"If it's capable of some kind of feeling… and it's wounded, growing sicker-"
"Our ability to work magic is at risk," Fallon finished for him. "The blood mages draw power from chaos. As the Flow splinters, their power grows. If you expect to beat Curane, we must move quickly."
"What of Sister Taru? And Landis?" Tris asked. "What have you heard from Principaliyy?”
Fallon exchanged glances among her fellow mages. "We hear nothing from the Sisterhood. To join your strike against Curane, we broke our vows. Landis cares nothing about kings and kingdoms-she thinks only of preserving the libraries and keeping the secrets of our power. And so we came. We're no longer Sisters. We are rogue."
Tris's eyes widened as he understood the import of her words. "Fallon, I-"
Fallon shook her head. "Beyral cast runes to divine the future. The Winter Kingdoms are at a tipping point. What Jared put in motion has not yet run its course. Before all is ended, old ways will be swept away, and old certainties will be broken. We can't see the future clearly. But Beyral is convinced that your kingship- and perhaps that of your son-must be preserved for disaster to be averted."
"Son?"
Fallon smiled. "You didn't know?"
Tris shook his head, struggling through the rush of feelings. "It was too soon. Cerise couldn't tell. She said the energies hadn't sorted themselves out yet to choose a self." Just as quickly, the memory of his dream returned, and of the darkness that hunted Kiara and the child within. A son. And if the energies on the Plains of Spirit know of him, then it's likely he'll be a Summoner. Something knows. And something wants him.
Tris realized that Beyral's eyes had a far-away look, and the gold flecks flickered. "Your son's power will be without equal. But he will dwell on the Plains of Spirit, and his way will be through shadow." Abruptly, Beyral fell silent.
"I've never been able to decide whether my Sight is a blessing or a curse." Beyral's smile was sad. "The visions are never clear. Try to outwit the future, and you can bring it about. Run from it, and you can stumble into it. You can't know. "
More was at stake than securing the succession against Jared's bastard, Tris knew. Is the true danger to the kingdom here, with Curane, or is it back at Shekerishet, something unseen, looking for Kiara? Will I bring about the future Beyral saw by staying here and fighting, or do I cause it to change by leaving Kiara alone at Shekerishet? There's no way to know. But Margolan's future, maybe even the future of the Winter Kingdoms, depends on my guessing right.