Page 190 of Revels on an Angel’s Grave

“Yes,” Emmeline admitted. “Often, my readings are more of a conversation with the Fates than purely a conveyance of fortune.”

“Interesting,” Valyrie mused. Roremar had the feeling even the Angel wasn’t sure what to make of Emmeline’s magic.

“It is,” Emmeline agreed. “I recently conducted a reading that led me to Wisteria Falls, which is where I spoke to Serchus, but it also led me to you.” She took a breath, and agitation burned through Roremar, his reluctance to trust the Fates creeping up his spine. “Serchus mentioned something called Points of Constellation. What can you tell me of those?”

Valyrie assessed their group, then strode across the room toward Perry, ether undulating in lilac and silver around her wings. She reached over the writing desk he was propped on and pulled down a rolled map. Gallantia was displayed, split into the seven warrior territories, but there, to the northwest of Starsearcher land⁠—

“The Constellation Isles,” Perry observed, jolting off the desk with a surprised stumble. The others hurried to gather around them as Perry stared, slack jawed at the map, palm rubbing his sternum. “I’ve never seen the isles on modern maps. None of the ones in school had them, only the ones my grandfather showed me.”

“This one is not modern.” Valyrie quirked a brow at Perry. “You are intrigued by the isles?”

Roremar eyed Perry for any hint of deception, but he flashed Valyrie the smooth grin that won him the favor of all the capital’s citizens. “I’m a worldly man.”

Valyrie tilted her head as she looked at him, but she didn’t seem taken by his charm. When she turned back to the wall, Desmond’s snicker echoed in the quiet room. Myrella smacked his shoulder, scolding him, and Desmond yelped.

The Angel extended a hand to trace the isles, stacks of silver bracelets jingling on her wrist. “This map dates from the Age of Angels, one of the earliest renditions, created when we first split the land into seven territories. Some of the names and border designations are no longer accurate. Cities have risen and fallen, magical wells have expanded in the land, but for today, it serves our purpose.”

“Which is?” Roremar asked.

Valyrie offered him a smile. “To show you how ancient parts of this world are. And that while some of it has been forgotten”—her graceful touch lingered on Lyra, and Roremar swore her expression turned wistful—“it all relies upon one another, as much in these realms does.”

Valyrie turned from the map. Her gaze landed on Myrella, eyes glazing over with silver ether, and she whispered to herself, “All forgotten bridges respun.”

A shiver rolled through the room, and Myrella squirmed, looking around nervously. Desmond and Roremar both shifted a step closer.

“You have lost a part of your soul,” Valyrie whispered.

The words hit Roremar like a blow to the chest. Myrella’s jaw popped open, but she didn’t say anything.

Valyrie’s attention refocused as if nothing had happened.

Fates, did her magic always take over like that? He would have expected the Angel to be in complete control.

Roremar exchanged a glance with Emmeline. Diverting the conversation from Myrella, she continued, “Does this—do the isles—have to do with the Points of Constellation?”

“Points of Constellation are simply places where magic has been left behind,” Valyrie explained. “Places such as Wisteria Falls, and yes, the Constellation Isles. It is part of why the continent ignores them.”

“Encouraging willful ignorance,” Perry said.

Roremar frowned. “At some point in history, Starsearcher leaders knew the isles held magic, and rather than let it be known, they directed everyone to forget about them.”

“Either because they didn’t want it to be a spectacle warriors became obsessed with or because they wanted to hide something,” Emmeline finished. “But why? What could possibly be there that they don’t want others to know about?”

“Even I do not know all the history that has occurred on those shores,” Valyrie said. “It was routine land when I claimed it as part of my territory.”

“How did it change?” Emmeline asked.

“That is one of the wonders of this realm,” Valyrie answered.

Roremar mused, “When something is powerful, people want to control it. And if they can’t control it, they’ll remove it.” His attention locked with Emmeline’s. She swallowed, jaw quivering as she pulled her focus back to the map.

But Roremar’s vow to protect her from this damn city only strengthened.

“Serchus wants us to figure out something about the Points of Constellation,” Emmeline muttered. “He said to pay attention to them.”

Perry’s eyes were alight as he threw out theories about the isles, things the continent was taught to believe versus stories his grandfather told him. Roremar, Lola, and Desmond countered or corrected each. Myrella remained quietly in her head.

Finally, Emmeline addressed Valyrie again, “Back on Lyra, while we were searching for the murderer who turned out to be Dryvius, he killed someone very important to us.” Emmeline spoke slowly, as if choosing each word precisely. Roremar’s throat tightened with every syllable, but he kept his expression calm. Emmeline had told him, Lola, and Myrella they didn’t have to be here for this, but they all wanted to. He’d been trying to understand how this happened for weeks, and he finally felt like the pieces were before him. “Serchus told me when Dryvius killed Nico, it freed the Fate. That it had to do with a promise Serchus made. What does any of that mean?”