cascade | kotlc

33. Alvar

 They gathered around Sophie.

The cure was fake. Biana's instincts were right. And, she felt, she was pretty sure Calla knew how to make it.

"The Panakes told me. I finally understand their song. The cure lies in their blossoms, not their bark. But hope is not lost. I'll explain how later."

Hope is not lost.

It never will be.

"You guys realized we just destroyed Ravagog, right?" Keefe asked. "What do you think that means? Did Foster here just... start a war?"

June shook her head. "The ogres are in too weak a position to try anything. Half their city is destroyed, and at least half their troops are- well-" She shook her head again and backed off.

Biana winced slightly. It was true. They did kill a lot of ogres.

She killed five herself.

It hurt, but not as much as she expected it to. She didn't know what that meant, but hopefully it was good.

"I tried to learn things about your mom, by the way," Sophie whispered. "But his mind was too fixated on the drakostomes."

"That has always been the ogres' problem," a frightening familiar voice said. "They always fail to see the bigger picture."

Biana scrambled back as they turned to find Brant and Fintan walking toward them, each holding spheres of Everblaze.

"I'm guessing this is the part where you demand to know how we found you," Fintan said as Brant moved to block their path from behind and June whipped out her gun, pointing it at him.

"How's your injuries?" June spat. "Because I'm not afraid to do it again."

The injuries were horrible. There were bulging scars littered across his bare arms, and his forehead -- god, his forehead -- had a large dent in it, plastered with newly generated skin and dark blotches scattered across, white flecks shading the massive scar.

Fintan's eyes glinted with something. "I wouldn't be so sure. Remember -- if we lose control, all of you die."

Biana stepped in front of Calla, shielding her from the fire. "How could you do this to the gnomes? After everything they've done for the Lost Cities?"

"To expose the Council's lies," Brant said as his pupils flicked over to June's gun and back again. "Now everyone knows how much they hide, and how little protection they truly give their people."

"Which accomplishes what?" Sophie asked. "All you've done is make people afraid."

And he made them lose hope.

"Indeed, Miss Foster," Fintan agreed. "And fear is the world's greatest motivator. Look at the power your group harnessed today as a result of your terror."

No. They hadn't done it because of fear.

It was hope. Hope they could solve the gnomes' problems. Hope they could improve the world for the better.

Hope was the world's greatest motivator.

"That was your mother's mistake," Fintan added, his eyes roving to Keefe. "She surrendered to her fear, and it cost her everything."

Never lose hope. Lose hope, give in to fear, and you lose everything.

"Including her life?" Sophie asked.

"Interesting that the question does not come from her son," Fintan noted.

"That's because I don't care about her!" Keefe said.