“Valentine, where are you going?” Van shouted.
He raised a hand against the assault of wind and heat on his face, pushing into the force nearly in vain just to keep up with her. The fervor of her drive was relentless. The Blazing Highlands punished travelers, always unforgiving, but drawing closer to the volcano proved the true violence of the mountain harboring the city. Lava rivers flowed for miles, never ceasing. Of course, this had always been the case, but something changed.
It had been mere hours since Barkley’s death. Since then, the mountain rumbled constantly, doom-like, groaning in anger. Searing wind and fiery rain blustered through the land. Conditions to cause any reasonable person to seek immediate refuge in the city. But Raven had disappeared without warning shortly after the Titan’s departure. And now Valentine was seeking him, recklessly pressing further into the badlands without direction.
“Raven!” she called out, searching for him on the horizon.
But the driven dust, fire, and wind prevented any visual clarity, and her voice nearly drowned out. Still, she pressed on, and Van struggled to keep up. The drops of fire singed his skin, hair and clothes. Something wild drove her, almost manic. Her family had pleaded with her not to leave, to stay with them and mourn Barkley and the other fallen, but she wouldn’t have it.
Of course, Van joined her. But his own thoughts struggled to stay the course. He was frightened. And baffled. And lost. The presence of the Titan had only been imagined before, and his mind had done him a severe disservice. Never could he have fathomed such suffocating wickedness, such clout. When his servant, Roho, roared at them, Van fell to his face before the Titan without thinking, so rife with dread. His body reacted on its own.
But Raven stood against the fiend. He stood even in the face of those weapons. Van felt ashamed. But he also felt angry. Some part of him had begun to believe Raven was on the level of the Titan. The way he spoke, without fear… Van actually believed Raven would kill him and end the plight of his reign. But he did nothing. Raven watched Barkley die and then watched the Titan leave.
What were they doing, then? What was any of this for, if not to destroy the Titan when he presented himself? He knew such questions weren’t fair. That terrifying woman borne from the Titan’s pandora… she embodied death itself. How could anyone counter such blinding speed and unrelenting obedience to evil? Did Raven not know about her? He must have.
He must have known.
Valentine was getting ahead of Van, and he pressed deeper into the wind to try and catch up, but the fury seemed to increase.
“Valentine, wait!” he shouted.
“There he is!” she cried.
She pointed to a small plateau overlooking the mountain. This side of the volcano teemed with lava flow, yellow and red as far as they could see. Despite still being fairly far away, the heat was suffocating. But through the ash and smoke, Van spotted what she saw. Raven sat at the edge of the rock. His robes furled wildly about him with the storm, but he seemed little affected by his environment. His eyes were closed, and his hands were placed before him on his lap, in the formation he called “Grand Harmony.” Middle fingers down, ring fingers touching.
Valentine now ran, wind be damned. She reached the rock formation and found a makeshift path around it to reach his level. Van finally caught up, and together they watched him. Raven’s face was scrunched with concentration, or perhaps determined anger.
“Raven!” Valentine shouted again, approaching.
But he did not open his eyes or reply.
Valentine looked at Van. And when she did, Van immediately felt pity. So many emotions displayed in one face. Desperation. Determination. Hatred. Resolution… and maybe an uncommon hope. He wasn’t sure how to react, but then she did something he did not expect. She sat down next to Raven, her back to him. And she copied the placement of hands, and began to meditate.
Van now understood. He ran a hand through his hair. What a fool he had been.
Valentine didn’t blame Raven for Barkley’s death. No. She trusted him. She was a follower. A comrade.
He felt even greater shame. On some level, this had all been a game to him. Raven was interesting. He was dangerous, but he was also a friend in some way. The investigations, the pursuit of Valentine, the search for information. All a game, an adventure. But for Raven and Valentine, this was no game.
Raven, an orphan. Marked with a cruel scar on his head, and filled with loathing for the one he called the Thief of Life. Valentine’s family was dying all around her, turned into cards of slavery. They wanted justice in this world, and they would seek it to success or their doom.
Van sat down, squeezing between them so they were all shoulder to shoulder in a circle. He shook his embarrassment free and placed his hands together in Grand Harmony. And he searched. For what, he didn’t know. But this was no longer a game. He had to be more.
And the Titan had to die.
He didn’t remember when the chaos around him disappeared. Nor did he perceive when he arrived somewhere new. And when he opened his eyes again, it seemed they had been closed for so long, he wondered if he fell asleep, because what he beheld could only have been a dream.
White. Quiet. Peace.
Those were the only observations that could be made. He slowly stood up, looking all around. There were tints of pink on the horizon of the plane in which he found himself, like distant clouds, but otherwise, everything in the existence of this place was white.
“Where are we?”
Van turned. Valentine was there.
She was so… beautiful.
“This is entirely different than when we were inside your mind,” he finally said. The volume of his own voice seemed raucous against the silence. “It’s like… a dream. But we can’t be dreaming together, can we?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. Look.”
She pointed into the distance. A black splotch violated the white and pink canvas.
“I think it’s Raven.”
“Let’s go.”
Van felt strange as they made their way to him. His legs were heavy, like he was trudging through waist-deep water. And his head hurt, an ache that amplified as Raven drew closer. Valentine’s struggles matched his own, but they pressed on.
Soon, they realized the black splotch was not just Raven, but someone else. A gigantic man standing before him. Van had never seen such a person. He wore a loose, black tunic, darker than his skin, but not by much, and a brown cloth wrapped around his head and neck that trailed down his back. A green feather nestled into the top folds. A gilded sword hung from his belt, but that was not what made Van’s jaw drop.
This man could only be described as a colossus. With muscles so large and mighty, no tunic could have concealed them. His exposed arms were the most impressive of all. Van believed in that moment they could hold the world, so indomitable were they. In fact, Van would have thought him to be the Titan himself, had he not already seen what he looked like that day. Strangely, though, despite his stature, he must have been young. The youthfulness of his face suggested he was not much older than those standing before him.
He and Raven were not speaking to each other, but Raven seemed at ease. Van and Valentine came up behind him, but did not speak, so in awe were they of the man’s presence. Raven’s eyes were closed. Even so, the man waited patiently, looking only at him.
“I am glad I could reach you, Arkh,” Raven finally said. He opened his eyes. “Time is of the essence.”
“I felt your anxiety, my friend,” Arkh replied.
His voice was smooth as glass. Van had expected something gruff and thick, like a grizzled warrior. But it was like the voice of God, full of power.
“Who are they?” Arkh asked, motioning his head toward Van and Valentine.
Raven turned and was surprised to see them.
“These are my companions,” he finally replied, turning back to Arkh. “They have joined me in my mission.”
Arkh nodded in approval. “They must be strong to have found their way to this place.”
“There is no time to talk. He is here.”
Arkh scowled. The feather in his head wrap turned bright red. “Where are you?”
“I am in Lamgard. The Titan murdered about twenty people only hours ago. Members of the Chessex clan. He is already on the move.”
“Curses on this land!” Arkh growled in frustration. “I am further away than anyone could be.”
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“In Saphioc?”
“Yes. Across the River Shallonigh, near the Forest of Medes.”
“If I send you wings, can you be ready?”
“I am always ready.”
“I know it. Look to the south. I will deliver you to him, Arkh. You have my word.” He extended his hand, and Arkh shook it.
“Our Vengeance is one,” Arkh said. “I will send word when I arrive.”
“May your strength increase, Arkh. Our Vengeance is one.”
Immediately, the white disappeared. Van lurched through blackness, and the fires of the Highlands stormed back into his vision. The heat and wind returned. Disoriented, he struggled to get up, but he worked with Valentine to get to their feet. Raven was already standing, looking up at the lava-strewn volcano.
“Let’s go,” he said. And he made his way down from the plateau. “Hurry!”
Van and Valentine looked at each other before quickly following.
Raven scurried across the desert, drawing closer to the mountain. The heat of the lava grew more intense, soon nearly unbearable. But he did not stop. Instead, he produced a pandora from his robes. Van recognized it as Ice Token, the card Raven used most.
The pandora gleamed, and a blue essence poured from the vessel to cover them. The shimmering dust blasted them with freezing relief, and it coated them each in an intense azure cloak. Van exhaled from the instant respite from the heat, and a surge of energy ran through him when he saw Raven burst into a sprint.
Van and Valentine followed close behind, right up to the edge of a waterfall of lava. The thick yellow river of stone, bright as gold, poured into a deep basin. Just a small stone plank connected the edge of the basin to the waterfall. But even as close as they were to the lava, there was no longer an effect of the heat on their skin. Raven stepped onto the plank and strode up to the waterfall. He glowed frosty blue, a truly strange contrast to the searing magma.
He scowled deeply. “I will end this unsightly plague,” he rasped.
And to Van and Valentine’s shock, he walked straight into the lava flow and disappeared. They ran to the spot he had been standing, aghast. Van shook his head in amazement. What else will I see in Raven’s presence that I will never see again?
He looked at Valentine. “Well… shall we?”
She breathed deep and exhaled a frosty plume. “Let’s go.”
They plunged their arms into the lava. It was incredibly heavy, but it did not burn them. Armed with the security of their well-being, they followed Raven into the flow. After a few steps, they came out on the other side, covered in quickly-cooling earth and rock that they shook free. Raven watched as they approached. Behind him, a long tunnel burrowed into the mountain, effulgent from the gleaming, red-hot stone. This place burned so greatly, Van’s vision blurred. Had it not been for their icy armor, they would have been roasted.
“You did well,” Raven said.
“Was that a test?” Van asked.
“No. We are not children. But I once asked if you would willingly follow me to danger, or run from it, clutching to your safety. You both know the stakes now. The urgency of this quest. Those who join me must desire death before failure. Or all will be lost. If you were to ever remember one thing about me, remember this: I will not fail to destroy the Titan. But the road is long, and here we start the true journey.”
“Where are we going?” Valentine asked.
Raven turned and proceeded down the blazing path. “To the lair of Rumail.”
“The guardian?” Valentine asked in shock.
Having met Panka, this did not surprise Van quite as much. “Raven, do you know where all the guardians of the Reyks are?”
“Yes.”
“Have you met them all?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. Is Rumail a prankster like Panka?”
“No. He is extremely dangerous. It is very likely he will want to kill us.”
“Raven,” Valentine said. “What was that place we entered when we meditated? Who was that man?”
Raven stopped and held up a hand to quiet them. Slowly, he stepped forward into a wider expanse. The tunnel gave way to a great cavern, similar to Panka’s. But in place of waterfalls, lava and fire poured into the deep chasm, from which a whirlwind of smoke and steam rose, climbing to some unknown height.
“Is this the source of our well?” Valentine whispered in awe.
“Here he comes,” Raven warned, climbing down a few of the steps leading to the bottomless pit.
Van had envisioned a fire version of Panka when Raven spoke of Rumail, but Lamgard’s guardian emerged from the whirlwind as a pyro of monstrous spirit. The very picture of a demon. Black wings kept the creature afloat. A fire-lick tongue emerged from a wide mouth lined with jagged, black teeth. Long fiery hair and a beard of lava trickled down his body endlessly, and a mighty ashen hand held a rod of gold. His face filled with fury at the sight of them.
“Is that… him?” Valentine whispered, terror-stricken.
Van held her hand.
“I told you to never come back here!” Rumail roared. The blast of fire issuing from his mouth enveloped them, but Raven’s pandora shielded them.
“I never intended to return,” Raven replied, scowling. “But circumstances change. Or have you been sleeping, unaware of what is happening at your doorstep?”
“HOW DARE YOU!” Rumail towered over them, livid. “I warned you I would kill you if you ever returned. Now you mock me? On this day of all days?”
“You think I wanted to return to this pestilent place you call a sanctuary?” Raven shouted back, matching his anger. Van had never seen him so furious. Raven raised a fist at him. “The Titan returns to your city and murders your people, and what do you do? You throw a big temper tantrum! You coward!”
Rumail slammed a massive fist on the ground beside them, shattering the stone. They steadied themselves, but Raven would not be sidetracked. He matched Rumail’s glare, staring the guardian down. Fire enveloped them all, wrapping sinews around their bodies and aching to squeeze.
“What would you have me do?” Rumail growled through gritted teeth. His pointy nose was mere inches from Raven’s face. “There he stands, the imp Whitesong, who promises the salvation of the whole land! Did you not stand there watching Barkley die?”
“Yes, I was there. I watched as the Titan bullied the people you claim to protect!”
“You’re just as loud and annoying as the last time you came here. Where is that girl you were with, the curt one, your so-called ‘love?’ The both of you had no answers then and you have no answers now. How would you defeat the Titan? You still have no answer, do you?”
“Noelle and I have done nothing but scour the earth for the method to destroy him,” Raven shot back. “We have bled and toiled, and to what end? Just to watch the guardians of Fallowreyk lie as dusty rugs before his wicked throne. Hiding! Hiding like little birds from the storm! What have you done since that day? Do you resist him? No. You sit in your mountain doing nothing.”
Rumail harumphed, drawing back. “Leave this place!”
“You still don’t understand, do you? You haven’t even noticed!” Raven held up his arms in frustration. “Some guardian you are!”
“Noticed what? What are you talking about?”
“The means to the salvation of your people stands before you, and you take no heed. We could have left here, and you would have never known. How blind you are, great Rumail! You are WEAK!”
A halo of black smoke whirled around Rumail’s head, and a treacherous look came over him as he raised his rod of gold. “You have mocked me for the last time, Whitesong.”
Raven raised a hand. “Open your eyes, you old fool. Look at who is standing next to me!”
The fire guardian stopped from striking them and looked at Van and Valentine. He barely regarded them. “What of them?”
“Still nothing?” Raven replied, mocking being flabbergasted. “It doesn’t even occur to you?”
Raven stepped behind Valentine and put his hands on her shoulders. “Who is this, Rumail?”
“I don’t have any idea!” Rumail shouted. “GET TO THE POINT!”
“Who are you?” Raven asked her.
“I… I am your servant, Valentine Chessex!” she managed shakily. She bowed.
Confusion swept over Rumail as he drew closer. He looked Valentine up and down, bewilderment growing deeper as he did. He shook his head. “It can’t be… I don’t… explain this, Whitesong. What is this?”
Raven stepped forward again. “This has always been your problem. You have spent so long identifying people by their Frame of Mind, you forgot what your own people look like. This truly is Valentine Chessex, the girl once destroyed by the curse of your so-called gifts, but restored in mind and body. Her Frame has been restored.”
“YOU LIE!”
“Cease with your stupidity, Rumail! LOOK AT HER!”
For the first time, the guardian of Lamgard appeared intimidated. He quieted, and the smoke dispersed from around him. He looked at Valentine again, drawing closer. Valentine seemed to gain some measure of courage, and she let go of Van’s hand.
“How?” Rumail finally said. “How did you do this?”
Raven exhaled, calming himself. “Now isn’t that a question I’ve been asked more than a few times?” He smirked, looking at Valentine. She smiled uncertainly, but kept her eyes on Rumail.
Rumail never stopped looking at her. His body shrunk and began to transform. The wings, fire, and ash faded away, leaving a person standing on two feet, like a man deeply coated in soot. He climbed the stone stairs to stand before her. He reached a hand toward her and cupped her cold face. A tear of fire ran down his cheek. Then he slowly reached in and embraced her.
“My dear child,” he whispered, hugging her tight.
There was a silence as he held her. To Van’s surprise, she returned his embrace.
“For so long, your people have suffered,” Raven said. His voice was gentle now. “It is a terrible thing, the Splits. But she was spared.”
He finally relented, letting go of her. Wiping away his tears, he floated back into the air, and his previous form returned, cloaked in fire and ash.
“Is this what you came to tell me?” he asked.
“No. I came here because I need wings. And I need them now.”
Rumail’s scowl returned in tempered form. “Of course. There’s always something you want, isn’t there? As grateful as I am for your service to Valentine, why should I grant you such a thing? You have spent every moment of your time in Lamgard tormenting me.”
“I do not come empty-handed. As I said, I have been asked many times for the method I used to restore Valentine’s Frame of Mind. But I denied every request, because I feared the knowledge could fall into the Titan’s hands. However, every second we spend here talking, we waste. If you give me these wings, we could potentially deal the Titan a mighty blow here and now. So, in exchange, I will give you the knowledge.”
Raven reached into his robes and produced a notebook, glowing blue in icy protection. “The method to save your people from the Splits forever. I will entrust it to you, and to you alone, so that you may disperse the cure to your people as you see fit. What say you, Rumail, guardian of Lamgard?”
Rumail looked at Valentine one last time. He nodded and for the first time, issued a wry smile. “This is a truly acceptable deal.”
Immense bursts of flame suddenly surrounded him, swirling and turning until they formed an incredible chariot of fire, pulled by a pair of flaming winged horses. Steam poured from the nostrils of the beasts and sparks exploded from their bodies.
“Where am I sending them?”
“The Forest of Medes. Arkh Slipfire will be waiting.”
Rumail nodded. The flame horses whinnied and sped off into the dark expanse above them. The notebook floated out of Raven’s hands, which Rumail swallowed up whole.
For a small moment, Raven and Rumail stared at each other. Then Raven turned to leave, and Van and Valentine quickly followed.
“I don’t sit here doing nothing,” Rumail said. Raven stopped, but didn’t turn. “I do everything I can to protect my people,” the fire guardian continued. “Everything.”
Raven did not reply. He stood for a moment before continuing on into the tunnel.
They exited the mountain the same way they came, shaking the lava free after passing under the falls again. Raven led them back to the plateau where they had first found him. Van pointed up into the sky. The flaming chariot sped through the heavens, north toward its target. In seconds, it disappeared.
The blue protection of Ice Token finally faded, and the miserable heat returned. Raven produced the pandora from his robes. The card had turned milky white.
“Raven…” Valentine said. “Is that…?”
Raven brought the card to his forehead, holding it gently in both hands. He sighed, then brought it down to look at it.
“You have been my friend for so long,” he whispered. “Your service has been mighty, and your spirit true. Return now to the Holy One and rest, Soro.”
Ice Token slowly faded into bright wisps of smoke, melting away. In moments, the pandora was no more, retired from its term. The soul of Soro deSoto would be in heaven that very hour.
Raven looked up into the sky. “This day extracted a great toll. Let’s ensure it was not in vain.”
“What is the next step?” Valentine asked. “I don’t want to delay a single moment.”
“Next?” he repeated. “Next is Marcus Shrale. We are going to get that ring from him, even if I have to extract it from his ugly corpse.”