The Kindred's Curse Saga, #3
Heat of the Everflame
by Penn Cole
Contents
Chapter 49
Overview
Diem arms for her mission to free Auralie but finds Sorae ambushed by palace forces after Aemonn betrays her plan. Revealing her all-terremère power to Teller, Diem then destroys the soldiers’ godstone arsenal, helps Luther free Sorae, and escapes. Remis warns of devastating consequences if Diem returns with Auralie.
Summary
Diem returns to empty chambers, arms herself, and thanks Perthe for guarding Teller. Teller admits he hates palace life; to reassure him, Diem reveals she can wield every terremère’s magic and that hostile magic strengthens her. Their talk ends when Diem feels Sorae’s pain through their bond.
Rushing out, Diem is blocked by guards acting on Remis and Alixe’s orders. Faced with soldiers wielding godstone, she hesitates—until Luther arrives and shields her. When soldiers turn on Luther, Diem unleashes her godhood and, to everyone’s shock, annihilates the godstone weapons without harming the men.
Outside, Sorae lies chained and muzzled while Remis asserts regent authority and Alixe enforces restraint. Luther and Alixe clash; Luther wounds her nonlethally. Remis warns that bringing Auralie back will trigger a bloodbath and that loved ones will be targeted if Diem proves unkillable. Diem vows ruin if Teller is harmed.
On Luther’s cue, they cut Sorae’s muzzle. Diem orders bystanders to flee, then shelters Luther and Alixe under ice as Sorae unleashes dragonfyre, melting chains and scorching the grounds. Taran vows to protect Zalaric as Diem departs.
Diem and Luther mount Sorae and escape into the sky, leaving Remis’s warning—and the palace in chaos—behind.
Who Appears
- Diem BellatorQueen of Lumnos; reveals all-terremère magic and immunity, destroys godstone weapons, confronts Remis, frees Sorae, and escapes.
- Luther HanoverreDiem’s Prince; shields her from an army, frees Sorae’s muzzle, nonlethally wounds Alixe, and flees with Diem.
- SoraeGryvern bonded to Diem; captured with chains and muzzle, then unleashed dragonfyre to break free.
- Remis HanoverreRegent; orders Sorae subdued, opposes Diem’s Fortos mission, warns of reprisals, clashes verbally with Diem.
- AlixeHigh General; enforces orders to restrain Sorae, duels Luther, is wounded but spared, not complicit in Diem’s plan.
- Teller BellatorDiem’s brother; resents palace life, witnesses Diem’s all-terremère abilities, fears consequences of her Fortos mission.
- PertheRoyal Guard; pledges loyalty, stays to protect Teller during the attack.
- AemonnDisgraced officer; betrays Diem’s Fortos plan to Remis, then slinks away under censure.
- TaranAlly; denounces Aemonn, vows to protect Zalaric with his life.
- ZalaricYoung Descended; shelters with Taran during the chaos, slated for Jean’s retrieval.
- Fortos Commander (red-eyed)Enemy officer; threatens Diem with godstone, later arrives to accuse her of attacking his battalion.