble, but they both felt uneasy walking over the mass grave of the poor souls beneath.

The work to clear the debris and recover the fallen had finished for the day. Despite the large workforce, little progress appeared to have been made in two weeks, making the enormity of the task seem all the more daunting. Sifting the rocks was time-consuming but vital. Masons selected those suitable for building a perimeter wall around Archonholm to keep the enemy’s large weapons far from the city. The rubble was ferried in carts and dumped in the chasm. But the most demanding task was dealing with the dead. By now, the heat of summer had made it a most unpleasant duty. And, as much as it galled Elodi, she accepted their armor and weapons had to be recovered to use another day. Everyone in the city was assigned a role. A field was cleared, graves were dug, but with resources being scarce, burying the thousands with dignity proved difficult. Despite Elodi's frustration with Kernlow and his Council, she could not deny they had organized the grim task of clearing the pass admirably.

‘I see Kernlow’s tower is taking shape.’ Toryn gestured to the wooden framework anchored at the center of the gate. ‘I'd say they're about a third of the way up. If they can keep the same pace the higher they climb, they’ll reach the top in a month.’

Elodi watched as two men worked the winch to hoist a dozen planks up the precarious structure. ‘Then I assume he’s asked to install a platform. It would take Kernlow an age to climb a ladder to the top.’

Toryn stopped. ‘I hear he’s reluctant to open the gate. Doesn’t he believe me? I am certain I saw nothing on the other side.’

‘I believe you, Toryn, but Nyomae did say it wouldn’t be beyond the craft of the enemy to conceal an army, whether by deceiving your sight, or by clever disguise. But of course, while Nyomae believes the Golesh are a falsehood, we don’t know if we’ll be faced by friend or foe if we throw open the gate.’ She glanced to the piles of rubble. ‘We’re not exactly in the best position to defend ourselves, or even entertain a potential friend. And, if we unlocked it, could we easily lock it again? The engineers predict it would take at least a day to shift a single gate on its rusty runner wide enough for a horse and cart to get through. And if it gets stuck when fully open…’

‘I guess it makes more sense to look over rather than go through it. But why did the Archon choose to build a tower of stone in the first place? If he wanted to see into the southern pass, why not use wood and get it done quicker?'

‘If we assume it was Uluriel’s decision, her ultimate objective was to convince the realms to bring their main forces to the pass. Once the Archon claimed he had looked over and seen the imminent threat, we had no option but to do just that. Perhaps the time it took to construct the tower gave the Ul-dalak more time to prepare their own forces. Had you not intervened, the bulk of our strength would have perished under the landslide and their armies would now be pouring across Farrand’s border. Uluriel had already dispatched our elite forces to the bottom of the Karajan Sea. I suspect she thought it wouldn’t be long before she could welcome her hosts to Archonholm itself.’ Elodi stopped at the end of the walkway. She turned to Toryn. ‘But Uluriel hadn’t foreseen you and Nyomae showing up at Midsummer. Her expulsion from the Archon has cost her dearly, and thankfully has afforded us a little more time to recover.’

Toryn smiled. ‘You underplay your own role. It was your Amayan blade that sent her fleeing back to the north.’

‘Then let's agree the three of us just about managed to outwit that foul being.’ Her eyes wandered to the head of the pass. ‘But how much of her powers were drained by possessing the Archon? What if she’s stronger when in her own body? She would prove to be a formidable opponent.’

‘There she is.’ Toryn spied Nyomae standing by the remains of the old tower. ‘I wonder what she's been investigating. She gave no hint following my lesson at the bridge this morning.’

Elodi looked up from a rotting carcass of a horse. ‘We cannot know how many spies still operate in Archonholm. For that reason, I urged Kernlow to keep the number of Council members to a minimum. But I did not anticipate that he would exclude me.’

Toryn sighed. ‘I blame the Castellan. It’s obvious Lord Kernlow is intimidated by the man. One word from him was enough for Kernlow to bar you from his meetings. And from what I’ve seen of the Castellan, it’s obvious to all that he's wary of you.’

Elodi scoffed. ‘Wary? I think it would be safe to say he despises me. He knows I can undermine his position given the chance. That's why he’s stationed Gundrul, Aldorman and Cubric well outside the city. I’ve threatened to take them north if he doesn’t locate them closer to Archonholm, but I won’t hold my breath. And he’s only too aware that I hold him accountable for my father’s death. I’ve made it clear I won’t rest until I find out what happened that night. And, if I find any proof of his involvement, take my word, the Castellan will suffer. He’s vulnerable, at my mercy, and he doesn’t like that one bit.’

Toryn grinned. ‘I certainly wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.’

They reached the foot of the gate. The two had not ventured this far into the pass since their conflict with Uluriel. The hairs on the back of Toryn’s neck prickled. He gazed up to the top of the gate, finding it hard to believe he had stood upon its iron beam towering over them. The gate had held firm for over three hundred years, seemingly unperturbed by the recent carnage. The lattice of iron girders and enormous bolts held huge stone slabs in place and stacked impossibly high. Toryn had heard stories of how giant machines with thick ropes and pulleys had hauled each stone into place. Now that he had time to examine it, he could not imagine how it could have been done. But regrettably, it was now obvious all the architects and workers who had observed Idraman’s shimmering blue barrier had been put to the sword. It all seemed so cruel and pointless. The years of painstaking work to construct the greatest structure for a thousand years had served purely to hide the truth.

They approached the new cabin used by both builders and Archonians. A short, stooped man strode out. He gasped. ‘Well, I’ll be. May I shake your hand?’

Toryn glanced to Elodi. She shrugged. ‘I think he means you.’

The man stopped. ‘It’s Toryn of Darrow is it not? Then I have you to thank.’ The builder patted his chest. ‘It’s me. Don’t you recognize me?’

Toryn stared. ‘I’m sorry. Have we met?’

The man slapped his forehead. ‘What am I saying? Of course not. You won’t recognize me. We didn’t actually meet in person as such.’ He wiggled his finger. ‘Does this help? We met through a small hole in the cell wall.’

Toryn laughed. ‘Ah yes.’ He reached out and shook the man’s hand. ‘You must be Dravic.’ He turned to Elodi. ‘We were once neighbors in the Archon’s dungeon.’

Dravic beamed. ‘And who was to know things would turn out the way they did, eh? One day you’re a wyke and enemy of the people, the next I hear you saved thousands.’ Dravic held onto Toryn’s hand and continued to shake. ‘And then you arrange for me and my old crew to be released.’ He looked at Elodi. His eyes widened. He bowed low. ‘Begging your pardon, ma’am.’ He groaned as he straightened his back. ‘I hadn’t expected to see the gracious Lady Harlyn down here among the death and dust.’ Dravic extended his thumb to the gate. ‘And what do you make of our new tower? Not as grand as the Archon’s, but it will do the job just the same.’

Elodi nodded her approval. ‘It’s a fine structure. You and your crew have made excellent progress.’

‘Couldn’t be more proud of my boys. Here. Do you reckon the new lord will let us look over the gate when we’re done? Would be a crying shame if we build another and still don’t get a peek of the south.’

Elodi smiled. 'If it were up to me, I would have no issue with that. But it is Lord Kernlow’s project, so it is his decision to make.’ A builder whistled from the tower.

Dravic looked up and waved. He turned and bowed once more to Elodi. ‘Better be off now, ma’am. That thing won’t build itself. And thanks again, Toryn of Darrow. Another year in that cell and I would have run out of walls to keep track of the days.’

Toryn grasped Dravic’s shoulder. ‘It was the least I could do. You and your team were treated appallingly after all your effort.’ The builder saluted and returned to his work.

Toryn turned as Nyomae called to them. ‘Ah. There you are. Thank you for coming.’ She nodded at the ruin. ‘You may be wondering why I asked for the debris to be cleared here at its base.’

Elodi hooked her arm in Toryn’s. ‘I imagine you had a good reason, compelling enough to convince Kernlow to assign a work party.’

‘Ah. I may have bent the truth a little and told Kernlow what he wanted to hear. I suggested the Sword of the Realms should be recovered without delay.’ She smirked. ‘He believed me when I said it may hold powers that should be in his hands. I think he likes the idea of having a portrait of him holding it aloft.’

Toryn kicked at the stones. ‘Have you found it? Is it a sword of power?’

Nyomae paced across the rubble-strewn ground. ‘It’s over there by that large stone. But I’m not aware it’s anything other than just a well-forged sword. And certainly not alike Elodi’s Amayan blade.’

Elodi strolled to the stone and took up the weapon. She spun, drawing the sword from its scabbard in one swift move. She held it up and examined the blade. ‘It’s not damaged.’ Elodi swung it about her head. ‘And perfectly balanced.’ She lowered the sword to inspect the grip. ‘To think Draegelan once wielded this in battle. Do you seriously intend to give this to Kernlow? It may serve the realms far better in another's hands. Toryn? How about you?’

‘My skill is with the bow. I’ve had no formal training with a sword.’

Elodi thrust the tip at Toryn. ‘Then I see it as my duty to teach you. While Eryn was especially generous gifting you her bow, it will not serve you well at close quarters.’

He grinned. ‘Then I gladly accept your offer. But… I would be more comfortable with a lesser one. Surely, the Sword of the Realms should be in Nyomae’s hand.’

Nyomae declined. ‘I have no use for such a sword. You keep it safe for now, Elodi. Perhaps a suitable hand will be found in time. But while its recovery may help to raise spirits, it’s not the reason I wanted to excavate this site.’ She stopped, brought her palms together and closed her eyes.

Elodi exchanged a glance with Toryn. ‘So, the reason was…?’

Nyomae clapped her hands and looked down. ‘Yes. I was right. It’s here.’ Her eyes widened. ‘When you and I entered the tower, Toryn, I sensed an ill presence beneath us.’ She kneeled and scraped the remaining stones aside. ‘As our priority was to deal with Archon, I ignored it at the time. Following my recovery, I returned and still sensed something was wrong.’

Toryn joined her to clear the last of the debris. His fingertips brushed against a cold surface. His stomach turned. ‘I feel it too. And look.’ He scooped up a pile of dust to expose a black marble slab.

Elodi peered over his shoulder. ‘And highly polished at that. An extravagant choice of material for the foundation. I know the Archon… or Uluriel were fond of their luxuries, but surely a more suitable stone could have been used.’

Nyomae's gaze remained fixed on the marble. ‘This is exactly the right choice for what Uluriel had in mind. The thick stone conceals much of what she intended to keep hidden. And since I was able to detect the wrongness through it, I urge caution. We must remove the slab, but if you become dizzy, or perish the thought, you feel the need to inflict harm upon me, retreat to a safe distance. I fear whatever lies beneath this stone will have the power to corrupt until I can annul its power.’ She looked at her companions. ‘Let us proceed. Toryn, if you could be so kind to retrieve that rod from the broken platform mechanism, I believe that will help to lever the slab clear.’ She grinned. ‘It wouldn’t be right to use the Sword of the Realms for such a task.’

Toryn eyed the stone. ‘Is it possible to make that slab disappear as we did with the droog’s collar?’

‘Ah yes, that would save us much labor, but I think it wise we limit our time in the Verses. From what we learned this morning we must be on our guard for more than just the Watchers. And besides, we may also need all our strength for what lies beneath.’

Elodi found another rod. ‘Then let’s press on. It will be dark before long.’

Nyomae picked up her torch. ‘Good thing I came prepared.’ She whispered a few words and it burst into flames. She placed it next to the slab and found the edges of the stone. Toryn and Elodi worked together, pulling and twisting the rods to lift the marble free.

Elodi spat as they levered it aside. ‘Ah! I can taste it. There is the same foulness I detected in the air when Dorlan came to Calerdorn.’

Below, steps led down into darkness. Nyomae retrieved her torch and peered into the gloom. ‘I will go first.’ Elodi and Toryn followed as Nyomae descended the short stairway. At the bottom, the torch shed light on a small room, revealing what Toryn suspected he would see the moment his stomach churned. A jagged rock jutted up from the floor. Nyomae’s flame fell upon letters carved into its sides.

Toryn’s nose wrinkled. ‘That looks like the same scrawl I saw at Wend Gap. There were three such stones in a cave that destroyed a Singing Stone.’

Nyomae bent and examined the words. ‘It is as I thought. The stone emits a powerful invocation to weaken Idraman's Word of Forbidding. It appears this tower was more than just a token gesture from Uluriel.’

Elodi stared in disgust. ‘Can we break it?’

‘It will be a challenge, but our combined strength will suffice.’

Elodi circled the stone. ‘What do you require from us?’

Nyomae thought for a moment. ‘Please draw your Amayan blade and place the tip close to the rock, but don't touch it. Be prepared to withdraw should it grow hot.’ Elodi followed Nyomae’s instructions. She gasped as a faint green glow spread slowly up her sword.

Elodi grimaced. ‘My arm tingles.’

Nyomae held her hand over the blade. ‘This confirms the stone has been tainted by evil. If you are able, maintain your position a moment longer. But if the light reaches the hilt, withdraw and step back.’

Toryn held his breath as the green light grew brighter. He turned to Elodi. ‘Is it getting hotter?’ She shook her head, keeping her eyes fixed on the blade but appearing to see something other than her sword.

Nyomae stepped forward and lowered Elodi’s hand. ‘I have seen enough.’

Elodi staggered back and recovered her balance. Her eyes shone. ‘I felt… my mother.’ Tears brimmed. ‘I know it was her. My mother… and there were others, many more lending me their strength.’

Nyomae smiled. ‘The invocation within the stone has stirred the power of your ancestors. It works through you.’ She looked at Elodi’s blade, now a dull silver. ‘And thankfully it remained cool.’

Toryn kneeled beside the stone. ‘And if it hadn’t?’

‘We would have faced a difficult task. This is a lesser stone, not as potent as the three you saw at Wend Gap. I imagine Uluriel doesn’t think Idraman could maintain the power of his barrier for much longer. Therefore, she believed that a single stone would be sufficient to drain its strength over time.’

Elodi sighed. ‘And what now?’

‘This presents an opportunity to teach you both how to use your powers. It comes from within. The skill is to allow it to flow through you.’

‘Ah! Not to try.’ Toryn recalled his days hanging from the bridge. ‘I had no other option when left to rot, and despite my predicament, I somehow managed to relax.’

Nyomae’s gaze stayed on the rock. ‘When you try, you interfere with the natural course. And Elodi. When your blade first came to life in the gatehouse when you faced Uldrak, you had not the first idea of your mother’s kin. You were in a fight for your life. Your desire to survive and defend your people awoke your innate Amayan powers.’

Elodi sheathed her sword. ‘And how about a situation such as this? I do not feel threatened as I did when confronting Uldrak. How do I awaken my power now?’

‘The Amayans were appointed Guardians of the Amanach, I presume by the race that raised them. But their purpose was to protect. This stone presents a threat.’ Nyomae took Elodi’s hand. ‘Your desire to defend against the dark forces of this world will stir them.’ She turned to Toryn. ‘You both must learn to calm yourselves, to think clearly, and ultimately, get out of the way and allow your powers to flow. Any thoughts of failure, or conversely, a sense of arrogance, will prevent both the entry into the Song, and access to your abilities.’

Elodi glared at the stone. ‘Then let us act and remove the evil from within this rock.’

Nyomae nodded. ‘Good. Toryn and I shall enter the Verse for this place. Elodi, when the wording on the stone begins to fade, please strike with your blade. It will crack in two. But first, let me show you both how to prepare.’ She stepped back and held up her hands. ‘Please stand tall, poised, not stiff. Feel the ground beneath your feet. Focus on your breathing and the movement of your ribs. Soften your face. Don’t fix your eyes. Let the light come to you. You don’t need to stare at the stone… or any future threat. This will cause tension and limit the flow of energy through you.’

Toryn slowed his breathing. He watched as Elodi appeared to grow taller and her eyes shone. She turned towards him, and for a moment, he thought he saw Eryn.

Nyomae positioned herself behind the stone. ‘You are ready. Maintain your focus on the rock, Elodi. When the time arises, your powers will surge through your sword to destroy it.’ She held her hands out to Toryn. ‘You and I shall seek to separate the stone from the vile invocation pervading its pure heart. I suspect Uluriel's corruption dates to when construction of the tower began.’

Toryn took her hands. ‘So, this is the same process when we unmade the droog’s collar?’

‘Same process, but a little more challenging. And we shall not be alone. Our foray into the Verses at the bridge this morning has alerted the Watchers to our presence. They will be keeping vigil here. Our ancestry will send a strong message to our enemies in more ways than one. I want them to learn they no longer have free rein in the Verses, and they can expect to face worthy opponents from now on. But be wary, they will soon learn of your inexperience and quickly move to corrupt or finish you. And, Elodi, they may also attempt to work through the stone to reach you. If either of you hear voices promising rewards beyond your dreams, ignore them and stay with me.’

Toryn smirked. ‘And trust me, they can be quite convincing.’

Elodi leveled her blade to the stone. ‘Then let them try.’ She widened her stance. ‘I’m ready. And don’t worry. I will not let you down.’

Nyomae tightened her hold on Toryn’s hand. ‘Then I shall begin. Close your eyes, Toryn, and follow my lead. You know the words. Let them come through you. I will draw on your strength to break the spell on this stone.’

Toryn’s hands warmed as his vision blurred. He kept his feet firmly planted as his mind hurtled back through time. The movement slowed. His head settled. When he opened his eyes, he found himself inside the tower. He watched bemused as a bright circle above widened, descending towards them as the walls were unmade as they approached the moment Uluriel set the stone. Nyomae spoke. ‘The Watchers come. Be ready.’ Dark shapes churned the air around Toryn as their voices echoed in his head. At his side, Nyomae shone in the swirling mass. ‘Stay strong, Toryn. Draw on your strength within.’ The heat in his gut grew. He joined Nyomae, uttering words to resist the efforts of the Watchers to distract them. The dark forms dispersed. The walls of the tower disappeared as if swallowed by the bedrock. The stone took shape at the center of the foundations.

Nyomae’s voice strengthened. ‘This is the moment following Uluriel’s invocation. I do not wish to go back farther as we will encounter her Verse. I do not have the strength to face her at present. In order to weaken her spell, we will draw upon the forces that reside within the mountain roots.’ She bowed her head. The rock glimmered as she recited lines from a Verse that Toryn knew to be from early in the Maidens’ Song. The words defacing the stone faded, but just as he thought they would vanish, they reappeared. Toryn could not tear his eyes off the words. They burned bright like fire, hurting his eyes.

Nyomae gasped. ‘Something’s not—’ She cried out. ‘I’ve been deceived. Leave! Leave at once.’ The air howled, turning dark as if a storm raged about them. Nyomae’s hand was ripped from Toryn’s. His limbs thrashed out as if a mighty chain dragged his body through a whirlwind. He cried out but made no sound. He crashed to the floor, forcing the air from his lungs.

‘Toryn!’ Elodi gripped his hand. ‘What happened? You were away for so long. I thought you were lost.’ She jabbed her sword at the stone. ‘It emitted a most terrible screech and threw me back.’

He opened his eyes. Elodi’s tear-stained face stared down at him. His voice croaked. ‘How long was I out?’

‘It's the middle of the night. I've been by your side for hours. You both became icy cold. I thought you were… dead, but then you began muttering in a language unknown to me.’

Toryn turned. Nyomae sat close by, shaking her head. ‘It was a trap. I should have known. The stone could have easily been hidden from me by a thicker slab. Uluriel dangled this as if a carrot before a donkey.’ Her jaw clenched. ‘And I acted without thought. She’s always one step ahead.’ Nyomae stared at the wording. ‘There is something here that I cannot see. This isn't merely a means to weaken Idraman's barrier. There is another spell concealed within, but I cannot fathom its purpose.’ She stood. ‘I must apologize to you both for putting you in danger. I have become careless. I must return to my studies and learn to be more cautious.’