Luzie sighed heavily and turned to look at her. “While I was out, I ran into someone we both know.”
Liane’s brows rose. She wasn’t sure who Luzie could possibly know in Basilia, other than Ludwig, and then it hit her. Erich had come to find her.
“Go on,” Liane said, struggling to keep her voice steady.
Luzie shook her head. “I shouldn’t mention this. Really, it’s nothing. Forget it actually.” She paced away, and Liane stalked after her.
“Tell me.” She grabbed Luzie’s arm and tugged until she was forced to face her.
“Prince Erich wants to meet you.”
Liane’s heart raced, and she tried to keep her expression neutral, but Luzie knew her too well.
“Have you been in contact with him? Liane, he’s a corrupted...” Luzie whispered the last word, eyes glancing furtively around the room, as if the very mention of corruption would bring the Midnight Guard down upon their heads. She’d confessed everything to Luzie not long after Erich had vanished from Artria. She thought she’d never see him again. And the thought of keeping the knowledge of her and Erich to herself made her want to explode.
“What did he say to you?” Liane asked, heart in her throat.
Luzie bit her lip as if debating, and Liane had to hold herself back from shaking the information out of her. It surprised her how desperate she was for news of him. To see him again. She’d tried to forget him. She’d thought once they’d slept together, she’d forget him, like sweating out a fever. But if anything, she only wanted more.
“He wouldn’t tell me much, just asked to arrange a meeting,” Luzie said.
“I need to see him,” Liane said.
Luzie looked skeptical, and she was kind enough to not remind Liane of the mob likely waiting outside to tear her apart or the fact that the Midnight Guard wouldn’t let Erich into the temple to see her. But she had to see him. If only to say goodbye properly. Because certainly once she did, she would be able to focus on her studies.
“Stars above, but what do I do about the Avatheos? I’m supposed to go to my training…”
Liane paced around the room, weighing the two options against one another. “Perhaps I could go to my lessons and sneak away after they’re done and talk with Erich?”
“Are you sure? I could take a message to him and let him know you’re busy.”
“No. I can do both. I’m sure of it.”
Luzie looked skeptical, but there was no time to argue. Liane had to dress and prepare for her lesson. The churning anxiety in her gut had transformed into a buzzing excitement. The waiting had been worth it. She’d see Erich and begin her lessons. Everything was moving forward as it should.
Liane and Luzie opened the door and found the acolyte was still waiting with an awkward Ludwig, who gave her a pleading look.
“Ready,” Liane said.
The acolyte’s lips were drawn in a thin line. “The veil, your divinity,” they said.
Liane waved away their concern. “I prefer not to wear it.”
They looked as if they might protest but said nothing. The veil would get in her way, and Liane wanted to see and hear everything without a fabric barrier in between her and the Avatheos. The acolyte guided Liane to the Avatheos’ personal chambers at the top of one of the temple’s towers.
Liane had learned from Sylvie that most priests and priestesses lived in shared rooms, depending on rank. The lower your rank, the more roommates you had. Only the elite members of the church were afforded the luxury of a private space.
When they arrived, the acolyte knocked on the door, and a voice called from within for them to enter. The anterior room was spacious, with a large domed roof and an arched window, which looked out onto the starry sky. There was a desk before the window with a small model of planets suspended by metal rings, and tools for measuring the star maps were strewn across the desk. Up until this moment, the Avatheos had seemed much more mythic figure than man. But seeing the small touches of lived-in elements in his room made him feel more real. There was a plate of half-eaten food teetering on a pile of old books.
“Welcome,” the Avatheos said, greeting her and drawing her attention to where he stood at the back of the room. There was another doorway, which she presumed led to his personal bedchamber. The room was crowded with books, more tools, and small globes. The globes didn’t have any continents on them, but rather constellations painted in thin black lines.
The Avatheos approached her, and atingle of power swept over her. She’d sensed it the few times they’d been alone before, but not once on the ship, and she’d been starting to think she’d imagined it.
“You may leave us,” the Avatheos said, gesturing to the acolyte and Ludwig. She looked at him as he walked out, and he gave her an encouraging smile. Her escort and Ludwig filed out until it was her and the Avatheos alone, staring at one another across the table.
All her confident bravado of asking him to allow her to leave the temple wilted upon seeing him face-to-face, or as close to it as they’d get. Like all members of the priesthood, he wore his veil, which obscured the top half of his face, at all times.
“I see you chose not to wear your veil again, your divinity,” he said, gesturing for her to sit in the chair in front of her, and she sank into it staring at him from across his large oak desk.
