Free Cloud Warrior 05 - Forged in Fire by D. K. Holmberg

he could find some way to turn Par-shon’s attention solely onto Incendin, the kingdoms might be able to remain safe. Then, if his mother was right, they could rebuild the barrier. It had served to keep the kingdoms safe once. Perhaps it could again.
    “They killed my family, Tan. They killed your father. Whatever you think they might have the potential to do doesn’t make up for what they have done.”
    “I know you’re right,” he said, choosing to avoid conflict with Amia.
    “I should check on Cora like Roine asked. Perhaps she knows something that can help, if only I can be strong enough to help her.”
    “You’re strong enough,” he said.
    “I’m not sure,” Amia started. “There’s something missing with the healing. Even the First Mother hasn’t managed to find the secret.” She hesitated and Tan squeezed her hand. “I think we have to prepare for the possibility that she doesn’t recover.”
    They parted ways in the street, though with the bond they shared, they were never truly apart. Tan couldn’t imagine a similar bond with anyone else. He had access to the deepest parts of Amia, he could close his eyes and trace the bond and simply be with her, the same as she could be with him. There were no secrets for them. The connection was wonderful and amazing, but also terrifying. When he’d been in Par-shon, he’d feared the possibility of losing Asboel, but losing Amia would have been thousands of times worse. And there was only so much he could do to keep her safe.
    As he made his way to the archives, he wondered if he would ever be able to keep her safe. Each time he thought they were safe, some new threat emerged. If not Incendin, then Par-shon. What would happen to her next?
    Tan found the inside of the archives darkened, but there were shapers lanterns. He had only to shape a trickle through them and they bloomed into bright white light. He hurried toward the lower level, intending to check on the draasin, but he paused. Seeing Roine with his sword had reminded him that it was time to claim a new one for himself.
    Tan entered the room where a row of hooks along the wall held warrior swords. He looked at them, considering each one. The archives had nearly a dozen for him to choose from. More would be found in the palace, though they were forged differently than these and didn’t have the same runes along the blade. None of them had reminded him of the sword he’d lost.
    The first two he considered felt wrong. There was a strange heft to the blades, as if they were either made for a stronger or weaker shaper. The next was too long. Tan had grown accustomed to Lacertin’s sword. The length of it had felt perfect to him, so he wanted something similar. A few others had a wide curve of the blade and would be too cumbersome. Midway along the wall, Tan noticed one that reminded him of his old sword.
    Tan unsheathed it and considered the runes etched into the steel. He recognized most of them, though there were a few that he didn’t. One looked something like the spirit rune he’d seen in Par-shon. The blade he’d carried had no rune for spirit. Tan had always added that to his shapings on his own.
    He swung the sword carefully, then with more vigor. It felt comfortable in his hand, but then again, warrior swords were not really meant to be used like traditional swords.
    He tested a shaping, pressing through the sword with a weak shaping of fire. Then wind. Water and earth were next. Last, he tried spirit. Each worked as he hoped, the sword augmenting his shaping.
    As he did, his eyes were drawn to the case holding the artifact. He’d placed it in a simple case, making certain that it was protected, but hadn’t dared use it since returning it to this part of the archives. The last time he had, he’d felt tempted to attempt shapings that he should not.
    Clutching the sword, he dragged himself away. Amia had wanted more strength to shape Cora, but the artifact was not the answer. Hopefully, the