The Kindred's Curse Saga, #3
Heat of the Everflame
by Penn Cole
Contents
Chapter 5
Overview
Sorae and Prince Luther arrive to rescue Diem, but Cordellia reveals a prepared trap: godstone-tipped arrows and a ballista aimed to kill the gryvern. Sorae’s flames free Diem and maim Vance. Diem expends her fading godhood to destroy the first bolt, then orders Sorae to evacuate the unpowered Luther as a second bolt fires, leaving Diem collapsing and the outcome uncertain.
Summary
Sorae, Diem’s bonded gryvern, approaches, carrying Prince Luther Corbois. Diem’s hope surges, but Cordellia calmly orders a prepared defense: archers with godstone-tipped arrows and a massive ballista. Vance and his men drag Diem to chain her as visible bait to force Sorae to land.
Sorae attacks with sapphire dragonfyre, scattering Guardians and melting Diem’s shackles; Vance’s refusal to flee costs him an arm. Luther dismounts to reach Diem but is pinned by arrows. Diem realizes Luther, a Lumnos Descended, is powerless in Arboros without a Crown, explaining his restraint.
Cordellia orders the ballista fired at Sorae’s heart. With only a flicker of godhood left, Diem instinctively annihilates the first godstone bolt to ash, then collapses from the effort. As Guardians reload, Luther charges through the volley and is struck by arrows.
Knowing she cannot stop a second shot, Diem commands Sorae to seize Luther and flee. Despite Luther’s protest, Sorae lifts him skyward, deflecting arrows in her downdraft. Cordellia orders the second bolt launched toward the escaping pair. Exhausted and spent of magic, Diem fades, last seeing the godstone bolt streaking after Sorae and Luther.
Who Appears
- Diem BellatorQueen and narrator; used dwindling godhood to ash a godstone bolt, then sent Sorae to evacuate Luther, collapsing from exhaustion.
- SoraeDiem’s gryvern; rescues Diem with dragonfyre, melts chains, maims Vance, then airlifts Luther under command while a second bolt is launched.
- Prince Luther CorboisArrives to save Diem; powerless in Arboros, shields against godstone arrows, wounded, and extracted by Sorae despite his protests.
- CordelliaGuardian leader; orchestrates the trap, commands archers and ballista with godstone bolts, prioritizing slaying Sorae to neutralize Diem.
- VanceGuardian who harvested Diem’s blood; tries chaining her, refuses to flee, and loses an arm to Sorae’s fire.