She sighed. Perhaps she should just call for Ahmi and prepare for—
A knock startled her.
“Lady Vincetti?” a guard called through the door. “You have a visitor.”
With a frown, she crossed the room and tugged the door open. She spotted the now-familiar faces of her four bodyguards, but it was the fifth familiar face that stunned her.
“Felinus!”
The cleric from Esperance looked beyond travel-weary. His robes were covered in dust and his posture was a little slumped, a worn-looking bag dragging at one shoulder. But his smile was genuine, if a little tired. “Lady Vincetti. I’m sorry for the lateness of the hour, but I just arrived and couldn’t wait to see you.”
“It’s not too late. I’m so glad you came.” Aware of their audience, she attempted to tone down her eagerness.
One of the guards—a man named Allen—cleared his throat. “This is a welcome disturbance, then, Lady Vincetti?”
“Yes. Please, let him in. And could you send for some food and drink?” she added, sensing the deep pang of Felinus’s hunger.
Allen nodded and sent one of his men to carry out the order.
“Thank you,” Felinus murmured gratefully as he slipped into the room. “I’m quite hungry.”
Amryn closed the door behind him, locking it out of habit. “Please, have a seat,” she said, gesturing to the nearest armchair.
Felinus did so, groaning a little as he settled on the cushion. “These old bones don’t care much for travel anymore.”
Worry washed through her. “Did you make the journey alone?” A lone man making such a long trip could not be safe.
Felinus grimaced. “No, unfortunately.One of the knights who came to Esperance—Renault Quinn—overheard my plans to leave for Zagrev, and he invited himself along. He left his son at the temple, but said he needed to consult with his eldest son, Rhone.” Fear and concern lashed through him. “Saints, Amryn, when the knights arrived at the temple and they told us they’d come from the capital, I was so desperately afraid for you. Especially when I learned Rhone had stayed here at the palace. The only comfort I had was that the knights were still looking for the suspected empath, even after interviewing the Chosen. Thank all the Saints Carver was able to protect you, though I have no idea how he did it.”
“It wasn’t Carver,” she admitted. At his confused look, Amryn pulled the bloodstone from her pocket. She did not miss the way Felinus stiffened at the sight of the crimson stone. “It shields me, somehow,” she said quietly. “It was an accidental discovery, but the bloodstone has saved my life many times.”
Felinus’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his skin paler than before. “Do you carry it with you always?”
“I’ve had to,” she said, defensiveness rising. “If I didn’t, I’d be dead.”
“Forgive me. I didn’t mean to imply . . . OfcourseI’m grateful you remained undetected, it’s just . . .” Felinus spread a hand over his mouth, his eyes clouded. “It’s a dangerous path you’re walking, Amryn. I warned you the bloodstone could not be used.”
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“We always have a choice, even if it’s not an easy one.”
Stung, Amryn leaned back. “You would have preferred me to choose death?”
“I would have preferred that you’d run,” he corrected. “The bloodstones are not a power to be trusted—especially with your life.” He sighed, shaking his head. “When we arrived at the palace, I expected to hear you’d left for Westmont. Why are you still here? Where’s Carver?”
“He left on a mission for Jayveh. He’ll return in a few days.” She bit her lip, then said, “The emperor . . .”
Felinus sobered instantly. “Yes, we heard the news when we entered the city.” His eyes sharpened. “Perhaps you should start at the beginning.”
Amryn began to share all that had transpired since she’d last seen the old cleric. Their journey to the capital, Trevill’s death, the knights arriving, and the assassination attempts made against Jayveh and the other Chosen. She even told him about the Rising and her involvement with them, so she could tell him aboutthe Dagger of Hafsin being a bloodstone. And though his eyes bulged in shock at that news, he didn’t ask any questions, just let her share everything that had happened.
It took the food a while to arrive, probably due to the lateness of the hour. Felinus immediately poured them each a glass of wine, and himself a cup of coffee, before digging into the simple meal. Amryn was grateful to soothe the dryness in her throat before resuming her story.
She told him about the Rising’s brutal attack on the square, and her meeting with an empath who pretended to be a fortune teller. Though she trusted Felinus, she didn’t mention Ysabel’s name. But she told him of her gift, and that she had brought Von’s journal to her. Amryn brought the journal over to the table, including the loose sheet of paper covered in her own handwriting that captured Von’s prophecy, as Ysabel had recited it.
At that, Felinus finally interrupted. “Von had the gift ofprophecy?”
She nodded, then showed him the prophecy. She also shared her thoughts on why Von might have betrayed the emperor and tried to kill the entire Vayne line. “I think Von believed if the Vaynes were dead, and the empire gone, then the future he saw could be prevented.”
