Relos Var rolled his eyes. “Don’t act like a child. Though I realize that’s all but impossible for you. How many times do I have to explain that I’m not your enemy?”

“Explain as much as you like; it doesn’t mean I’ll ever believe you.”

Relos Var continued as though Kihrin hadn’t spoken. “It was my fault for not keeping better track of what Gadrith and Darzin were plotting. Thank you for killing both, by the way. Especially Gadrith.”

“I didn’t do it for your approval.”

“I never claimed you did.” Relos Var seemed to be grinding his teeth.

“So let me guess—you returned from the Capital before Tya came back from consulting with Thaena about Aeyan’arric,” Kihrin said, “and you reclaimed Khoreval from Xivan Kaen—and made a deal with Janel. But explain something for me, ‘big brother.’ Why do we need Khoreval again? Janel already killed a dragon with Khoreval, and it didn’t stick.”

“Don’t be so humble,” Relos Var said. “You’ve killed one yourself.”

“What?” Kihrin blinked. “Uh, no? I’m sure I haven’t…”

“In the Afterlife,” Janel whispered. “You slew Xaloma using Khoreval.”

Kihrin paused. He’d like to think he’d remember a thing like that. It seemed important. And yet, clearly, he had some big gaps in his memory of events that occurred in the Afterlife. He really needed to find out how Janel and Teraeth were remembering their experiences in the Afterlife. “Fine,” Kihrin said. “I’ll take your word for it. And I’ll assume this ‘Xaloma’ will recover too. Seems to me Khoreval isn’t that great at killing dragons, so why do we need it again?”

At that, Relos Var smiled. He glanced over at Qown. “You haven’t figured it out yet.”

Brother Qown straightened. “Figured what out?”

“What the Cornerstones really are.”

Qown blinked. “What do Cornerstones have to do with—” His eyes widened. “Wait—oh sun—”

Relos Var turned back to Kihrin and Janel. “You need both Khoreval and Urthaenriel because it isn’t enough to simply kill a dragon. You must also simultaneously destroy the dragon’s heart—what we know as a Cornerstone. And only Urthaenriel can destroy a Cornerstone.”

Janel blinked. “Wait. A Cornerstone is the heart of a dragon?”

“Not literally,” Relos Var said. “It’s a metaphor.”

Janel looked extremely relieved for some reason.

“Where’s your Cornerstone? Just curious.” Kihrin hadn’t lowered the sword.

“I don’t have one.”

“And once again, I don’t believe you,” Kihrin said.

Relos Var vanished. The portal wall vanished.