“She’s the one who healed you, cleaned you up.”
“The shard?” I asked.
“The exchange will happen in private. She doesn’t want the court to see her handing over such a powerful weapon.”
“Won’t they know anyway? They’re Afeya.”
Auriel shook his head. “They can know, like they can know anything. But they won’t know immediately. Remember— they have to be asked. If they don’t see it, they won’t know it happened. And unless they come across a Lumerian who asks for this key piece of information, or something related to it, they might as well remain in the dark.”
“You’re sure?” I asked. “She’ll keep her word this time?”
“She has to. The same way a blood oath will find a way to punish you if broken, a bargain broken by an Afeya will also have disastrous consequences.”
“She could delay. Find a loophole. It feels like she’s tried every other trick or method of extortion she could find.”
“I know,” he agreed. “But she won’t. Thanks to Ramia. And much as I hate to fucking say it—thanks to Mercurial.”
“Bastard,” I spat.
“Agreed.” His eyes searched mine. “But he wants you to have the shard, and in a way, because of her goals, so does she, eventhough she doesn’t want to relinquish the power.” He sighed. “Meka.” His eyes searched mine. “I was so fucking worried for you with the chimera. I know you’d never seen one before—not as Lyriana. You never learned what to do.”
“I remembered,” I said.
He squeezed my hand. “Asherah?”
“No,” I said. “It–they?” I shook my head. It didn’t matter. “The beast said a name down there that I didn’t recognize, but it pulled me into memories of another life. I was on the other side of the Lumerian Ocean I think. And Rhyan,” I met his eyes, “You. You were there. A prince. You didn’t know how to fight in this life. I killed the chimera in the vision. To save you.” To save Rhyan.
“The other side of the ocean?” he frowned, then his eyes lit up with a mix of nostalgia and joy, a slow smile spreading across his face. “I remember.” His voice lowered. “I remember you in that life.”
“What was it?” I asked, a sudden vision of Rhyan, of Auriel, as the prince flashing through my mind. My heart pounded. For all three of them now. “Who was I?”
But Auriel shook his head. “That’s for another time. What we need now is to remember what we can of your life as Asherah. She’s the one who wielded the cure. That’s the life that has the knowledge you need. That Rhyan needs.”
I swallowed. “What if I don’t remember?”
“You will. With the shard in your possession, you will. And if not, I will tell you.” He winked, and pointed to the Valya that he now wore in its case on his belt like a librarian would. “I’ll tell you everything. We’ll get it right.” Then he frowned. “She’ll be here in a minute. The Queen. She senses you’re awake.”
“I need to stand,” I said, releasing Auriel’s hand. “I’m not meeting her again, laying down. Not after what she just fucking did to me.”
Auriel stepped back, and retrieved Asherah’s chest plate. “I feel the same way. Here, let me help you with this.” He swept my hair to the side and then laid the chest plate over me, before hooking it into place behind my neck.
Together, we sheathed my weapons, sliding my dagger and swords back onto my belt. My hand swept over the stave, still tucked safely in the leather case Rhyan had gotten me.
“I didn’t even think to use this,” I said. “With the chimera.”
He made an amused sound, low in his throat. “You’re more warrior than you realize.” His hand swept across my back, and then we both straightened. An ashvan of pure silver with a white mane, and a rider with burgundy hair flew toward us. The blue bridge soared ahead and landed in the room. The Queen pulled on ashvan reins made of pearls before dismounting.
“Well done, Lady Lyriana,” she said.
“Your Majesty,” I gritted through my teeth. “Do you have my shard?”
“Right to the point, I see,” she said, her eyes darkening.
“I’m ready to leave. Your dealings with Auriel are over.”
She laughed, tossing her head back.
“What’s so funny?” I demanded.
