World Serpent Arcanist (Frith Chronicles Book 5) by Shami Stovall

Author:Shami Stovall [Stovall, Shami]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Capital Station Books
Published: 2020-12-09T16:00:00+00:00

32

Guard Duty

“I don’t think you understand,” I said, slow and careful in an attempt to pick the right words. “Villains of the highest order are trying to bond with the world serpent. If they do, thousands of people will have their lives ruined—or worse. Tyranny will reign supreme.”

Ryker listened, but his despondent expression remained.

“If you really want to save people, you’ll bond with the world serpent and prevent those villains from bonding with other god-creatures,” I said as I straightened my posture. “That’s how you can honor the people of Ruma who died today. You have to stay the course—until the bitter end. Or else their deaths really will be in vain.”

“But I’m not someone,” Ryker said, an odd emphasis on the word. He gritted his teeth, ran both hands through his hair like a nervous tic, and then faced the wall, his shoulders bunched. “I’m not a famous swashbuckler or skilled soldier or a talented officer—there had to be a mistake. The sybil arcanists who predicted my bonding must have been wrong… or perhaps they… overlooked someone…”

His voice grew quieter and more distant until I eventually couldn’t hear it at all.

The shadows around the lantern flickered. Luthair shifted so that I could eventually see his faint outline in the darkness at the foot of the bed.

“My arcanist,” he whispered.

But Luthair didn’t need to say anything else. I knew what he was suggesting.

“Ryker,” I said, crossing my arms. “If you had to describe the person who would become the world serpent arcanist, what kinds of qualities would they have?’

“They’d be capable, and determined, and honorable,” Ryker replied immediately. He turned back to face me, a sigh at the edge of his breath. “They’d be experienced and trustworthy and willing to do whatever it takes.”

“You’re still young.”

“That’s the problem,” he snapped.

I shook my head. “You don’t understand. You’re young enough that you still have time to write your life story. You can be all those things. You just need time and tenacity.”

“But the world serpent arcanist has to fight the Second Ascension!” Ryker waved an arm in dramatic fashion. “That’s not me. It never has been.”

“The Frith Guild will remain by your side. If you want, you can become everything you just described. But again, you must stay the course. You have to be strong when it seems impossible.”

I didn’t know if I sounded like Master Zelfree or Gravekeeper William, but they were the ones I pictured when I imagined the words in my head. They always had wisdom when I needed it, and if Ryker needed advice, I had to be there for him. The fate of the world could depend on how determined Ryker was in a single moment of adversity, and I couldn’t allow him to falter.

“You’re right,” Ryker muttered. He exhaled and then took a seat on the side of his bed, his body tense, his hands unsteady. “It’s too late to turn back now. I have to… bond with the world serpent no matter what.”

I nodded.

Ryker glanced up at me, his dark eyes practically a mirror of my own.

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