Contents
Chapter 25 — Grim
Overview
Grim retraces Isla’s efforts to access the portal, learning from the augur that Cronan’s world nullifies power and requires a protective skyre. Guided by a vision relayed from the silver seer, Grim realizes he must inscribe Cronan’s skyre using Isla’s remaining feather and sets out to do so.
Summary
Grim resolves to reopen the portal by retracing Isla’s path. He searches the winter palace and finds Isla’s book of skyres, discovering its enchanted, fragmentary symbols are indecipherable and nearly losing patience.
Seeking answers, Grim confronts the augur, who recalls Grim once feared he was cursed for loving Isla. The augur taunts that Isla would never have needed to leave if not for Grim, but then provides critical guidance: on Cronan’s world, Cronan’s void-like nature strips power, stronger than shademade metal. To keep his abilities, Grim will need a skyre—Cronan’s own—carved into his skin with a powerful implement.
When Grim demands the source, the augur cites the “silver girl who sees,” whose wordless visions some can hear. The augur cannot identify Cronan’s skyre but insists Grim, sharing Cronan’s blood, may discern it and should use the same tool Isla did—not the god-bone.
Realizing Isla left behind the feather with the sparkling tip, Grim releases the augur, returns to the winter palace, and retrieves the feather, preparing to inscribe the necessary skyre to survive Cronan’s void and reach Isla.
Who Appears
- GrimDetermined to reach Isla; studies skyres, confronts the augur, learns Cronan is a void, retrieves Isla’s feather to inscribe a skyre.
- The AugurOracle-like creature who reveals Cronan’s void power and advises Grim to carve Cronan’s skyre using a powerful implement.
- IslaAbsent but central; her prior research and left-behind feather guide Grim’s plan to survive Cronan’s world.
- CronanAntagonist described as a void who strips power; possesses a secret skyre Grim must emulate.
- The Silver GirlSilent seer whose visions inform the augur about how to withstand Cronan’s void.