Page 3092 -- CCLXV.

"So you mean to say that Gohvis instructed Emiliana Elroy in Sto, and she, in turn, instructed you?" said Abbas.

"...More or less."

"That still does not explain how you managed to master it in so short a time. Unless you are also telling me that you have spent hundreds of hours honing that particular technique in your meditations."

Well, he'd definitely spent hundreds of hours meditating overall. That probably didn't count, though. "It was more like... two or three hours, actually."

"What? Impossible."

Hector exhaled a breath, not wanting to get into it. He'd already told Abbas about so many different secrets that he'd been holding onto. It'd probably be fine to tell him about blessings, too...

But it also seemed like a pain in the ass to explain. And he was fairly certain that it would just provoke even more questions.

"Look, we're getting kinda sidetracked here," said Hector. "You should stay focused on the Candle."

Abbas gave him another look but didn't argue. "You have more to tell me about its operation, I take it."

"Yes, I do."


Chapter Two Hundred Sixty-Five: 'O, slumbering Dragon...'
Click to display entire chapter at once -- (mobile link)

The timing of everything couldn't have been more awkward or more uncomfortable. The news that his brethren were being held captive in Vantalay, that there was finally a visible path to freeing them--that was incredible.

But then there was Hector's coma. And the threat of war coming to Atreya, to Warrenhold specifically.

Zeff Elroy was torn. Again.

It seemed like he always was, these days. It felt like he had a thousand reasons to leave, and a thousand reasons to stay. His captive kin. His still-missing children, Francisco and Gema. His best friend, Asad. But also his two youngest, Marcos and Ramira. His sister, Joana, and her children. And yes, even Hector.