The Shadowglass (The Bone Witch, #3)(20)

I intend to reframe the legend to suit our purposes. A harmless lie is better than a harmful truth. Better to wield strength in an imperfect land than to be powerless in a perfect one.

“Wow,” Likh commented. “Vernasha of the Roses was kind of a bitch.”

“Likh!” Rahim exclaimed, unsuccessfully curbing his laughter.

Althy had nearly drove the librarians insane, having them pull every conceivable book Istera had about rune magic. But despite our efforts, there was nothing much to find.

They are Little Tears’s seed, none of whom must come to pass. Vernasha had meant Dark asha. That was why Dark asha could command the daeva—only those who commanded the Dark could bring about shadowglass.

“Likh may have a point, Rahim,” Kalen said wryly. “It seems that Kion was built on a lie.”

“Nobody’s going to believe us,” Khalad pointed out. “The legend according to Vernasha has been too ingrained in people’s beliefs. They would cling to their faith rather than see it shattered. I suspect that was what Vernasha intended all along.”

“I can’t believe it.” Likh sounded disheartened. We had compared the letter Sakmeet had hidden to a collection of Vernasha’s other works, and the writing matched perfectly. “This isn’t why I wanted to be an asha.”

“This shouldn’t stop you from being proud to be one,” Althy said firmly.

Likh stared down at his lap, downcast. Khalad cast a worried glance at him.

“It’s late,” the older asha went on. “A day changes nothing, and we will be back at Kion tomorrow. We’d all best get some rest.”

“Althy,” I said, after the others had left, “how did Mykkie kill the last Dark asha before me?” Now that the urgency had passed, I wanted my answer.

“You are persistent,” my mentor said. “But I did promise you the story in our freer moments. Her name was Illara. She was a strong-willed novice in her own right. You remind me a bit of her, in fact. But unlike you, she was too free with drawing in the Dark, and she took on more than she could handle. She grew reckless and intractable. Her heartsglass had not even darkened yet when she botched a daeva raising and, in a moment of madness, tried to use it to attack Arhen-Kosho. She assaulted a small fishing community, swept it out to sea. And while Mykkie grieved, she never faltered. She killed her charge. It was the only way. Don’t think much of it, Tea. You’re different than she was.”

Althy excused herself after sharing the story, and I stared at the paper in my hand, as if I could rearrange the words if I willed it long enough. There was more to Vernasha’s letter beyond her admission of guilt.

The Blight is a terrible rune, Vernasha had instructed. At its command, you can twist someone beyond recognition, allow him the form and shape of a terrible daeva—a lesser size, but as rabid. You can perform this blight on any unsuspecting person, letting it incubate within him for days and weeks with no one the wiser. The result is a monster of your own making, a daeva that not even a Dark asha can command. Any asha can create the necessary poison to introduce into her victim’s food and drink, but a bone witch must cast the final spell. For this reason, we must deny those accursed women this rune.

Still, the casting is long and complicated. The rune must be woven into food and drink at least three times in two days, then at least once every three days following. Take too long and the spell will be rendered irrelevant, and you must repeat the process all over again. Once done, perform the rune one final time over the person to awaken his demons. The only known cure is a merciful death—of either the target or its summoner.

The Blight rune is a secret our elders must uphold under penalty of death. Vigilance is key.

Vernasha had scratched a strange rune on the paper that resembled a floating eye. This Delving rune glows red, she had written, should the Blight rune fester within us.

We were quick to take her advice and relieved to find that none of us had symptoms of the blight.

Kalen then tested it on poor Yarrod. The rune glowed red.

I’m surprised you’re letting me in on all this, Fox murmured in my head. Not that I’m complaining.

I don’t want to keep secrets from you, I responded, trying not to think about my black heartsglass, other details I hadn’t told him.

What do you want me to do?

Inform Empress Alyx about this new development but ask her not to act until we return.

What about Inessa?

You’ll tell her regardless of what I say.

I felt his grin. I wouldn’t if you asked me to. She’ll understand.

I don’t want to put you in a spot where you have to choose between us. I’m gonna turn in; it’s late.

Take care, Tea. Love you.

Love you too, Big Brother.

“You cannot keep punishing yourself, Tea,” Kalen said quietly, coming to sit beside me.

“Are we seriously going to kill the boy tomorrow?”

He sighed. “They cannot keep him indefinitely. He’s already injured a few soldiers. King Rendorvik understands the situation. I’ll wield the sword myself if I have to. I’d take the burden from you if I could.”

“I know.” I turned to kiss him. Waking up in Kion beside him felt like an eternity ago. “But there are still so many questions. Who used the Blight on Garindor’s assistant? Was our presence the trigger? Vernasha gave no hints as to what the rune itself looks like, only the Delving to find it on someone else!”