It was such a rare thing for her mind to be quiet. It wasn’t just the Staff—although that was a major contributor—but also all the people around her, their thoughts and feelings flooding her head. It was so incredibly rare that she was truly alone in her head. She needed to savour it.


    Felit?a sighed.


    It was late and she really should be in bed. But she was glad for the quiet, both in Belone’s palace and in her head. Plus, she had used the time to study The Foretellings of Eleuia, something else she’d had very little time for. It really should be higher on her priorities, and would be if the rest of the world didn’t keep inserting its priorities. But she had spent the last couple hours sitting in Belone’s library going through her notes and cataloguing them.


    She had finally compiled a list of all the foretellings that directly mentioned the Will-Breaker, plus a few that might be oblique references. They were about as enlightening as she had expected—which was to say, not very—but there were some interesting things in them. Now she had copied them all out and put them in chronological order where possible, she hoped something might be revealed.


    When the nations of the world come together in meeting for the first time since the days of old, the Will-Breaker will first make herself known.


    In the first quarter of the twenty-fourth century, at a well will contact be made.


    Felit?a knew all too well what that had to be referring to, and thus she had it right at the beginning of her list. Contact. She had made contact with… That was the problem. She didn’t know with whom.


    When rebellion and civil war come to devastate Ninifin, the Will-Breaker too will come. Although her attempts to avert disaster will end in failure and tragedy, her interventions will save lives that would otherwise be lost. For this reason, it is the will of Eleuia that the Will-Breaker be welcomed into Ninifin lands.


    The question Felit?a found herself pondering was, had it happened yet? At first glance, her recent experiences in Ninifin seemed to qualify, but the more she thought about it, the prophecy seemed to describe something bigger. Rebellion? Yes. Civil war? The events never quite expanded that far. There was failure and tragedy, yes, but was Ninifin devastated by the events? Maybe. It was hard to be sure.


    The sound of the door opening and closing made Felit?a look up. A short figure entered the room, head lowered as usual.


    “You’ve been in Quorge in Lord Belone’s palace for a long time. Not many Isyar stay outside Isyaria so long.” Plavistalorik had been instrumental in kidnapping Jorvan last year, but Jorvan had said he believed she was in trouble and being coerced somehow.


    Plavistalorik stopped moving, but didn’t look back. “Yes, you are correct.”


    “Thank you, your Highness. I also apologise for hurting Jorvanultumn. I wish…” She paused and turned around. Her wings drooped, but she raised her head, giving Felit?a the longest look she’d had at the Isyar’s small grey eyes. Even in the dim light, there was a sadness noticeable in them. “I wish there had been...that is to say, I wish things could have been different.” For the first time, emotions other than wariness came from Plavistalorik: worry and a touch of fear.


    It occurred to Felit?a she didn’t know what magical discipline Plavistalorik practised. Bringing down the Hall of Knowledge ruled out mentalism, but any other was possible. She would have to make some enquiries. Knowing Plavistalorik’s capabilities might narrow down what could frighten her.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Felit?a turned her attention back to The Foretellings of Eleuia. A thought occurred to her.


    Be on constant vigilant look-out for the Isyar, who will bring the weight of time upon you. The intended of this message will know who she is when she reads it.


    Felit?a had made note of this particular foretelling, suspecting it addressed her, even though the fact she wasn’t certain seemed to rule herself out. Could the Isyar it referred to be Plavistalorik?


    There was a weight upon Plavistalorik and if Felit?a got involved, there would certainly be a weight upon her too. But what was meant by the weight of time? Did that apply in any way to Plavistalorik? How was she supposed to look out for an unnamed Isyar if she was given no clues to that Isyar’s identity? Assuming the message was even for her.


    As were some of the foretellings. Like the one she’d discovered that night a few weeks ago.


    You will know the Will-Breaker by her mental prowess, capable of manipulating and bending the will of others under her complete control. She should be rightly feared, but know that she is an ally as long as you do not raise her ire.


    That one bothered her every time she read or thought about it. Of course, the name Will-Breaker had always implied what the foretelling said of her, but she didn’t have to like it. Perhaps one way to exert her own free will was to make certain she never bent the will of someone else to her control.


    In 2333, the demons will come for the Will-Breaker.


    She had needed Nin-Akna’s assistance translating that one, since the Ninifin word for demon had never come up during her time in Ninifin. According to Nin-Akna, however, the word more accurately meant anything or anyone in service to the Dark Lady, from Volgs to Darkness Worshippers to creatures from the depths of hell itself. However, Volgs and Darkers were already after her, so it presumably didn’t refer to them. What it did refer to was hard to say. She might know soon though. 2333 was only a month away.


    Keep safe and secure the Holiest of holies. In 2342, the queen’s consort, disciple of the Will-Breaker, will learn its secrets and use it to contact the gods themselves and bring more of Ninussa’s words to her people.


    Felit?a didn’t like the idea she might have a disciple, though perhaps Eleuia had mistaken someone working with Felit?a as a follower or disciple. And what was the Holiest of holies? It was not something mentioned while she was in Ninifin, and Nin-Akna was not aware of what it might be either. Could it be the Staff of Sestin? That would explain why Fra-Atl had been so distressed when it appeared to be missing. Though there was also whatever Fra-Atl had died trying to show her—whatever lay under the confluence of the Jaguar and Toucan rivers. Could that be the Holiest of holies? Whatever the case, it was not something Felit?a was going to be able to check any time soon. Still, there was lots of time to find out apparently. This event was still nine years away. Who would be queen of Ninifin then? Nin-Xtab? Nin-Akna? Someone else?


    The door opened again and Feodor Belone shambled into the room. He was wearing a pale green silk robe and was barefoot. He paused. “Your Highness?” He motioned to a guard standing at the door behind him. “Wait outside.”


    “Plavistalorik keeps odd hours, so it doesn’t surprise me.” Belone coughed hoarsely and sniffled.


    Felit?a placed the book on top of her pile of papers. “It’s not that. You’ve given me quite a few reasons not to trust you, your Lordship.”


    Felit?a shook her head and picked up the book and papers. “No, you didn’t. There were other ways you could have handled things. Instead, you threatened the lives of people I know and care about. And you forced good people to do your dirty work for you. Those are not things easy to forgive.”


    Belone lowered his head. “I did ask her to help apprehend him, but I never insisted.”


    Felit?a hugged the book and papers to her chest. “If you’d wanted me to trust you, your Lordship, you should have just asked me to talk to you. So no, you didn’t do what you had to. You did what you wanted to because you liked the idea of exerting power.”