Chapter 19

Erebus trains Briana in a warehouse by sending three aether fox constructs against her, each formed from a different kind of power. Briana uses her root to create shields and barriers, and Erebus praises her ability to form a layered defense before suddenly changing the foxes into stronger bear constructs.

Erebus leaves Briana alone with the constructs after explaining that young Merlins can hold protective constructs for an hour and Kingsmages can last up to six. Briana struggles to maintain her barrier as the bears pound against it, repeatedly drawing on her root until exhaustion and panic collapse her focus. At the end, Briana calls on Arthur’s armor, but the bears seem to break through and maul Briana.

The attack stops, and Erebus reveals that the wounds were a mesmer illusion designed to activate when Briana’s reserves failed. Briana lasted four hours and twenty-seven minutes, which impresses Erebus, but the experience leaves Briana shaken because the illusion felt completely real. Erebus immediately prepares another round with wolf constructs and questions why Briana waited until the end to use Arthur’s power.

When Erebus urges Briana to call on her maternal ancestors, Briana admits that she cannot because she burned her ancestral stream before summoning Erebus at the Northern Chapter. Erebus realizes this means Briana can no longer speak with Vera, Arthur, or any ancestor, blood-walk through their memories, or invite possession. His anger reveals his hidden goal: he wanted Briana to search Arthur’s descendants’ memories for information about the Morgaines, the stolen crown, and someone who could unlock it.

After Erebus condemns Briana for destroying that possibility, he orders her to train again. Briana refuses, calling the exercise torture and saying she cannot trust Erebus to stop when she is unsafe. Erebus does not yet invoke Briana’s debt to force obedience, but the King’s voice emerges as he warns her about shadows; Briana rejects that identity and asks to be taken back.