Chapter 73

With Aleysia, Corwin, and Erithanya watching from a clearing below the summit, Maevyth struggles to steady her panic and learn the glove that links her to Raivox. Erithanya explains the soul connection and urges Maevyth to mount. Maevyth tests mental commands; Raivox obeys small tasks but balks at flying to The Rotting Tree, despite Maevyth’s urgent need to find Zev.

When Maevyth insists on returning to Zev’s home, Raivox finally launches skyward and delivers her not to The Rotting Tree, but to a precarious ledge and shallow cave—his nest. Inside a woven wall of branches and bones, Maevyth discovers two black-scaled eggs and realizes Raivox is a father. Raivox immediately departs, leaving her alone to guard the clutch.

As time drags and fear for Zev mounts, an enormous lizard appears, seizing an egg in its cheek. Maevyth drives it back with a bone whip and Aeryz, but the creature snares her throat with its tongue and drags her toward its maw. Maevyth grips the tongue and summons the death glyph, disintegrating flesh and scales to dust and saving the eggs.

The victory costs her footing. Reeling on the exposed ledge, Maevyth stumbles and falls over the mountain’s edge, her defense of Raivox’s brood ending in a sudden plunge.