The Broken Blades Trilogy, #3
Three Shattered Souls
by Mai Corland
Contents
Chapter Seventy-Nine
Overview
Sora, chained on Seok’s flagship, awaits execution until Aeri arrives merged with the Dragon Lord, riding a samroc. Aeri compels mass surrender, seizes Seok, and frees Sora, forging a crown from Sora’s chains. As Aeri fades, she names Sora the Dragon Queen of Yusan. Aeri vanishes; all kneel to Sora.
Summary
Sora, chained on Seok’s ship at Tamneki Harbor, despairs as Weian forces take the beach. Gambria approaches, revealing she worked for Seok to keep Sora out of Idle, and covertly slips Sora a switchblade meant for Seok. Seok orders his guard Geon to execute Sora at landfall, prompting Sora to ready an attack.
A fiery omen erupts: a golden figure rises from Gaya and a red comet falls. A colossal black samroc appears, impervious to arrows. Aeri, blazing with divine power, rides it and speaks with a god’s voice, commanding surrender; resisters erupt in flames across ships and shore. The samroc snatches Seok and drops him behind Gayan lines, abruptly ending his control.
Aeri lands before Sora, frees her with a gesture, and forges Sora’s chains into a ruby crown—the crown of Yusan—moving to place it on Sora’s head. Sora resists, but Aeri insists only Sora can change the realm. Realizing Aeri is sacrificing herself as the Dragon Lord, Sora confesses love as Aeri fades.
Aeri’s final words promise she will remain in Sora’s heart before she vanishes. Silence falls over the fleets. Tiyung emerges, hailing Sora as the first Dragon Queen of Yusan. Witnessing bowing soldiers across the waters, Sora lifts her head, accepting the burden Aeri has given her.
Who Appears
- SoraNarrator; captive on Seok’s ship; nearly executed; freed by Aeri; refuses then inherits rule as Dragon Queen.
- AeriAscends as the Dragon Lord, forces surrender, captures Seok, frees Sora, forges a crown, names Sora queen, then vanishes.
- SeokAntagonist commander; orders Sora’s death; seized by the samroc and dropped behind enemy lines.
- TiyungImprisoned below deck; survives; publicly hails Sora as the first Dragon Queen.
- GambriaSeok’s spy who claims to protect Sora from Idle; slips Sora a switchblade to use on Seok.
- GeonSeok’s guard ordered to kill Sora at landfall.
- SamrocMythic black bird with steel-like feathers; carries Aeri; captures and drops Seok.