Seth had found that he could keep warm by wrapping his wings around himself. But at present, he kept them folded behind his back, even though he was shivering. He wanted to suffer. He deserved to be locked up.
The memories that he had fought to regain now tortured him. The more he remembered, the more he ached. Without his memories, he had felt like he was doing his best. But he had crossed lines that could never be uncrossed. He had set events in motion that could never be undone.
This cell was too good for him.
He flexed the fingers of the hand he had used to bisect the Wizenstone. He could move that arm now, but not all sensation had returned. Part of him hoped the injury was permanent. There needed to be external evidence of how bad he felt inside.
He had been trying to do the brave thing, the right thing, when he went through that door at Stormguard Castle. He had surrendered his memories hoping to save the day and let Kendra get the Wizenstone instead of Celebrant. His intention had been selfless, and it had led to disaster.
He still didn’t know if Kendra, Raxtus, or Merek had survived. It was possible that Warren, Tanu, Vanessa, Knox, Tess, and the satyrs had perished as well.
Calvin had tried to bolster his spirits. The nipsie was right that he had been deceived. But Calvin didn’t understand that, to Seth, having good intentions almost made it worse. It suggested he couldn’t trust his instincts.
Without grasping the ramifications, Seth had freed the undead from the Blackwell and caused the fall of Wyrmroost. How could he ever have suspected Ronodin might be on his side? Even for a second? How had he not recognized that Kendra was trying to help him?
Humbuggle had applauded him for having a strong sense of identity. The dwarf couldn’t have been more wrong about that one! Happy to be free of the Wizenstone, the demon had recklessly overcomplimented him.
Seth waited silently in the damp dimness. Maybe he would stay incarcerated forever. Maybe Ronodin would come for him. Seth wiped his runny nose with the back of his hand. He could finally receive a punishment proportionate to his crimes.
Seth wished he could go back and do everything differently. If he had never dealt with Graulas, never become a shadow charmer, Wyrmroost might still be safe. Agad might be alive. Coulter might be alive. So many people might be alive. As the war went on, it would become impossible to count the lives he had ended and ruined.
Too much had happened. Too much had gone wrong. There was no way to erase it.
Seth could feel the dark power inside, even now. He was sure he could unlock the cell if he desired. How many guards were out there? Could he shade walk past them? Could he get free?
Should he get free?
What if he could repair some of the damage he had caused? Kendra needed help. The world needed help. The dragons were nearing a position where they could win their war. Ronodin had control of the Fairy Realm.
He desperately wanted to help. Even if it killed him.
Then again, what if he found a new way to make things worse?
Seth could sense undead in this dungeon. Feeling outward with his powers, Seth noticed a wraith coming toward him. This was unexpected. The undead here were all locked up. But this wraith was advancing down the hall toward his cell.
The wraith moved into view and stopped in front of his cell, gazing at Seth through the bars. The temperature in the chilly cell dropped noticeably.
Greetings, Seth Sorenson, the wraith communicated.
“How do you know my name?” Seth whispered.
The Singing Sisters sent me to find you, the wraith conveyed.
“Whiner?” Seth asked. “Is that you?”
You called me that when you delivered me to them.
“Are you still cold?”
Always, Whiner replied. But the Sisters rehabilitated me.
“You’re more articulate,” Seth whispered.
The Sisters request the favor you owe them, Whiner expressed.
Seth could not help laughing. “Really? Now? I’m kind of in jail.”
I’m here to get you out, Whiner said.
“Has anyone told the Singing Sisters that the world is ending?” Seth asked.
If you do not comply, they will deploy the knife, Whiner warned.
“It will hunt me down and kill me,” Seth said. “I know.”
They sent this to help you fulfill their request, Whiner said, holding out a sword.
Seth sat forward. “Vasilis? Really?”
If you will fulfill their request, Whiner said.
Seth knew the power of that sword. “What do they ask?”
The Sisters want you to gather all fragments of the Ethergem and bring the pieces to them.
Seth considered what that would include: the broken Wizenstone, the stone from the crown of the Giant Queen, the stone from the crown of the Dragon King, the stone from the crown of the Demon King, and the Ethershard from Stratos. “Is that all?” Seth asked.
That is all, Whiner replied.
Although Seth had beaten the odds by accomplishing difficult missions, some aspects of this request seemed truly impossible to fulfill. Seth chuckled darkly.
The Sisters need an answer, Whiner pressed.
“All right,” Seth said, rising. “Give me the sword.”
Whiner handed the weapon through the bars. When Seth grabbed the hilt, vitality and warmth flooded into him. His mind felt sharper, his purpose clear.
The blade glowed a red so deep it was almost black. With two quick strokes, bars clattered to the floor, and Seth had a way out of his cell.
Acknowledgments
Book four in a five-volume series is a tough one. The books in the series I write tend to get thicker and more complex as the story goes on, and Champion of the Titan Games was no exception. It took a lot of effort to create this installment and get it ready for readers, and I owe thanks to many people.
The key woman on this project was my wife, Erlyn. She was right there with me as I conceptualized the book, was the first person to edit every chapter, and helped with polishing as
