The Kindred's Curse Saga, #3
Heat of the Everflame
by Penn Cole
Contents
Chapter 75
Overview
After claiming Umbros’s Crown, Diem is pardoned—but Doriel seizes Teller to force a unanimous revision of the Forging. The new spell binds Diem to Coeurîle and kills any non-Crown on or over the island after sunset.
Sorae rescues Teller and Luther while Perthe dies. As Diem resolves to endure, Ignios ambushes and fatally stabs her.
Summary
In the Temple chaos after Umbros’s death, Diem realizes she now bears four Crowns and has secured the sixth vote, pardoning her and her mother. The Crowns argue, Ignios panics over Yrselle’s godstone scratch, and Doriel reveals a supposed cure. Diem’s fury surges, but Doriel unveils leverage: Teller is captured at swordpoint.
Doriel proposes revising the Forging. Under the threat to Teller, the Crowns vote, and Diem is compelled to participate. Arboros subtly signals a route for the Guardians to escape via the southern port. The ritual binds Diem to Coeurîle and decrees that, after sunset, any non-Crown on or over the island will die. Doriel denies the cell when Diem begs, then relents, ordering Diem to remain in the Temple while Teller is escorted away.
Diem warns the Guardians to flee south. Then Teller, Luther, and Perthe break from the brush, chased by Doriel’s guards. With sunset imminent, Sorae appears. At Diem’s order, Sorae diverts to save the men: Perthe and Luther launch Teller to Sorae’s talon, Teller catches Luther, and Perthe falls back.
The final light vanishes; the lethal pulse sweeps the island, killing Perthe. Sorae carries Teller and Luther to safety beyond the border. Grieving yet relieved, Diem vows to survive and reunite with Luther.
In that moment, Ignios strikes from behind, driving a black blade through Diem’s heart. He gloats that fire wins as Diem collapses, fading into a warm, uncanny calm.
Who Appears
- Diem BellatorProtagonist; gains a fourth Crown, is coerced into revising the Forging, bound to Coeurîle, and is stabbed through the heart by Ignios.
- Doriel (Sophos Crown)Manipulates the vote by taking Teller hostage; engineers the Forging revision; promises Teller’s safety; prioritizes realm security over Diem’s freedom.
- Teller BellatorDiem’s brother; held hostage to force Diem’s compliance; later helps save Luther during Sorae’s rescue.
- LutherDiem’s lover; refuses to abandon her, then escapes on Sorae with Teller’s help moments before the lethal pulse.
- IgniosFire Crown; panics over godstone poisoning; later ambushes Diem and fatally stabs her, boasting of victory.
- PertheLoyal guard; aids the rescue by launching Teller; remains behind and dies when the sunset ward activates.
- SoraeDiem’s gryvern; arrives just in time to extract Teller and Luther, then departs beyond the island’s lethal boundary.
- ArborosReluctant voter; silently signals an escape route for the Guardians to the southern port; agrees to the revision under pressure.
- MerosCrown who votes in the ritual; shows uncertain resignation amid Doriel’s coercion and Ignios’s threats.
- FaunosImpatient Crown; agrees to Doriel’s proposal to end the standoff, contributing to the unanimous revision.
- Yrselle (Umbros)Recently slain; her godstone-scratched nails poison Ignios, catalyzing tension at the Temple.