Of Darkness and Light (The Bound and the Broken, #2)

by Ryan Cahill

a weak smile, Kallinvar continued towards the plateau. “Many innocent people died.

It is not enough to simply hold up the sky as it falls, when we always knew it was going to collapse. We need to bring together those who would stand by our side.”

stare on Kallinvar. “If you agreed with me, then why have you always argued with me? What did you not say this yourself in the chamber?” Kallinvar shrugged. “I argued

“There is not a soul in this world who does not feel the push and pull of pride. Damage it, and you can make an enemy for life. Keep it intact, and you may find allies in the strangest of places.” “Can someone please explain what we are talking about? I think I understand what is going on here, but I also feel like I’m missing something.” Arden laughed, shaking his head – partly at

He had survived by simply existing, but surviving was not living.

down, and then rested their foreheads against each other. “May the

”Myia nithír til diar, Valerys. I denír viël ar altinua.” My soul to yours, Valerys. In this life and always.

beside Calen, his head resting against Calen’s leg. “The words you chose were beautiful,” Vaeril said, a smile

“Not this shit again…” Calen whispered to himself, his jaw clenching involuntarily.

The man didn’t move. He stood right at the end of the booth, feet planted, his eyes

a white spear in front of a wooden shield with a steel boss woven into its centre – the symbol of Drifaien.

to the side and then upwards to the second floor. Along the walls, arch-shaped alcoves holding brass lanterns

“Will I see you before the rise to break the fast?” Leif asked as they reached the doors to the guards’ quarters.

out a tightly wrapped scroll secured with a piece of twine. “Open this when the sun sets tomorrow, not before.

“The sun will set, and it will rise again, and it will do so the next day and the next. The gods are in charge of such things, but it is by our own will that we pick ourselves up when we fall.” Dropping the empty waterskin to the floor, Calen closed his eyes. The High Mage had not lied, but he had failed to understand something crucial. No matter how much torture or pain he put

I’d wager every one of those bards would shit themselves if they ever saw the pointy end of a sword.

to Dann’s left, legs folded beneath himself, a tin of charcoal sticks balancing on his knee and a

“I can’t feel her, Therin. Sometimes I dream, and her heart beats with mine, her mind calls to me, her scales feel warm beneath my hands… Then I wake… and I’m alone.”

by the shoulders, pulling him into a tight embrace. Feeling his old friend’s arms wrap around him, Aeson let his tears fall free. Therin clasped Aeson’s head in both hands

If the road into Berona had been teeming with people, Berona itself seemed on the verge of overflowing. All around, men and women charged about the streets as though each one of them was late for something, but none of them knew what. Enormous white stone buildings rose into the sky on either side of the main thoroughfare, taller than any Ella had ever seen, with rows upon rows of windows, semi-circular balconies, and

Ever since Shinyara had died two years after the battle of Ilnaen, Farda had been broken. He had been Rakina.

viscerally. There was not a waking moment where his mind did not battle with the swirling black void that

When a Draleid’s dragon dies, they always take an uncountable number of things with them: emotions, feelings, beliefs...

Shinyara had taken more than most with her to the void, for she encompassed everything that was good about Farda. But for the first time in four ...

that coin. He felt a yearning. He cared for Ella. It should not have been possible...

“I was there when you were selected to train with The Order. I was there when your dragon hatched. And I was there when Aeson Virandr drove a sword through that beast’s skull. I know every inch of your broken little mind.” Farda did everything he could to force back a snarl. The old man had intended to anger him, and Farda would not give him the satisfaction of knowing he succeeded. There were very few things

“I will stand by your side until my lungs take their last breath and my heart ceases to beat. In darkness, and in light, by blade and by blood, I am yours. Let me be your sword.”

” Chapter 37 Chains Tarmon took a deep breath, grunting as a bolt of pain shot through his ribs. The cold cell wall felt like ice against his bare back as he propped himself up

As soon as the manacles locked, the High Mage’s eyes widened, bulging. “No, no, no⁠—”

off the stone floor. Waiting for a moment to see if he was still conscious, Tarmon

“Draleid n’aldryr, Valerys. Myia nithír til diar.” Dragonbound by fire, Valerys. My soul to yours.

Calen’s. He felt the pressure building in the back of his mind before Valerys opened his jaws and

“Det er aldin na vëna dir, Draleid.” It is good to see you. “Det er aldin na vëna dir osa, Vaeril.”

Calen’s words. Calen nodded at Alleron. “Thank you for what you did. I’m so sorry about Leif.” “And

We are born, we live, and we die. Those three things cannot be changed. The only thing within our control is what we choose to do with the short time we have – the things we fight for, the people we love, the things we hold dear. Good men stand even when it is against all odds. They were, each of them, good men.” Calen sighed, feeling the frustration swell within him. “That doesn’t make it any easier.” “It wasn’t meant to,” Tarmon said, shrugging slightly. “Things that matter are rarely easy.” Calen dropped his head, nodding slightly. He pulled the cloak tighter, his hands trembling from the cold. Without warning, his right leg shook and collapsed beneath him. Were it not

“Ella, whether you believe it or not, blood of the old druids flows in your veins.”

his tent, the crackling of campfires and the chatter of soldiers filled the night air.

“Fate is fluid,” he whispered to himself. “It changes with every decision that is made. It is utterly out of our hands and completely within our control at the same time.”

the coin out in front of him, Farda bit down on his lip, tasting the slightest hint of iron on his tongue. He flipped the coin. Chapter 42 It is Time Rist followed Brother

“Now, come. It is time.”

to an end, and the pair

“Now, Apprentice, you may step into the Well of Arnen and let the waters take you to your trial.”

dry, cracked skin. He took a deep, trembling breath before glancing back at Garramon, who simply

Rist’s stomach turned. Had what he saw been a premonition? It couldn’t have been. But what if it was? When he was in there, he had forgotten where he was. It had felt so real.

only when Garramon began to lead Rist out of the chamber and back down the tunnel that Rist noticed the throbbing pain below his ribs, along with twinges in his thigh and arm.

People tended to fear what they didn’t understand, and fear was a good friend of hate.

towers that loomed over the city. “In my father’s words, ’You’re a strange boy,

Aeson narrowed his eyes, raising one eyebrow. “Right, yeah. Shut my mouth.” Aeson nodded. “Mouth firmly shut.” Aeson’s eyes narrowed further. Dann mouthed the words, “Not gonna say another word.” Aeson just shook his head. “Here we are,” Arem said, lifting himself out of the hatch and handing a cloth bag to Aeson. “Forty-seven in total, I believe.” “That’s it?” Aeson held the bag in front of him, looking

“Well met, Ella Fjorn. I am Coren Valmar. Welcome to the rebellion.”

his legs stretched out in front of him, feet sticking off the side