Chapter 18 Under Attack

• Maerilee
• The moment the doors to the throne room close behind River and Brook’s parents, the reality of the situation hits me like a tidal wave. War. Oceana has declared war on us. And with Direken already making threats, the danger to Altinna has never been more real. My heart pounds in my chest, the urgency of finding my Fourth crashing over me with the force of a thousand storms. I can’t afford to wait any longer. Every second we waste brings us closer to disaster.
• I turn to my parents, ready to discuss how we might find him, how we can gather the resources and magic needed to locate the last piece of this puzzle. But just as I open my mouth to speak, my mother’s face pales, and she sways on her feet. The world seems to slow down as I watch her stagger, her hand reaching out as if to steady herself on an invisible support. My breath catches in my throat, and before I can react, she crumples to the floor.