Amryn
Amrynhadjustfinishedbreakfast with Sadia and Jayveh in the royal garden, where they’d had another meeting with Hector about the upcoming ball. Amryn had welcomed the distraction. It had been two days since she had discovered the second bloodstone, and she’d finally received a message from Ysabel last night. The empath had agreed to meet with her and Carver at the Jasmine Inn tonight.
She knew Carver wasn’t enthusiastic about the coming meeting, but she was anxiously counting down the hours. Even if a part of her was nervous to discover whatever Ysabel might glean from the journal, the need to know overpowered her fear.
Striving for calm, Amryn was taking her time as she walked back to the palace, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air in the expansive garden.
She should have walked faster.
“Lady Vincetti!” High Cleric Lisbeth called out from behind her.
Amryn’s stomach dropped, but she fought to keep her expression neutral as she turned to face the female cleric. The middle-aged woman’s hands were clasped loosely before her, her shaved head lifted at an angle that communicated her confidence loudly, though Amryn felt a thread of uncharacteristic hesitance from the woman.
Her robe swept the garden path behind her, the midnight blue contrasting sharply with her otherwise pale skin. Her smile was too wide to be real, and itcertainly didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m glad I caught you. Princess Jayveh said you’d gone this way. I thought perhaps I could join you on your walk.”
While Amryn had known a private conversation with the cleric was inevitable—she’d been cornering each of the Chosen since they’d arrived—she still dreaded it. She took comfort in the presence of the two guards Carver had insisted she take. She knew they were handpicked by Cregon and completely trusted. They couldn’t protect her from a conversation with Lisbeth, but at least she wasn’t alone.
Amryn offered a thin smile to the cleric, hoping it was more convincing than Lisbeth’s. “Of course.”
Lisbeth reached her side, and Amryn tried not to shiver at her innate coldness. Today, Amryn also sensed curiosity in her.
As they began walking down the garden path together, Amryn’s guards fell into step behind them, allowing slightly more distance than Amryn was comfortable with.
“I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to find a moment to speak with you, Amryn. May I call you Amryn?”
Feeling like she didn’t have a choice, she merely nodded.
Lisbeth’s smile sharpened. Her eyes traced over Amryn’s face. “Are you still in pain?”
The bruising on her left cheek had faded greatly, though Carver still treated her with extreme gentleness. “Not really,” she told Lisbeth.
The woman hummed. “I’m glad you’re on the mend, though I’m sorry you were ever in danger.” They rounded a bend in the path, walking past sweet-smelling hedges. “You and the rest of the Chosen have certainly endured a great deal of peril since going to Esperance,” Lisbeth stated. “If you’d like to talk about any of that, I’d love to listen.”
“Thank you,” she repeated.
A spark lit Lisbeth’s eyes. It might have been amusement. “You’re not going to talk to me about any of it, are you?”
Amryn decided to tell the truth. “No.”
“You’re not religious.” It was a statement, but there was a slight edge to it Amryn didn’t understand.
“I’m not,” she confirmed. Hoping to end Lisbeth’s unnerving stare, she said, “Jayveh mentioned that you’ve been able to bring her some peace. Thank you for that.”
“I live to serve. Especially the emperor and his family.”
They wound deeper into the garden, silence falling between them. The cobblestone path was worn smooth, a slight dip in the center showing where people had walked for generations. While the empire was relatively new, the kingdom of Craethen had been around for hundreds of years. The emperor’s ancestors had ruled from this palace, and even though new additions had been made, the heart of the garden was old. Palms towered over them, huge fronds swaying in the breeze. Other trees with more leafy boughs shaded the path, and tall hedges that came nearly to Amryn’s shoulders cultivated a feeling of isolation. There were stone benches here and there, but Amryn didn’t see another soul.
They followed another curve in the path and entered a small courtyard. A rectangular pool sat in the center, with intricate tilework done in bright crimsons, vibrant blues, and glowing yellows. Several lily pads floated atop the glittering water.
As they walked by the long pool, Lisbeth said, “I’ll admit, I’ve been hesitant to seek you out.”
Amryn glanced at the other woman. “Why?”
The high cleric looked over her shoulder, and Amryn followed her gaze. The guards were not out of view, but they were far enough back that they wouldn’t be able to hear softly spoken words.
When Lisbeth turned back to Amryn, her eyes traced over her face, her gaze searching. A well of yearning opened inside her. “I thought perhaps if I looked hard enough, I might see him,” she murmured. “But you look nothing like your father.”
It was the last thing Amryn had expected the high cleric to say. A chill filled her veins, freezing her in place. Lisbeth also stopped walking, her brow furrowing as she studied Amryn.
