Moonfall, #2
The Ballad of Falling Dragons
by Sarah A. Parker
Contents
Chapter 74
Overview
Ahvi’s ritual ignites, shredding Raeve until she chooses life and seals blood to the Book, restoring her. The success draws an Ath ambush led by Sereme, who claims long manipulation, seizes the Book, and threatens Kyzari to force compliance. Kaan drinks a numbing potion, is shackled, and taken.
Summary
The runes flare as Ahvi’s unbinding begins, and Raeve convulses, her body wasting to a skeletal state while Kaan is held back by the active circle. Bleeding from a stab wound and barely conscious, Raeve deteriorates until Ahvi completes the rune ring with his own blood and demands her will to live.
Raeve meets Kaan’s eyes, declares she wants to live, and presses bloody fingers to the Book of Voyd. A wave of glacial light erupts; when it fades, Raeve appears dead. Kaan panics until her heartbeat returns and her body rapidly restores, signaling the ritual’s success.
An invisible force reveals itself: black‑cloaked, beaked Ath emerge and surround them. Sereme steps forward, taunting that she is freed of Raeve and has orchestrated events through torture and prophecy. She sends a lark note and threatens Princess Kyzari’s life to force obedience, while ordering the Book taken.
Kaan bargains for Raeve and Ahvi’s safety, but Sereme insists they need Ahvi to protect The Flourish and that Kaan is the true target. She offers a potion as leverage; Kaan drinks, feeling his bond to Rygun muted and his power dulled. The Ath shackle and hood him as he’s torn from Raeve and Ahvi.
With Raeve unconscious but stabilizing and Ahvi collapsed from blood loss, Sereme’s forces secure the Book. Kaan is struck and blacked out, leaving Raeve and Ahvi vulnerable as Sereme departs with her prize and captive.
Who Appears
- KaanPOV king; protects Raeve, bargains with Sereme, drinks numbing potion, loses access to Rygun’s flame, captured by Ath.
- RaeveEndures brutal unbinding, near death; chooses life, touches the Book, revives; left unconscious but stabilizing.
- AhviConducts the ritual using his blood; instructs Raeve to will life; collapses from exertion; targeted to protect The Flourish.
- SeremeAntagonist leading Ath ambush; claims long torture of Raeve, seizes the Book, threatens Kyzari, orchestrates Kaan’s capture.
- RygunKaan’s dragon; his flame within Kaan is muted by Sereme’s potion, leaving Kaan powerless.
- KyzariKaan’s niece and Raeve’s daughter; her safety is threatened to coerce Kaan’s surrender.