GIDEON
GIDEON CROUCHED AGAINST THE ruined temple wall, trying not to get drenched by the rain. From here, he had a clear view of the valley below. Or he would have, if the storm hadn’t moved in. Now, to see anything inside the summoning stones, he had to squint through the gloom.
Yonder, the hunting hound who’d led him to this desecrated place, lay in the dirt nearby, lifting his head every once in a while to stare into the shadows, making Gideon hope this wasn’t a trap set for him.
Yonder had tracked Rune to this valley using the scent of her blood, which was still smeared on Gideon’s jacket from her protective spell.
Gideon had watched Aurelia and Rune cast the spell a few hours ago, then retreat to a small cave to wait. Ever since, the summoning circle had remained empty—except for the tiny crimson moth glowing at its center, declaring Rune’s spell active.
A headache was starting in Gideon’s temples, either from the storm’s pressure or from straining so hard to see. He was just leaning back to give his eyes a rest when movement at the circle’s edge jolted him forward.
If not for the white glow, he might have missed her.
Rune stepped into the circle. From her slow, lumbering steps, she seemed to be sleepwalking—or perhaps in some kind of trance. And all around her, in a protective, luminous circle, hundreds of white lights glowed like fireflies.
Gideon frowned, watching as she climbed onto the flat stone at the center of the summoning circle and lay down on its mossy surface. There, she curled onto her side and fell still, her hair fanning out around her.
One by one, the glimmering lights settled all over her body, glowing brighter and brighter. Until she was more glow than girl.
Her signature—the blood-red moth fluttering above her—flared like a simmering coal, and abruptly went out. Declaring the spell finished.
The white glow vanished, leaving Rune alone in the dark and rain. All at once, a horrifying realization struck.
“Merciful Ancients,” Gideon whispered, his heart squeezing painfully. Rune was the missing heir.
