The Kindred's Curse Saga, #1
Spark of the Everflame
by Penn Cole
Contents
Chapter 28
Overview
Diem wakes in the palace after the armory collapse and finds Luther has kept vigil over Diem through the night. Their guarded relationship softens as Luther reveals concern for Diem, discusses Sorae’s impending transfer of loyalty, and asks Diem to assess the dying King Ulther.
The chapter also sharpens the political stakes: Ulther is near death, Luther is expected to inherit the Crown, and Diem directly challenges the morality of laws that sacrifice innocent children. The fragile intimacy between Diem and Luther fractures when Luther reveals knowledge of the Guardians and their role in the attack, prompting Diem to confront Luther about Auralie’s disappearance before an interruption leaves Diem alone with the King.
Summary
Diem wakes in an unfamiliar, luxurious palace bed after the armory collapse. Luther has stayed beside her all night, his hand near hers, and explains that he brought her back to the palace after she was knocked unconscious. Diem panics over the guards she tried to save, but Luther reassures her that Perthe and the other trapped guard survived, though one injured woman did not.
As Diem recovers, Sorae, King Ulther’s gryvern, cries outside. Luther explains that Sorae is unsettled because Ulther is close to death and the gryvern will soon be magically bound to a new Crown. Diem compares Sorae’s forced service to her own inherited obligation to serve the Crown, creating tension between Diem and Luther.
Diem discovers that Luther’s female cousin cleaned and dressed her after the fire, and Luther reveals he sent word to Diem’s family that Diem was safe at the palace. Luther asks Diem to look briefly at King Ulther, whose condition has worsened. Diem reluctantly agrees, though Diem knows she has been forbidden from treating palace patients.
In the King’s suite, Diem is drawn toward Sorae, but Luther pulls Diem back and warns that only the King could stop Sorae if Sorae attacked. The moment heightens the unresolved physical and emotional tension between Diem and Luther. Diem then examines Ulther and confirms that the King is near death and beyond meaningful help from Diem or Maura.
While sitting with Ulther, Luther describes Ulther as a father figure who showed Luther rare kindness, though Luther admits they did not always agree. Diem asks what kind of king Luther intends to become, and Luther presses Diem for honesty about Ulther’s rule. Diem condemns laws that kill children because of their parentage, and Luther listens without dismissing her.
The fragile trust breaks when Luther asks what Diem was really seeking during her last palace visit and whether it was for the Guardians. Luther says he knows the Guardians exist and that the Guardians were behind the armory attack. Diem responds by demanding to know what happened to Auralie, accusing Luther of involvement in Auralie’s disappearance. Before Luther answers, guards summon Luther away, and Luther leaves Diem alone with the dying King, saying Luther is trusting Diem not to run.
Who Appears
- Diem BellatorWakes in the palace, examines Ulther, challenges Luther, and demands answers about Auralie.
- Luther CorboisKeeps vigil over Diem, reveals Ulther is dying, and confronts Diem about the Guardians.
- King Ulther CorboisDying King of Lumnos; unconscious patient whose impending death will trigger succession.
- SoraeUlther’s gryvern, agitated by the coming transfer of magical loyalty to a new Crown.
- PertheInjured guard Diem saved; reported alive and sent to Fortos for treatment.
- Palace guardsWatch the royal suite, react warily to Diem, and summon Luther away.