The white light spread across the sky.Rufus stared at it through the branches of the forest.Five stones had now awakened.Five heirs.Only one remained.The sixth guardian stood motionless.Mira looked toward the light.Her expression was different from before.“This is happening too quickly.”Rufus turned toward her.“You said Vikram wanted me because I can awaken the fifth stone.”Mira nodded.“Then tell me how.”“I don't know.”Rufus frowned.“You just said I could do it.”“I said you are the only one who can.”“That isn't an answer.”Mira looked at the sixth guardian.“He knows.”Everyone turned toward him.The guardian remained silent.Rufus stepped closer.“Tell me.”The guardian finally spoke.“The fifth stone does not choose its heir.”Rufus waited.“It chooses its location.”Kael looked confused.“Then how does it get an heir?”“It doesn't.”The guardian looked toward Rufus.“The fifth stone is different from the others.”Rufus touched his amulet.“What does that mean?”“It

The farther they traveled into the forest, the quieter it became.Rufus walked at the front with Tina beside him. Kael and Mira followed closely behind, while Rodri kept the dwarves together. Aron watched the rear.The sixth guardian walked alone.He had become unusually silent since Rufus remembered the gate.Rufus noticed.“You know something else.”The guardian did not look at him.“I know many things.”“That isn't what I asked.”The guardian continued walking.Rufus stopped.Everyone stopped with him.“I won't take another step until you tell me what happened at the Gate of Kings.”The guardian turned.For several seconds, he said nothing.Then he spoke.“You were younger.”“How much younger?”“Old enough to understand what you were doing.”Rufus frowned.“What was I doing?”“You were trying to open the gate.”“Why?”“You believed someone was trapped beyond it.”Rufus's eyes narrowed.“Who?”The guardian looked toward the trees.“I don't know.”Rufus stared at him.“You don't know

The hand remained against the Gate of Kings.For several seconds, nobody moved.The enormous fingers were larger than Rufus's entire body. Golden light burned between the cracks of the gate, and the ground beneath their feet trembled with every slow movement from the creature beyond.Rufus stared at the hand.The voice came again.“Emrys.”This time, it sounded closer.Rufus tightened his grip on the white stone.“What do you want from me?”The creature was silent.Then its golden eye appeared through the narrow opening in the gate.“I want what you once promised.”Rufus frowned.“I don't remember promising you anything.”“I know.”The answer was quiet.“You were made to forget.”Rufus looked toward the sixth guardian.The guardian's face had become pale.“You knew,” Rufus said.The guardian didn't answer.“You knew this thing could remember me.”Still nothing.Rufus stepped forward.“You knew who I was before I came here.”The sixth guardian finally raised his weapon.“You cannot tru

Rufus stood at the top of the staircase.The golden light below was getting brighter.No one spoke.The ancient King remained near the Gate of Kings, watching Rufus carefully. The six stones were still connected to Rufus, their lights moving slowly around him.Tina stepped closer.“Are you really going down there?”Rufus looked into the darkness.“I have to.”Rodri shook his head.“That is exactly what people say before doing something dangerous.”Rufus almost smiled.“I know.”The sixth guardian approached.“You should not go alone.”Rufus turned toward him.“Are you coming?”The guardian hesitated.“Yes.”Vikram walked toward the staircase as well.The guardian immediately raised his weapon.“You stay here.”Vikram stopped.“You know I won't.”The ancient King looked at Vikram.“You are not welcome below.”Vikram ignored him.“I have spent years searching for this place.”Rufus looked at him.“Then you can explain what you expect to find.”Vikram's eyes moved toward the golden light

The black hand continued to rise from beneath the throne.Rufus stood completely still.The six stones floated around him, their light trembling.The ancient King stared at the darkness beneath the throne.For the first time, Rufus saw fear in its golden eyes.“What is that?” Tina asked.The King did not answer.The black hand gripped the edge of the broken floor.Then another hand appeared.Something was pulling itself upward.The sixth guardian stepped backward.“No.”Rufus looked at him.“You know what this is.”The guardian shook his head.“We were never supposed to see it.”The creature's head slowly emerged.It had no eyes.No mouth.Only smooth black skin covering its face.Yet when it spoke, everyone heard the voice inside their minds.“Emrys.”Rufus felt the six stones suddenly become heavy.The creature rose higher.Its body was tall and thin, almost like a shadow given physical form. Black energy moved around it like smoke.The ancient King took one step backward.“What is