“How did Zain warn you?” Alex asked. “Darrius said he was nearly dead and could barely talk.”
“Your doctor is extremely skilled.” Roka’s gaze moved to the other side of the clearing, where Fletcher stood hovering around Zain. “He was able to stabilise the effects of the Sarnaph blood— the Hyroa blood—long enough for Zain to find the strength to call up the Valispath. Fletcher was distressed by Zain’s refusal to remain in bed, but he consented so long as he was able to continue his treatment and assist with any injuries you and your friends might have sustained. Darrius and Hunter travelled on the Eternal Path with them, as did the Shadow Walker.”
“I thought the location of Meya was supposed to be a secret to humans?” Alex asked.
Roka shrugged. “Zain was too weak to fight them off, and his urgency to warn us of Aven’s arrival was too great for him to wait any longer.”
“But doesn’t it worry you?”
“Your companions won’t be able to come back without using the Valispath or one of your Library doorways,” Roka reminded her. “And besides, the time may soon be coming when humans are once again aware of our existence.”
“What about Caspar Lennox?” Alex asked. “He disappeared from here without using the Library or the Eternal Path. All he needed was his special shadow magic, or whatever it’s called.”
“Shadow Walkers are an unpredictable race,” Roka said. “Even my people don’t fully understand the scope of their abilities. It’s quite possible that they’ve always been aware of the location of Meya and have just had no interest in our city. We’re not enemies, nor are we allies. We’ve had no need to interact before now—before you, really. And it was clearly you who Caspar Lennox came here for today.”
Alex wasn’t sure what to think about that.
“I have to ask, Alex,” Roka said, his voice strangely hesitant, “I heard you giving your account to the others, but is there anything else you can tell me about Aven’s plans? His whereabouts?”
Alex had omitted to tell the others about her time with Lady Mystique, but the old woman had told her something that Roka probably needed to hear.
“Um, there is something I didn’t mention,” Alex said, and she went on to tell Roka about when she’d first seen Lady Mystique at Raelia during her SAS class. Then she told him about how the Lady had been waiting when the Shadow Ring transported her to the moonlit clearing.
“She said it wouldn’t take long for Aven to become powerful again,” Alex warned. “Apparently there are still many willing Rebels hiding out in the city.”
Roka’s face was grave. “Did she say anything else?”
Alex tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and quietly admitted, “She said I need to learn how to use my Meyarin abilities and that I should begin training with one of your race so that when the time comes, I’ll be ready to fight Aven. She seems to think I might be the only one who actually can fight him. And she gave me this too, but I don’t know what it means.”
She handed the crumpled piece of parchment to Roka and he skimmed the words twice before his golden eyes captured hers, his expression unreadable.
“I’ve heard this prophecy before,” he said, returning the parchment to her. “The translation is disturbingly accurate.”
“It’s a Meyarin prophecy?” Alex asked with surprise, not sure why Lady Mystique would have had it in her possession.
Roka shook his head. “No. I heard it from a Tia Auran in her native tongue. Many, many years ago.”
“What’s a Tia—”
“I’ll have to look into this, Alex,” Roka interrupted, sounding distracted. He blinked and his eyes cleared as he focused on her again. “As to the training your Lady Mystique recommended, I have to say I agree with her.”
Alex met his concerned gaze and whispered, “Roka, I don’t want to fight Aven again.”
She’d said the same thing to Lady Mystique, and just as the old woman’s had done, Roka’s eyes filled with compassion.
“I’ll help you, Alex,” he promised. “I’ll personally make sure you’re ready, in case that time comes. But I also hope your Lady Mystique is mistaken. And I give you my word that I’ll do everything in my power to ensure she is.”
Alex blinked back more tears. She couldn’t keep eye contact with him without breaking down again, so she averted her gaze.
“Do you know why this place is called Raelia?” Roka asked her.
Alex kept her eyes on the snowy ground and shook her head.
“This is the place where my father stood millennia ago and declared Aven’s sentence of banishment. My brother had already disappeared after trying to murder us, but my father chose to make known the consequences of his betrayal, if only so the Garseth—Aven’s Rebels—would know the fate that awaited them. My father called this place ‘Raelia’ as a reminder to us all.”
He reached out for her and tilted her head up until she was forced to look into his eyes. “Life is full of crossroads, Alex. Full of choices. There are many paths we can take. It’s up to us to decide which ones lead in the right direction.”
Despite her resolve, she couldn’t stop the fresh tears that slid down her cheeks. “I don’t know what to do, Roka.”
“Yes, you do,” he told her gently. He placed a hand against his heart and said, “Your answer is here.” Then he pointed towards the other side of the clearing. “And your answer is there.”
She turned and saw her friends clinging to each other as they mourned the fate of their friend.
“Go to them, Alex,” Roka said. “Everything else can wait. They need you now.”
When Alex nodded, he pulled her into a warm embrace, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close. A long moment passed before he released her, promising to be in touch soon so she could begin her training.
As she began to walk away, Roka said, “Remember, your friend isn’t lost to you yet. Don’t grieve as if he is.”
Alex knew he was right. And she knew that if she was going to save Jordan, she needed to be strong enough to fight for him, as Caspar Lennox had said. Maybe to fight against him again. And when the time came, she would make sure she was ready.
With determined strides, Alex walked across the clearing to rejoin her friends. “It’s time for us to leave.”
“Alex, I’m not sure—” Darrius started to say, but she cut him off.
“We’re going, Darrius,” she said. “We’re on holidays and we’re going to Woodhaven as planned.”
D.C. and Bear looked at her with surprise, as though they’d thought their situation had changed now that Jordan was no longer with them. But Alex was going to make sure everything remained as normal as possible until their friend returned to them.
Darrius eyed her appraisingly, observing her unwavering expression. He pulled three military ITDs out of his pocket along with three Bubblers. “Take these with you. The wards are activated now,” he said.
Alex and her friends took the objects, although she knew they would have no need of them now that Aven had what he wanted.