Chapter 34 · Rust and Relic - Chapter 34: The Fifth Light

"Vault's two minutes from cracking," Greta said, not looking up from the stone door. "You two want to keep having feelings, do it faster."

Liv didn't move. Her hand was still on my shoulder from when she'd pulled me out of the burning tent. Smoke in her hair. Blood on her knuckles. She was staring north like she could see through the mountain.

"What's north?" I asked.

"Vald." Her voice was flat. "He felt it too."

The shard in my palm was hot enough to hurt. The progress bar had vanished. In its place: a single line of text that made my stomach drop.

*Host Five is awake. Distance: 47 km north. Convergence protocol active.*

"Convergence protocol," I read aloud. "Anyone want to tell me what that means?"

"It means we're out of time." Greta slapped the vault door. "All four shards are about to sing, and every god-touched lunatic on the continent's going to come running. So unless you want to greet them empty-handed, help me open this thing."

Liv finally looked at me. Her eyes were the color of winter rivers. "The fifth light isn't a rescue."

"You don't know that."

"I know Vald.