Weight of the World

Chapter Seventy-Two

—The Crooked Forest—

The barrier protecting Avalon was just ahead, but there were too many guards for Corlis to slip through undetected. He would have to wait, but—movement to his left. Corlis turned, daggers raised to block the incoming blow, but it was not a blade as he had been expecting. It was an arrow, whizzing past his ear. The thought barely registered before the figure he had seen lunged forward, their own daggers knocking his from his grasp.

His entire life and only one person was ever able to disarm him like that.

First, his daggers fell, and then suddenly powerful thighs were wrapped around his middle as he was flung further into the trees. Corlis hit the ground with a huff, but then, a hand was over his mouth to muffle his sounds as Teryn's face suddenly came into view. More movement behind her, and Corlis looked to find her brother, Aeric, standing there, his greatsword balanced on his shoulder.

"And your plan was just to walk to Avalon?" Teryn leaned over him, her golden eyes glowing beneath the moonlight. "Is the King of Bones going to open the door for you too?"

Corlis rolled his eyes. "This isn't the first Umbra camp I've snuck into, you know."

"And the fact that you think you're going to die in there? Is that the reason you don't care if you get caught?"

Corlis sighed, closing his eyes as he fell limply against the dirt. "Of course, Orik told you. Why am I surprised?"

"He also said there was something you needed to tell me, about the Ascension."

"Teryn..."

"If it's about the Ascension, I need to know, Corlis. This is about my daughter, so please, whatever it is..."

"The price," he said quickly to interrupt her. "It's about the price."

Teryn frowned, pain filling her eyes. "I know the price, Corlis. I...I spent weeks deliberating it, and in the end, it wasn't my choice to make. I would only allow it to happen if it was her choice. She was given the choice, and she..."

"What do you mean 'she chose?'"

She tilted her head, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Can we...maybe...not be in this position while we talk about this?"

Teryn glanced down. "I'm sorry, am I too fat or something?"

"No, I'm old, and my back hurts."

With a humorous snort, Teryn complied, gracefully standing and extending a hand to him. He took it, allowing her to haul him to his feet. He brushed himself off before he let out another long sigh and rolled his stiff neck. Teryn crossed her arms over her chest as she waited, impatiently it seemed.

"The King of Bones didn't tell you everything, Teryn," Corlis walked a short distance away to make sure they were far enough from the guards that they wouldn't be overheard. "To power the Ascension...It's only been performed once before, and to do it..."

"An immense amount of aether needed to be gathered," Teryn nodded. "I'm aware of what happened. The King of Bones sent me with a few of his Navigators to the world of Erla to see what can happen if the ritual goes wrong."

"So, then, you know, the true cost. The amount of aether required..."

"I don't know if I want to punch you or not."