Chapter 26

Zevander is alerted by Ravezio that a royal guard has arrived with urgent news: a mortal woman has crossed into Aethyria and was seized by The Imperial Guards. She has been taken not to the royal dungeons, but to Bonesguard, a keep infamous for housing violent criminals and abuses against female prisoners.

Refusing Ravezio’s offer to accompany him, Zevander first descends to the crypt dungeons to consult Dolion, the mage he keeps imprisoned in relative comfort. Dolion explains that an easy crossing through the Umbravale signals the woman is a descendant of the seven bloodlines and warns that the king would execute her if discovered.

Zevander questions the value and risk of involving himself, fearing magehood attention and her apparent resistance to his power. Dolion insists she must be protected as the last of her kind, accusing Zevander of complicity in mortalicide if he does nothing.

To verify her lineage, Zevander produces a tiny bloodstone sample he collected from the archway. Dolion performs an alchemical test that burns away the stone and reveals a suspended glyph: the death symbol of the Corvikae, indicating her bloodline. This evidence persuades Dolion to demand she be brought to Eidolon for protection and examination of a likely sigil on her flesh.

Dolion promises renewed efforts to temper Zevander’s sablefyre curse if Zevander retrieves the woman. Zevander agrees in principle, threatening Dolion with eternal suffering if he fails, and prepares to head to Bonesguard.