As my brothers and I dress in our tunics and shirts, Tyr places the ark on the floor. We all circle around him, staring at it. So much power and destruction are contained in that small object. If Herric had never gifted it to our first king, then all of this might have been avoided. It occurs to me how the tiniest acts can ripple over time, changing the entire course of our destinies. What might my life have been had I never been bound to Tyr?

Maybe now I’ll get the chance to find out.

Tyr watches me, waiting for a signal to proceed, and I nod.

Another reason no others were invited is that we don’t know what will happen when we destroy the ark. I was hoping Nadir would send more information, but no further letters have arrived, and I worry about what that might mean.

Erevan continues refusing his help, and I’m trying not to be angry with him. I understand his convictions, but sometimes I wish the bastard weren’t so damn noble. Our gazes meet, and I’m sure he can read my thoughts. Neither one of us agrees with the other, but this isn’t new for us.

“Everyone back away,” Tyr says, and we do, but only by a few steps. I can’t fight the instinct to protect him, that deep-rooted need to throw myself over the explosion if it would save his life.

Tyr shakes out his hands and then rolls his neck. He hasn’t allowed anyone else around him while he’s tried practicing his magic. I have no real sense of how much control he has. But he told me he was ready, and all I could do was trust that.

I’m almost shocked when Tyr lifts his hand and golden sparks dance at his fingertips. His shoulders lift with a deep breath, and he concentrates a beam of light into the ark. It sinks into the surface. My brow furrows when nothing seems to happen, but Tyr doesn’t stop. After another second, the ark begins to glow.

I take a step back, my arm crossing over Hylene as I shuffle her behind me. Though she makes a sound of protest, she stays where she is, rising up on her tiptoes to peek over my shoulder. Her body presses against mine, and I wrap an arm back around her waist to keep her safe.

Tyr continues filtering magic into the ark as sweat beads on his brow, his mouth pursed in concentration. The ark jumps and twists, and then a plume of smoke billows from its surface, forming into the shape of a woman wearing a long flowing gown.

“Zerra,” I breathe. I recognize her likeness carved into the ark. Tyr flinches in shock, nearly releasing the control on his magic. “Don’t stop!” I shout. “Keep going!”