"Indeed," the Priestess agreed, moving toward the centre of the ritual room where preparations were already underway. "Names have power, especially true names given with a mother's love. The Northern Alliance may call him Elias Shadowthorne, but his blood, his soul, knows he is Lucious Blackthorne."
As we began discussing the specifics of the ritual, I felt a new determination replacing my earlier fear. The Northern Alliance had been manipulating both of us from the beginning, me through neglect and isolation, my brother through direct indoctrination. But they had built their plans on a fundamental lie, trying to force him into a role that went against his very nature.
"Great Priestess," I asked as we finished outlining the ritual components, "how do we know all this? How are you so cert
