Deneya began looking through ledgers used by the palace guard. Vi supposed it was possible for Baldair to have entrusted the relic to his loyal soldiers. Though Deneya returned empty-handed day after day, which slowly squashed that theory.
Taavin remained assigned to the Tower of Sorcerers. He reported on overheard rumors, mostly from students; there were more tales of Vhalla’s doings than anything relating to the crown. Whispers flew about how she had fallen from a tower rooftop and flown, how the crown prince was her personal tutor, and how Minister Victor wanted nothing more than to see her enrolled as the Tower’s newest student.
Time whittled away Vi’s patience. The crown began to haunt her dreams. Night after night, she could imagine herself touching it, feeling the magic of Yargen seep into her. Day after day, she searched for that sensation, imagining feeling it on the briefest shift in the air.
Just when she was about to turn the whole castle upside down, fate and stones and rivers be damned, the military returned to the capital.
Vi, Taavin, and Deneya watched from the upper ramparts as palace staff and citizenry alike funneled into the Sunlit Stage, waiting for the military party to march up the mountain and make its grand arrival.
“They look so small and insignificant,” Vi murmured.
“From this high up, everything looks small.” Deneya leaned against the stone, looking down.
Vi wondered what the world looked like to the gods. Did they stand on walls higher than this? Walls that kept mortals from their divine domains? She could imagine Yargen staring down, and every mortal in the world being little more than grains of sand to be swept around by her hand.
“Here they come.” Taavin pointed to the military party as it arrived. Cheers erupted for the Emperor and Baldair as they entered, a deafening roar that rolled across the whole mountainside.
“They certainly love him, don’t they?”
“They do.” Vi stared down at the speck that was Baldair. Somewhere in his mess of golden hair was the knowledge of what he’d done with the crystal crown.
“I feel bad for Aldrik… to be so hated when your brother is so loved,” Deneya mused.
“His hardships prepare him for what’s to come.”
“That’s grim.”
Vi shrugged in reply.
“Now that the prince is back, does the plan change?” Taavin asked.
“We’ll see.” Vi stepped away from the stone railing and headed back inside the palace. “I’m going to see if I can steal a moment with Baldair.”
“Why does she get all the fun?” Deneya asked Taavin.
“Because this is her destiny.”
Vi came to a sudden stop. How she truly hated that word.
“What is it?” Deneya asked.
“I’m going to go this way. I’ll meet you both back at our rooms later.”
“Good luck.” Taavin leaned forward, planting a warm kiss on her cheek before he followed Deneya in the opposite direction, down to their hideaway in the bowels of the palace.
Vi moved quickly through the servants’ passages. She was one of many hustling to get from one place to the next. The return of half the royal family, even when expected, had turned the castle on its head.
Servants flowed in and out of the Imperial wing and Vi fell into step with them. By now, the guards had seen her come and go so many times that they hardly paid her any attention. Most of the people went up to the royal chambers at the top of the golden staircase. It was the one place Vi had yet to look because it was rarely unattended.
A war raged within her as she debated if she had time to head up there now. In the chaos, she might be able to poke around unnoticed. Ultimately, Vi went to the right for Baldair’s rooms. She doubted he would’ve hid the crown up in his parents’ chambers, unless he’d given it to his father. But if Tiberus Solaris had a crystal weapon, the whole world would know it.
However, on returning from a long trip, Baldair might immediately want to check the location of his prize. If she was lucky, he’d lead her right to it.
The servants were bustling in and out of the young prince’s room, carrying trays of food and drink. Vi stepped off to the side, heading for the bedroom.
“Just where are you going?” a man asked.
“I’m checking the linens,” Vi said.
