The Broken Blades Trilogy, #3
Three Shattered Souls
by Mai Corland
Contents
Chapter Sixty-Five
Overview
In the aftermath of Joon’s death, Aeri stops breathing until Mikail sets the Immortal Crown on her, reviving and fusing it to her. Mikail bonds the Water Scepter and Flaming Sword, fails to command the sea, and orders a water escape. From the rowboat, he ignites the Weian warship, releasing allies’ souls while condemning Joon by sinking his head.
Summary
On Joon’s deck, Mikail mourns Hana’s death as Royo realizes Aeri has stopped breathing. With no time to spare, Mikail sets the Immortal Crown on Aeri; it fuses to her and restores her breathing, earning Royo’s trust.
Mikail takes the Water Scepter and beheads Joon, seizing the Flaming Sword. Both relics liquefy and bind to his arms, surging power through him. With Duval and wounded Teo as the last fighters, he plans to burn the ship after escape.
They exit to the deck but Mikail cannot command the sea from that height. Guards close in, so Mikail orders a jump. Wan rows near; the group scrambles aboard amid Royo’s panic over a possible iku in the water.
From the rowboat, the fused sword hums and Mikail wills fire; the Weian warship erupts into flames. The blaze releases the souls of Fremo, Hana, and even Calier, while the trapped men below scream as the ship burns. Mikail denies Joon release, having dropped the severed head into the sea.
Who Appears
- MikailLeader and POV; revives Aeri with the Crown, bonds two relics, orders escape, and burns the warship.
- AeriUnconscious and not breathing; revived when the Immortal Crown fuses to her forehead.
- RoyoCradles Aeri, challenges Mikail, then trusts him; helps carry her and scrambles into the rowboat.
- WanRows the boat in for rescue; disputes Royo about an iku; helps haul survivors aboard.
- TeoWounded but fighting; supports the escape and helps get Aeri into the rowboat.
- DuvalOne of the last fighters; awkwardly fires a crossbow and assists the retreat.
- JoonDead tyrant; beheaded by Mikail, his head sunk to deny soul release.
- HanaAlready dead; her soul is released when the burning ship becomes a pyre.
- CalierTraitor’s corpse aboard; his soul is released with the ship’s burning.
- FremoFallen ally; his soul is released as the warship burns.