Total pages in book: 362
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
When the stars fall from the night, the great mountains crumble into the seas, and old bones raise their swords beside the gods, the false one will be stripped from glory as the great powers will stumble and fall, some all at once, and they will fall through the fires into a void of nothing. Those left standing will tremble as they kneel, will weaken as they become small, as they become forgotten. For finally, the Primal rises, the giver of blood and the bringer of bone, the Primal of Blood and Ash.
Two born of the same misdeeds, born of the same great and Primal power in the mortal realm. A first daughter, with blood full of fire, fated for the once-promised King. And the second daughter, with blood full of ash and ice, the other half of the future King. Together, they will remake the realms as they usher in the end. And so it will begin with the last Chosen blood spilled, the great conspirator birthed from the flesh and fire of the Primals will awaken as the Harbinger and the Bringer of Death and Destruction to the lands gifted by the gods. Beware, for the end will come from the west to destroy the east and lay waste to all which lies between.
I sat back, glancing at Ash as my heart pounded. “Kolis was wrong.” I looked over at Keella. “And he didn’t know the part about the two daughters.”
The Primal goddess said nothing.
I rubbed my palms over my knees, suddenly feeling anxious. I should feel relief that Kolis had been wrong about the order of the prophecy, but that meant Penellaphe had been correct, and my suspicions regarding how it sounded might also be on point. “Kolis said that the part about the bearer of two crowns and the born-of-blood-and-ash part was about me.”
The Primal goddess was quiet for several more moments. “I wasn’t sure if it was referencing you,” she said, holding her hands together so tightly I saw her knuckles bleaching of color. “Not until your coronation.”
“The brightest moon,” Ash murmured, still staring at the paper he held. “It was just something that popped into my head. And it made sense.” He looked up then, his eyes meeting mine. “Your hair always reminded me of moonlight.” He let out a rough laugh, his gaze moving to Keella. “That is why you said it made you feel hopeful.”
Delfai, the God of Divination, had said the same thing. “Kolis also thought I was the silver beast, but…”
“‘A silver beast with blood seeping from its jaws of fire, bathed in the flames of the brightest moon to ever be birthed, will become one,’” Ash read aloud. His throat worked on a swallow. “I’m the silver beast.”
“And you have become one,” Keella said.
Ash blinked, shaking his head. “It’s crazy. I had…” He trailed off, clearing his throat. “Then this means the false one—Kolis—will be stripped. Will be defeated.”
“That’s not the only thing it says.” I rose, unable to stay seated. “I’ve always thought the prophecy sounded like Kolis would be defeated but then return.” I walked behind the settee. “That he was the false one and also the great conspirator. And we—” I stopped myself before I spoke about our plans.
Ash got where I was going with it, though. He nodded. “But this also sounds like the Primal of Blood and Bone will rise. If that’s not Kolis, then who is it?”
I stopped walking as I reached the opening to the outside. A knot lodged in my chest. I turned back to where Keella and Ash sat. “What is that part again? After it says, ‘as they become forgotten?’”
Ash turned his attention back to the parchment. “‘For, finally, the Primal rises, the giver of blood and the bringer of bone, the Primal of Blood and Bone.’”
“Will become one,” I murmured. My breath caught, and my head snapped up. “Could that part about the giver of life actually be about me?” My heart lurched. “I mean, I had the embers of life inside me even before I Ascended. I was the giver of life. But I’m not the bringer of death.”
“You’re not?” Keella questioned. “You are the bringer of a death.”
“Not Kolis,” I whispered. “But…”
“Me,” Ash finished.
I glanced down at the golden swirl on the top of my hand, and my chest hollowed. “Then could the prophecy mean that Nyktos and I are the giver and bringer of the Primal of Blood and Bone?”
“I believe so,” Keella said. “I believe the prophecy was always speaking about you, Nyktos, and Sotoria. Eythos thought the same.”
“But that doesn’t make sense,” Ash argued. “We are not truly one. And that doesn’t explain who these two daughters are.” He frowned, dropping the parchment onto the table. “I can’t shake the feeling that the answer is right in front of us.”