“She gave you her soul, Marbella.”
I shake my head. This is… not okay… There are so many things wrong with what he just said. Elyria and I used to be connected. If she gave me her soul then the connection with me would have been crucial to her. But I broke that connection. I left her with Baelen. And then I broke it again today… I didn’t just break the connection. I broke…her.
I can hardly focus on Senturi. He’s so calm and I know I have to be calm as well, but it feels like my world just turned into a hurricane.
He says, “And so began a metamorphosis. Your body and your instincts changed: your eyesight developed to allow you to see in the dark, the scent of your blood changed, so did your reflexes, and when you came closer to where the Queen’s heart was buried even your skin and hair changed in response to its call. You may not have wings and your ears retain their points, but you are in many ways a female gargoyle.”
“Then… I’m not an elf anymore?”
“You are a hybrid. Not an elf, not a gargoyle, but both.”
“What about Baelen? Is he a gargoyle too?” My eyes meet Baelen’s. My hand is still wrapped in his.
“No. Elyria’s essence didn’t reach him, but his bond with you gives him the same allegiance to the gargoyles.”
Lightsworn Lance is the first to speak into the silence. “Then… she stands in Elyria’s place. SheisElyria. She is heir to our throne?”
As Lance speaks, something clicks into place: when High Priestess Talia first saw me, she whispered ‘Elyria.’ I thought she was distracted by my armor, the inner skin of which is made completely of the unbreakable thread from Elyria spiders. She’d looked at me strangely afterward too. Talia is the only Priestess alive now who can still use deep magic. She must have sensed my true nature the same way that Senturi can see it.
Senturi stands aside to allow Lance to approach me. Senturi says, “Lightsworn Lance, you knew the King. Tell me who she smells like.”
I grit my teeth as the old gargoyle leans forward, glad that he keeps at a respectful distance. He closes his eyes. Inhales.
His eyes shoot wide open. “She is our Queen!”
All of the gargoyles shift where they stand. I don’t know what they’re doing until they sink to a knee, heads bowed.
“As you have Seen, Outlier Senturi,” Lightsworn Lance says. “She is Supreme Incorruptible.” He bows low to me. “Supreme Incorruptible, I honor you.”
The old Priestess leans in discretely and whispers to me. “Now you say: ‘I am honored.’”
Somehow I manage to push sound past my lips. “I am… honored.”
Each of the clan leaders echoes their allegiance in turn: “Supreme Incorruptible, I honor you.”
I repeat my response to each of them until the last when they return to their feet, waiting expectantly. I have no idea what I’m supposed to say now, but as far as I’m concerned, the game is over.
I say, “Howl did a lot of damage. Families are separated from their loved ones, fallen gargoyles need to be buried and mourned. I will help you, but as clan leaders you are responsible for ensuring that every member of your clan is safe and returned to where they belong.”
“May we rebuild our nests in the mountains?”
The miners once told me that each mountain used to contain the main nest of each clan. I had spent most of the last month working in Mount Prime where the Prime nest had been ripped out to house the miners instead. “Of course. You must rebuild.”
“What about the Grievous Clan?” another asks.
I scan the group. “Is there a member from that clan here tonight?”
They shake their heads. “They alone were allowed to remain on Mount Grievous. None from the mountain have come here for many years. We believe they may be afraid of your retribution now, Supreme Incorruptible.”
“Then I will have to speak to them personally.” And take Grievous Erit with me, since he is my pick to lead them. I know that Llion would also make an amazing leader, but I will need him here with me after he returns from the border.
I add: “But not tonight. Now…” I turn to the Priestess, wondering what the practicalities of hosting the clan leaders will be. “Is it possible to arrange a meal for the clan leaders? And beds please. I think we’re all in need of food and rest.”
She nods to me before she hurries away. “I will arrange for food to be brought in.”
The clan leaders seem surprised that I want to feed them. I guess basic hospitality has been sparse for the last ten years.
After they acknowledge my gesture with thanks, Senturi draws me aside, away even from Baelen. “You know there’s more.”
