Terry Simpson: Ashes and Blood

“Walk with me, Ryne.” As they strode across the dunes, Ancel asked, “What happened? I felt you losing.”

“The thing you fought, the Skadwaz, are more powerful than I once thought. They have formed some coupling with netherlings to grant them more strength. We knew Amuni was experimenting with something of the sort, but we thought it was never completed.”

“You were wrong.”

Ryne nodded.

“What does this mean?”

“We need Prima to defeat them, as we do to stop the Nine. As of now, I used the Sanctums of Shelter to trap Kahkon at the Great Divide. At least one of the Nine is free, locked in the Iluminus for now by use of the Bastions within it. I would not wager against there being more of them. Before you can hope to face them, you must complete your training. You need all of the Streams.”

“How do I attain the others?”

“The guardian of heat resides within the Broken Lands. The one who guards cold is far north in Everland. You must gain them both before I can give you my shade.”

Ancel stopped in his tracks. “You held both light and shade?”

“Yes, I once thought I was supposed to be the Aegis. However, Kahkon, the one I fought at the Sanctums, now possesses a great deal of what was once mine. He tricked me into seizing my power. Now, he rules the Great Divide. I am certain he is releasing everything we guardians once imprisoned there.”

“How do we deal with him?”

“You don’t. Your brother will keep him at bay for now. With the second Chainin broken, three Eztezians dead, only six seals remain. Mine, Kalvor’s, the other two guardians, and two Chainin. The gods’ return is near unavoidable.”

Ancel frowned. Much of what Ryne had said he barely heard. One word dominated his mind. “My brother? I have no brothers.”

“Actually, you do. A brother and sister. Anton and Celina. No, they aren’t dead. They are what complete the Aegis.”

Ancel’s pendant vibrated harder than he ever remembered.

Mother.