Kaelen knew they couldn't fight General Vorlag's rebellious army and Morthos at the same time. They needed the Sunstone Amulet to destroy the Nexus Morthos was trying to build.
"Zelia," Lyra said. "She has the Amulet, and she has always been greedy. Morthos promised her power. If we can show her that Morthos is planning to trick her too, she will turn against him."
"Where is she?" Kaelen asked.
Lyra closed her eyes. She reached out with her sight, not to see the future, but to feel the past she shared with Zelia. Zelia was a dark, selfish shadow, but Lyra knew her fear.
"She fled north, Kaelen," Lyra whispered. "She ran to the old, hostile Northern Clans for protection. She will be hiding in the abandoned fortress near the Whispering Peaks."
This was risky. The Northern Clans were wild and did not respect the Aethelgardian or Sol crowns.
Kaelen and Lyra left immediately, taking only Torvin. Their kingdoms were at war, but their hearts were focused on this one, vital mission.
The journey to the Whispering Peaks was cold and hard. After two days, they reached the old, forgotten fortress. It was a crumbling stone pile, dark and threatening.
They found Zelia inside a deep, cold cellar. She was no longer the proud, jeweled Queen of Sol. She was thin, ragged, and terrified. She was guarded by two hulking, silent Northern Clan warriors.
When Zelia saw Lyra, her face twisted in surprise and hate.
"The slave! You should be dead!" Zelia hissed.
"I am Queen Lyra of Sol, and your daughter," Lyra said, standing tall. "And you sold me into chains. But that is the past. Morthos is the threat now."
Kaelen stepped forward, his face grim. "Morthos used you, Zelia. He made you sell Lyra to force this Union. He plans to steal Lyra's power to make himself King of a stable, unified kingdom. When he has the Nexus, he will discard you."
Zelia laughed, a dry, bitter sound. "Morthos promised me a place in his new empire!"
"He promised you a grave!" Lyra cried, pushing forward. She used her sight, forcing the vision of Morthos's past plan into Zelia's mind. Lyra showed Zelia the moment Morthos told her that Zelia was just a pawn.
Zelia screamed. She fell back against the stone wall, clutching her head. She saw the truth: Morthos was the ultimate betrayer, using everyone for his own goal of eternal power.
"He lied!" Zelia gasped, tears of rage and fear running down her face. "He said I would be powerful!"
"You can still be powerful," Kaelen said, his voice calm and serious. "Join us. Give us the Sunstone Amulet. It is the key to defeating Morthos and saving your kingdom from chaos. You will be given safety, but Morthos must be stopped."
Zelia looked at Lyra, the daughter she had tried to murder. Then she looked at Kaelen, the Prince she had never respected. She knew Morthos was worse.
"The Amulet," Zelia choked out. She pulled a velvet pouch from inside her dress. "Take it. It is useless to me now."
Lyra took the pouch. Inside was a brilliant, palm-sized stone that glowed with the raw, untamed light of the sun. It felt heavy and warm in her hands. It was the Sunstone Amulet, the royal artifact of Sol.
"Go, then," Zelia whispered, waving them away. "Go save the world Morthos wants to ruin."
Kaelen and Lyra had their weapon. The desperate alliance with the tyrant was over. Now they had to find the true key to breaking the prophecy the forgotten sister, Elara.