Chapter 189

Zehava gasped audibly at Snowcloud’s words . “You can heal the Patriarch’s injuries?”

“He wasn’t injured,” Snowcloud said, her voice grave . “He was poisoned, and I have the antidote . “

A deep frown appeared on Zehava’s forehead . “Poisoned? But I thought…”

“It’s true,” Rockblaze interrupted her . “The Society has kept it quiet, because the poisoning of a Patriarch means powerful Shadowflame members were involved . And if it gets out that there are traitors among our leaders, it could tear the Society apart . ” He furrowed his brow and looked at Snowcloud . “But you say you have an antidote? How confident are you that it will work?”

“Very confident,” Snowcloud said . “Before she disappeared, my mother figured out the type of poison that was used against Grandfather . I recreated that poison, then used an adult dragon to create the antidote . “

There was a hint of surprise in Rockblaze’s eyes as he heard his, but he did not question Snowcloud’s words . Instead, his expression turned thoughtful, and he said, “Then, assuming you made the poison correctly, the antidote should work . I take it you already consumed the dragon’s blood yourself?”

“I did,” Snowcloud replied plainly .

“Then we have to get you back to the Patriarch alive, no matter the cost . “

Rockblaze spoke with such resolve that it briefly left Arran confused . From the zealous look in the man’s eyes, it almost seemed like he would sacrifice his own life to achieve their goal .

But then, slowly, Arran began to understand the situation — both why Snowcloud had shared her secrets so openly and why Rockblaze responded with such fervor .

Arran’s own ties to the Shadowflame Society were weak at best . While he would risk his life to protect Snowcloud, that was because he considered her a friend . The Society, however, he considered little more than a means to an end .

He needed a place to grow stronger, and the Shadowflame Society offered him such a place . But beyond that, the Society’s fortunes mattered little to him — if it fell today, he would leave in search of an alternative tomorrow .

Yet for someone who truly considered the Shadowflame Society his home, things would be different . Someone like that would feel true loyalty to the Society — the kind of loyalty for which they would give their life if needed .

And that kind of loyalty, Arran realized, was something the Seventh Valley Matriarch would absolutely require in a person she sent to root out traitors .

He could not help but be impressed by Snowcloud’s quick assessment of the situation . Had it been him, he would have kept the secret — and missed the opportunity of gaining Rockblaze’s absolute allegiance .

While Arran quietly pondered the situation, the others continued their discussion .

“We have to bring her back,” Zehava agreed, though a hint of panic could still be seen in her eyes . “But how? Even if we make it out of the region, the Iron Mountain has an entire army blocking the way into the Sixth Valley . And if even Elder Rahan is a traitor, we can’t trust anyone . “

Rockblaze answered at once . “We should travel to the Seventh Valley . It will add a few months to our journey, and the northern borderlands are dangerous, but we will be able to avoid the Iron Mountain traitors . And once we reach the Seventh Valley, we will have the Matriarch’s full support . “

“We can’t,” Snowcloud said . “Before I left the Valley, Grandfather was already nearing his end . That’s why I left before I was fully prepared — I couldn’t wait any longer . Even now, I worry that I won’t reach him in time . “

“Then perhaps we should—” Rockblaze began .

“There are more pressing matters,” Arran interrupted him . While the others talked, he had taken the dead adept’s void bag, and as he did so, an unwelcome glint had caught his eye . “They already know what happened here . “

He held up the Lifesense Amulet he’d found on the adept’s body, then quickly put it in the void bag .

Rockblaze let out a vicious curse, then turned toward the others . “My guess is that one of the Masters in the region has the other part . That means we only have a few days . ” A look of resignation appeared in his eyes . “The three of you have to flee . I will try to delay them as long as I can, but against a Master…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but it was clear that he expected his life would only buy them a brief respite .

“Don’t go chasing martyrdom just yet,” Arran said . “Snowcloud, how far are we from Uvar?”

At those words, her eyes widened and her gloomy expression disappeared in an instant . “A week’s travel . Less if we hurry . “

“Uvar?” Rockblaze asked with a frown, and Zehava looked equally nonplussed .

“It’s an Eidaran city,” Arran explained . “Or the ruins of one, more accurately . And those ruins have something that might yet save us — even from a Master . “

Rockblaze did not seem wholly convinced, but after a moment, he sighed . “Then we’ll leave immediately . If these ruins offer even a slight chance of escape, it’s our best choice . “

“But what about the other search parties?” Zehava said . “There are dozens of them in the region, and we can’t avoid them all . “

“The search parties are made up of novices and recruits, and I doubt any of them know what’s really happening,” Rockblaze said . “If we meet any, we’ll tell them the truth . And if they try to stop us…”

Although he didn’t finish the sentence, it was obvious what he was thinking . If any of the Iron Mountain search parties tried to stop them, he would show them no mercy .

“But encountering them could be good fortune for us,” Rockblaze continued . “I am not the only adept the Matriarch sent — there are at least half a dozen others just among the search parties, and more in the army at the border . “

Snowcloud’s eyes narrowed when she heard this . “That many? But then… your Matriarch isn’t just investigating the traitors, is she?”

Rockblaze hesitated before speaking . Then, in a cold voice, he said, “It’s better to have the Sixth Valley fall than to risk it being ruled by traitors . “

“She’s planning to attack the Sixth Valley?!” Outrage instantly appeared on Snowcloud’s face, and her voice rose in anger as she spoke . “She wants to start a war between the Valleys?!”

“Only if there is no other way . ” Rockblaze’s expression did not change as he spoke, but Arran thought he saw a trace of pain in the man’s eyes .

“No other way? You’re talking about the death of thousands! Forget the Sixth Valley — the Seventh Valley would also be decimated in a war like that! The entire Shadowflame Society would be weakened for centuries!”

“It’s not something she wants, but—”

“Both of you, shut up,” Arran interrupted them . “There’s a Master on the way to kill us . We have to leave, right now . “

A brief flash of anger appeared in Rockblaze’s eyes at the interruption, but it faded as quickly as it had come . “You’re right . Let’s go . “

They set off without any further delay, running at a pace that stretched the limit of what Snowcloud and Zehava could bear .

As they ran, Arran glanced at Rockblaze . While he had little doubt about the adept’s loyalty to the Shadowflame Society, the man’s earlier revelations caused him some concern — and not just for the Sixth Valley, but also for their small group .