The Broken Blades Trilogy, #3
Three Shattered Souls
by Mai Corland
Contents
Chapter Twenty-Four
Overview
In Rune’s armory, Mikail spars with Gambria to confront her loyalties. He reveals an intercepted letter proving Gambria leaked their location and plans to Quilimar via Khitan’s palace. Acknowledging her divided loyalties, Mikail spares her life but banishes her, hardening his resolve to prioritize Gaya over personal bonds.
Summary
In Rahway’s armory, Mikail spars with Gambria after breakfast, distracted by court revelations and the lingering strain of wielding the Water Scepter. He tests her readiness and temperament, noting her eagerness and concealed dagger. Beneath the match, Mikail aims to probe Gambria’s true loyalties.
Pausing the fight, Mikail asks if Gambria wants to return to Khitan, pointing to her ties to Lyria and the past with Quilimar. Gambria evades and reignites the bout, revealing frustration. Mikail observes her anger-driven mistakes and presses her on whether she truly cares for Gaya or Yusan enough to risk her life.
Mikail then accuses her directly: someone must be feeding the crown information. He produces a letter he found on the intruder from the previous night, which states Rahway holds the ring, sands, and scepter and urges alignment with Count Rune. Gambria is terrified; she claims she never intended to help Yusan and only meant to aid her beloved.
Recognizing her choices as a betrayal of Gaya, Mikail pins her and rejects her justifications. Because of past bonds and Fallador’s feelings, he grants Gambria one chance to flee. He vows that if they cross paths again, he will kill her. Gambria departs with a farewell, and Mikail repudiates any notion of peace, reaffirming his allegiance to Gaya over personal attachments.
Who Appears
- MikailPrince of Gaya and spymaster; confronts Gambria with proof of betrayal and banishes her, reaffirming loyalty to Gaya.
- GambriaFormer ally; exposed by an intercepted letter revealing the group’s location and plans to Quilimar; allowed to flee.
- QuilimarGambria’s past love; intended recipient of her message about the ring, sands, scepter, and aligning with Rune.
- SeokUsurping ruler of Yusan; his spies likely intercepted Gambria’s message, endangering the group.
- FalladorShared past with Mikail and Gambria; Mikail spares Gambria partly out of regard for Fallador.
- RuneHost in Rahway; his armory is the setting for the confrontation; a potential power ally.
- LyriaGambria’s wife in Khitan; cited as a pull on Gambria’s loyalties.