Page 223 of Axis of Fire

I looked at Mortz questioningly.

“They’re too valuable to the rulers of Noveris,” he explained.

“People use them.”

“With or without their consent.”

“Stasia never mentioned any of this,” I said quietly.

“Because very few people know,” Luis replied.

“I think you should warn the blonde,” Aars muttered.

“Assuming she hasn’t done anything terrible to you yet.”

I hummed softly in agreement.

“And now,” Aars continued proudly, rolling onto his stomach and propping his chin on one paw, “you may ask me what I discovered in Mataarus.”

Without waiting for permission, he continued anyway.

“I now know how to determine whether you have blood ties to the world of the dead.”

“And how exactly?”

“There are three ways.”

Aars grinned.

“I can’t say any of them are completely safe...”

“But they work.”

Of course there was a catch.

“The first option is visiting the Temple of the Blood Goddess Nurinuru.”

“Inside is the Lake of Truth.”

His eyes gleamed.

“Look into it, and you’ll see every one of your relatives standing behind you.”

“That actually sounds safe,” I admitted cautiously.

“Sure.”

Aars shrugged.

“Except that if your bloodline isn’t connected to Mataarus, the temple collapses and buries you alive.”

“Wonderful,” I muttered dryly.

“You could always become the first person to outrun it,” he offered helpfully.

“What are the other options?” Mortz asked.

“You spill your blood inside the Archives of Nurinuru.”