The Kindred's Curse Saga, #3
Heat of the Everflame
by Penn Cole
Contents
Chapter 46
Overview
Diem returns to the palace and learns Eleanor is quietly building support, though rescuing Diem’s mother may cost allies. Alixe reveals raw godstone formed where Diem’s magic touched, proposing impenetrable shields. At the armory, Remis’s forces block access, citing an incomplete coronation. Diem shows limited force and realizes the weakening borders stem from the unfinished Forging, raising the stakes for a swift, dangerous coronation—or her removal.
Summary
Diem walks the palace with Eleanor, conflicted that the royal seat now feels like home while mortals still suffer in Mortal City. Eleanor reports she is recruiting younger Descended allies who see the system as unjust; House Ghislaine blames House Hanoverre for the Challenging. Eleanor warns that freeing Diem’s imprisoned mother could cost crucial support, but Diem refuses to abandon her.
Alixe arrives as High General and shares a discovery: black rocks from the site of Diem’s uncontrolled explosion are raw godstone formed wherever Diem’s magic touched. Though wary of making weapons, Diem agrees to attempt shields, since forged godstone is impenetrable and repels magic. They head to the armory to test the process and gather gear for Diem’s Fortos mission.
At the armory, they find it heavily guarded by Lumnos Royal Guard and Emarion Army soldiers. A guard blocks them under orders from Regent Remis, supported by the Fortos King’s claim that Diem’s coronation is incomplete. Diem realizes the final blood-drop from the Montios King never occurred before the Guardians’ attack, meaning the Forging was not renewed.
Refusing to spill blood, Diem restrains a group of taunting soldiers with light-tendrils, then releases them as a warning. Alixe deduces the deteriorating border magic results from the unfinished coronation ritual. Diem recognizes the urgency: enemies could force a swift completion—or eliminate her to install a successor.
Who Appears
- DiemQueen-in-waiting; balances mercy and power, plans Fortos rescue; learns her magic made raw godstone; asserts authority despite incomplete coronation.
- AlixeNew High General; secures raw godstone from Diem’s blast site; proposes forging shields; challenges guards and analyzes the broken Forging.
- EleanorCourt ally; cultivates support among younger Descended and House Ghislaine; warns rescuing Diem’s mother could cost political backing.
- Werrol CorboisRoyal Guard who blocks armory access under Remis’s orders; stands firm despite fearing Diem’s power.
- Regent RemisOffstage antagonist; orders the armory sealed and leverages Diem’s incomplete coronation to undermine her authority.
- King of FortosOffstage; asserts Diem’s coronation was incomplete, bolstering Remis’s challenge to her authority.