Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms 3)

“Trust your magic, princess. It is ancient, as ancient as the Kindred itself. It knows what to do. Let it guide you.” He hesitated. “And if you can’t, then we know it’s not yet time. We can wait a day, a week—”

“I can do it,” Lucia insisted. She kept her gaze on the spinning ring. “I can see it. I can see the earth crystal . . . where it will be awakened . . .”

And so could Cleo. The spinning ring moved across the map of Mytica. The light then transformed before Cleo’s eyes, giving the image more dimension and depth. She suddenly had the sensation that they were hawks, flying high above the land, looking down at the surface. The spinning ring moved along the line of the Imperial Road until it stopped at a point near its origin in Auranos. Cleo recognized it immediately.

“There,” Lucia whispered. “The Temple of Cleiona . . . it’s the chosen place of power for earth.”

The earthquake. Earth magic.

“I awaken the earth Kindred,” Lucia said softly, but with the weight of a command.

Amazed, Cleo watched the display before her, which now showed the outline of the temple itself. Then a symbol appeared, burning, as if it had just been physically branded onto the magical landscape.

A circle within a circle.

Alexius inhaled sharply, his gaze snapping to Lucia. “You did it, princess. You’ve awakened the earth Kindred.”

Lucia’s mouth stretched into a shaky smile. “That felt natural. Hardly any effort at all.”

Cleo could tell she was lying. Whatever she’d just done, it had taken a lot out of her. The sorceress trembled, her forehead damp with perspiration.

Cleo couldn’t help but be amazed.

“So all it will take,” Cleo ventured, “is to do what you mentioned—draw the corresponding symbol in blood at the actual site—to claim the crystal.”

“Yes,” Alexius said, but his attention was fully on Lucia. “Can you continue, princess, or do you want to stop?”

“I can go on.” Lucia didn’t blink, her attention still fixed on the spinning ring. Cleo realized with sudden shock that Lucia’s eyes had turned amethyst—the color of the gemstone, and they were bright with light.

The map shifted to another location along the road, one in central Paelsia. It looked like a small village enclosed by a wall.

“The former compound of Chief Basilius,” Lucia said.

“You know this place?” Cleo asked with surprise. Her own knowledge of geography was not nearly as vast.

“I didn’t before.” Lucia smiled shakily. “And yet, now I do. I know it with such clarity . . . Cleo, I can’t even explain it.”

“You don’t have to. This is amazing, Lucia.”

“Yes . . .” Lucia’s brow furrowed and her eyes brightened. “The air crystal shall be awakened here, in the wake of a tornado that swept across this location. Air, hear me. I awaken you.”

The air symbol—a spiral—branded itself upon the location.

Earth and air, Cleo thought. For so long she’d waited, and now everything was happening so quickly.

“Princess,” Alexius said, watching Lucia with concern. “Be careful. You are expending more magic than I thought you would need to, and it could hurt you. Let’s stop for today.”

“No. This is my destiny.” Lucia’s eyes blazed with light. “I can do this. I am doing it. We shall find the Kindred. All four crystals will be returned to the Sanctuary, and my prophecy will be fulfilled. And all of this struggle will be over. I will be free. Please, let me continue.”

She didn’t wait for permission. The map shifted again as the spinning ring moved along the bright line of the road, east into Paelsia, near the Forbidden Mountains.

“This,” she began, her voice becoming hoarse, “is where Magnus fought against the rebels. A road camp . . . where there was a massive fire. Fire is the Kindred that can be awakened here . . .” She frowned as she trailed off. “Wait. It’s so odd. . . .”

o;You learned all of this from Melenia?” she whispered.

“Yes,” he replied simply.

“She sounds amazing. So wise.”