Page 113
“The two of you have about thirty seconds before your toll is useless and the whole thing resets.” The pixie leaned against the door frame, hands on her voluptuous hips. “Believe me, you do not want to irritate Sokar.”
Fern stared at her for about five of those seconds, then looked at Lunara. “Can’t believe I’m saying this, but she’s probably safe enough. Give me a minute to see what we’re walking into, eh? Don’t take your eyes off her though.” With that, she gifted the pixie a rude gesture, tossed her toll, and went in.
“Forgive my friend,” Lunara sighed. “She is…not herself these days.”
The pixie snorted. “Oh, yes she is. That zappy bucket of rainwater is exactly herself.”
Wait. What the—
“You really need to get going. Happy travels.” And she was gone.
Dazed, Lunara threw her toll.
A single hazy lantern and the roar of a waterfall greeted her.
And a drop-off into oblivion about three steps ahead that had Lunara’s stomach in her throat before she could blink.
“F-Fern?”
“Only those with pure intentions may continue.”
Lunara startled at and turned. Sokar stood off to one side of the narrow platform, bathed in shadow, his arms crossed.
He sounded bored when he continued. “This is a very good time to be honest with yourself, else that”—he nodded down at the darkness—“become your fate.”
“Where is Fern?”
“On the other side, much to my surprise.”
Sisters save her. She was beyond confused.
“Right. So I…? Shite, how in the realms did I get here?” she whispered. “And where even is here?”
“Why are you here?” Sokar asked. “That’s the better question. Why do you seek the knowledge that you do? Why is it so important? And, could your aims be met without it?”
She opened her mouth to respond, but he held up a silencing hand. “The answers are not for me to hear—they’re for you to be certain that this is what you wish. When you’ve decided, take a faithful step. If the Sisters judge you worthy, you’ll be fine.”
“If they don’t?”
He shrugged. “Then you won’t.”
Lunara didn’t need to ponder his questions. She knew precisely why she was here. And since the Directory knew what they were looking for and found answers somewhere within the library, then she needed to see them.
For Brand.
Yes. For him, but also for Fern. For Nyri and Baldrir. For all of Bordoroth.
The Prophecy named her. The Sisters blessed her. She was precisely where she needed to be.
Lunara closed her eyes, and took a step.
Lunara swallowed a scream when the first spout of water met her foot.
At contact, light erupted from the depths, the coruscating colors so similar to her magic that it almost felt like a tribute. Another step down and it brightened, a humming song rippling outwards. The voices were ancient. Ethereal. A chorus that bled straight from her own soul.
It gave her the courage to look up and see.
Shitting…stars…and…arses…
