The princess had estimated dozens last night, but by the sounds of it, Navok had collected significantly more than that.
Galdric’s expression was solemn. “At least.”
The number was nothing compared to the size of Evalon’s armies, but there was an immeasurable difference between a soldier armed with a sword and one armed with magic. Even Cresta looked unsettled by the news, and very little fazed her.
“Can any of them do that wind thing that brought you three here so quickly yesterday?” Caldon asked, his body tense. “We’ve been monitoring the borders closely, but if they don’t have to physically walk through them . . . Should we be preparing for an imminent attack?”
Dread churned in Kiva’s stomach, until Galdric shook his head and said, “No, windfunneling is a closely guarded family secret. I’m the only anomaly in my bloodline for generations, but my distant ancestors were air elementals, and they made sure the technique wouldn’t be forgotten. As far as I know, there’s no one else alive with the knowledge of how to do it.”
“Can it be taught?” Ashlyn asked. “This windfunneling?”
“It’ll take Navok’s anomalies a long time to figure it out, without someone instructing them. Years. Decades, even,” Galdric answered.
“Not them,” Ashlyn said. “Can it be taught — to me.”
Galdric sat back in his seat, taking a moment to decide whether his allegiances truly had shifted enough to reveal something so secretive to his once-enemy. But finally he said, “I’ve never tried to teach anyone, but we can give it a go.” He then warned, “It won’t be easy.”
“I’m not afraid of a challenge,” the princess said coolly.
Galdric opened his mouth to reply, but Jaren got in first. If he was upset that his cousin was about to learn a rare magical skill, he hid it well, but Kiva’s heart ached for him all over again.
“There’s something I still don’t understand,” he said, his golden brows scrunched. “Why did Navok agree to Tilda’s deal?” To Ashlyn, Jaren added, “You were right last night — it has to be more than just allying with the rebels, especially if he has these anomalies. Why would he agree to marry a Corentine? And why Kiva specifically, rather than Zuleeka?” His gaze narrowed as he watched Galdric, who was now squirming in his seat. “What aren’t you telling us?”
As they all stared at the ex-rebel leader, he grew visibly distressed, until he finally lost his composure and covered his bruised face with his hands.
“I didn’t want to tell him. I swear I didn’t.” Galdric’s words were muffled by his fingers. “But he figured out I was hiding something, so he hurt me, and I —” He made a sound that was full of regret.
“Tell him what?” Ashlyn’s voice was as hard as her expression.
Galdric removed his fingers, his weathered features wretched as he answered, “About the Hand of the Gods.”
He seemed to be bracing for their reactions, but Kiva looked around the table to find puzzled faces mirroring hers.
Noting this, Galdric explained, “You know about the Eye of the Gods, how it was gifted to Sarana and had the power to take away Torvin’s magic?”
“We’re aware of it, yes,” Jaren said shortly, causing Kiva to wince and sink deeper in her chair.
“Well,” Galdric said, “the ancient gods bestowed another gift, long ago, back when Torvin was still using his magic for good. It was given to both him and Sarana when they were ruling the kingdom together.” He took a deep breath and revealed, “The Eye of the Gods destroys magic. But the Hand of the Gods creates it.”
Kiva turned as still as a statue, her eyes instantly flicking to Jaren.
“What does that mean?” Caldon demanded.
“You’ve never wondered where magic came from? How the early anomalies received their powers?” Galdric asked. “The Hand of the Gods gifted magic to people. Elemental magic, that is. I’ve never heard of anyone outside of the Corentine line having healing magic. Or death magic, for that matter. In all my research, I’ve yet to understand why that —”
“Focus,” Cresta said sharply. “Why did Navok want to know about the Hand of the Gods?”
“I’m assuming you’ve realized by now that he wants to conquer not just Evalon, but all the kingdoms in Wenderall?” Galdric asked, to which he received stiff nods in response. “That’s his goal, but there’s one thing he’s always wanted more than that. It’s another reason why he’s been gathering the anomalies — Navok is obsessed with magic. When he heard a rumor years ago that it might be possible for him to obtain his own powers, he became fixated on finding out how.” Galdric swallowed. “I told you he kept me in Zadria to ensure Tilda would return with Kiva, but that wasn’t the whole truth. He’d also learned that I come from a long line of Torvin sympathizers, with forgotten ancient knowledge having been protected and passed on through my family. I tried — I couldn’t — He —” Galdric pulled himself together and quietly said, “He was going to kill me if I didn’t tell him what I know.”
“What do you know?” Caldon asked, sitting rigidly beside Kiva. “What did you tell him?”
“Everything,” Galdric said miserably. “That’s why he wants Kiva so badly. Because without her, the Hand won’t work. But with her, he has the potential to gain his own magic.”
“Explain that,” Jaren said, his eyes aflame. “A proper explanation this time. Everything Navok knows, we need to know.”
Galdric didn’t hesitate. “The Hand of the Gods was intended to be used by both Torvin and Sarana together, since it was a symbol of their peaceful union and the prosperity they wished not just for their kingdom, but the entirety of Wenderall. As such, it can only work by combining Vallentis magic and Corentine magic — healing magic, that is, not death magic.” His eyes locked with Kiva’s startled ones. “You’re the last remaining Corentine with healing magic. Navok needs you. He also needs Vallentis magic, but” — he waved toward the royals — “there are a few who he could use, including Princess Mirryn — sorry, Queen Mirryn — who is already working with him. But you, Kiva . . .” Galdric’s expression turned remorseful. “Navok heard from your mother that you were powerful, so initially he wanted you for that alone, especially when he learned what Zuleeka could do. But once I told him about the Hand, he wasn’t going to stop until you were his. He still won’t.”
Kiva’s heart was roaring in her chest. “What is the Hand?” Her voice tightened with dread as she added, “Does Navok already have it?”
“No, thank the gods,” Galdric said, causing everyone to relax — slightly. “It’s four rings, each representing an element, and it only works when Vallentis magic is pushed into them — one for earth, one for air, one for fire, and one for water.”
Kiva thought about the amulet she wore beneath her clothes, and how, when it was imbued with magic, it could protect her from the elements. The four rings sounded as if they had similar power-absorbing abilities, with the added benefit of gifting magic, not just protecting from it.