Chapter 13

cloud tightened above the floating islands, pulling the air itself into its center. Levithali’s bells still rang, each peal striking against the silence that had settled over the Sky Pastures.

She turned and ran, boots slipping on the wet grass. The abandoned sanctuary waited below the palace, its floor already glowing when she burst through the doors. Symbols crawled across the stone, lines of light racing toward the single sentence that had first appeared.

When the wings of the heavens surrender their feathers, the First Signus shall awaken.

Seralyth traced the words with shaking fingers. Another line flickered into view beneath it.

The Blood Gemstone will call its jailors home.

She looked up. Through the broken ceiling, the spiral cloud had begun to descend.[CHAPTER_BREAK]