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One blink for yes. Two for no. Three for Are you all right? Four for I am here, I am with you. Five for This is real, you are awake. Fenrys again blinked three times. Are you all right?
And tell him thank you—for walking that dark path with me back to the light. It had been his honor. From the very beginning, it had been his honor, the greatest of his immortal life.
An immortal life they would share together—somehow. He’d allow no other alternative. Rowan silently swore it to the stars. He could have sworn the Lord of the North flickered in response.
She didn’t tell the Healer on High that she wasn’t entirely sure how much longer she’d be a help—not yet. Hadn’t whispered a word of that doubt to anyone, even Chaol. Yrene’s hand drifted across her abdomen and lingered.
Fireheart, why do you cry?
Because I am lost. And I do not know the way.
You have been very brave, her mother said. You have been very brave, for so very long. Aelin couldn’t stop the silent sob that worked its way up her throat. But you must be brave a little while longer, my Fireheart.
You do not yield.
Until she was alive with it, until her blood was raining onto her face, washing away the tears, until every pound of her fist into the iron was a battle cry. You do not yield. You do not yield. You do not yield. It rose in her, burning and roaring, and she gave herself wholly to it.
“Show me everything.” So Lorcan did.
“Live, Manon.”
“Live.”
Light. They all burned with it. Radiated it. Light that flowed from their souls, their fierce hearts as they gave themselves over to that power. Became incandescent with it.
Manon fell to her knees. Ashes rose, fluttering, soft as snow as they clung to the tears on her face.
All come to honor the Thirteen.
“Be the bridge, be the light. When iron melts, when flowers spring from fields of blood—let the land be witness, and return home.”
“Live, Elide,” was all the witch said to her before striding out of the hall once more. “Live.” Manon vanished into the teeming hallway, braid swaying. And Elide wondered if the command had been meant for her at all.
