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)
Ash lowered his glass. “That’s a damn good question. One I’m guessing the vadentia isn’t helping with.”
He was right. My intuition was silent. “But I know who holds that knowledge. The Fates. I also know the likelihood of them telling us is slim to none.”
“But that means the knowledge is out there,” he said. “We just need to find it.”
“Yeah, that’s all.” I laughed. “Should be easy—” I halted again, almost not wanting to suggest what I was about to. “What about the Pools of Divanash?”
“They can only show a person or an object,” he answered. “And if there is an object out there that helped entomb the Ancients, and only the Fates know what it is, it likely won’t reveal that.”
Frustration grew as I twisted my hair around my finger. It shouldn’t be this difficult. And in reality, the Ancients should be helping us.
“There is only one Primal almost as old as Kolis who may know and would have taken an active role in entombing the Ancients, while the others likely weren’t old enough to fight,” he said. “Keella.”
I twisted my hair tighter, hope sparking. There was no guarantee that Keella would have the information, but it was something. “Can we go now? To the Thyia Plains?”
“We can, but I think we should meet with the others first,” he suggested.
“You’re right.”
“Always,” he replied, and I shot him a look. He grinned as he reached between us and pulled my fingers free of my hair. “So, the game plan is to find a way to entomb Kolis. Once we have that information—”
“We have to go after Kolis, which will start a war.”
“I’m afraid that is inevitable,” he stated, refilling our glasses.
So inevitable, it seemed, that Ash had started planning for it by growing and training his armies long before I came to the Shadowlands.
“And how damaging that war is, how costly it becomes, will depend on how big it is. Because it won’t just be us against Kolis,” Ash continued. “It will be us against whoever stands with him, and he will have his loyalists among the gods and Primals.”
“I just don’t get how any Primal could stand with him before and continue to do so now that there is a true Primal of Life.” I shook my head, frustration growing because I did understand how on some level. “But they don’t know me. However, they do know what Kolis is capable of.”
He nodded as my gaze fell to the golden swirl on his left hand. Something occurred to me. “We won’t rule as Kolis has. Obviously. But when your father ruled, did any of the other Primals take part in the decisions that were made?”
“As far as I know, mostly not,” he answered.
“And this included decisions involving other Courts? And the mortal realm?”
“I believe so.” Curiosity filled his expression. “Why are you asking?”
“I don’t know. I’m just thinking. Like, I know things will be different with you being King instead of Consort, but why shouldn’t all the Primals be involved in making major decisions?” I said. “Like officially involved.”
Ash’s head cocked. “Why would you want that?”
“Because no two people, Primal or mortal, should decide everything, especially when it comes to things they have no experience with and others do,” I pointed out. “Power should be shared. That’s what the Ancients did, right? The Ancients shared their power by creating the Primals.”
“Yes,” he said. “Inevitably, it didn’t stop what was to come, but if they hadn’t done what they did, none of us would even be here.”
That was a scary thought.
Ash was quiet for several moments. “There was a kingdom that existed when my father was alive. It was in the west, where Terra exists today, and was ruled by a council of elected officials. I believe it was called the kingdom of Creta.”
“I haven’t heard of that kingdom,” I said.
“Probably because it was a young one full of ideals and people who also believed they should not be ruled by a King and Queen,” he said. “They inevitably collapsed into infighting when no one could agree on anything from common laws to how rent should be collected.”
“Well, that’s disappointing to hear,” I muttered.
“But one failure doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be attempted again.”
I glanced over at him.
“I think the other Primals should be involved in the decisions. It would make them more invested in what occurs outside their Courts and Temples,” Ash continued. “But it won’t be easy.”
“Oh, trust me, I know. My brief interaction with some of the Primals tells me that. But…there could be safeguards in place, you know? If the majority decides something terrible—which, again, based on my interaction with some of them, could happen—a veto power or even a non-Primal could also step in. Actually, why should it just be the Primals? Shouldn’t the draken be involved in decisions?” Excitement grew. “Like Nektas.”