Excitement rippled through him as the idea took shape. If he could simply control his voice—form words for just the right person—he wouldn’t need to wait until he could move his entire body. He could shout a warning. Get help.
His throat was warm with the heat of his breath, with the harmonious vibration humming between his body and ethera. On his next exhale, he sent a surge of energy, will, and intention, through his throat and vocal cords, lifting his tongue to the roof of his mouth?—
Energy tore through him, ripping, separating, and his body bolted upright, leaving his ethera reclined on the bed. Morkai heaved a cough and pushed back the covers, motions agitated.
“Seven devils,” Teryn cursed, leaving the bed to stand beside Emylia.
“Don’t be discouraged.” Her smile was warm, dark eyes glittering. Today she was dressed in billowing ivory pants and a knitted cream tunic. It occurred to him that he never had any awareness of his own appearance, much less what he was wearing. A quick glance down revealed the same articles of clothing he wore the night he was trapped in the crystal. It didn’t matter to him, for it wasn’t like he had any sense of comfort or discomfort when it came to his ethera’s state of dress. He assumed it was merely a construct of his mind, anyway. Or perhaps a mirage shaped by Emylia’s magic.
Emylia’s smile grew wider. “You did really well this time. You accomplished three muscular manipulations, and I could sense what you were trying to do at the end.”
Teryn shook his head. “I failed. It woke him up.”
“You didn’t fail. You’ve already gotten stronger.”
Teryn narrowed his eyes at the sorcerer who paraded about the room in Teryn’s body, donning clothing with haste.
“You should rest your ethera,” Emylia said. “It must be exhausted after what you accomplished.”
“No, not yet,” Teryn said. “Not until I see what he plans to do today.”
Teryn and Emyliafollowed Morkai through the castle as he strolled, dined, and greeted courtiers and councilmen. He seemed to lack an agenda until he began making inquiries of servants and staff, asking whether the king was holding court today and if Teryn had received any new correspondences. Teryn saw no sign of Cora, and he wasn’t sure whether to feel sorrow or relief.
Finally, Morkai left the great hall to enter a separate building Teryn had never seen before. Its outer walls were crumbling and marked with ivy-shaped shadows that suggested the trailing vines had recently been removed. The building rose into a tall arch, its apex carved with a circle bearing seven interlocking spheres, marking it as a Godskeep. Teryn’s eyes trailed back down the building, landing on two guards who stood outside the door. As Morkai approached, the guards made no move to open it.
One guard stepped forward. “His Majesty is at prayer.”
“I too came for prayer,” Morkai said, far more brazenly than Teryn would have dared. “I am soon to be the king’s brother-in-law. He will not mind my attendance, for we pray for the good of the same kingdom.”
Teryn cringed at the sound of his voice. It washisvoice,histone, but the way Morkai spoke…it sounded nothing like him. Yet of course these guards wouldn’t know that. They’d been planted at Ridine from Selay. The only person here who could possibly see through Morkai’s ruse was the very woman the sorcerer was determined to avoid.
When neither guard showed any sign of allowing Morkai inside, he lowered his voice. “To be honest, Lord Kevan asked me to come here for reasons I’m sure you understand.”
The guards exchanged a look that set Teryn’s teeth on edge. Despite now serving the king, they clearly maintained allegiance to Kevan. Had Morkai already gleaned the tense power dynamic here at Ridine? Did he know Dimetreus was still under scrutiny by Verdian and his brothers—the men who were supposed to be the king’s new allies? If Morkai had been able to project his ethera outside the crystal the way Teryn and Emylia could, then he must have been able to collect at least some intel before having taken over Teryn’s body. Not to mention the fact that he’d been off on his own much of yesterday while Teryn had been resting his ethera.
“I’ll inform the king of your request,” one of the guards said and entered the Godskeep.
Teryn frowned. What did Morkai want with the king? Whatever it was, it filled Teryn with a sinking sensation.
“Are you certain you wouldn’t rather rest?” Emylia asked, tone wary. He met her eyes and found trepidation in them. She wrung her hands but stilled them when the movement caught Teryn’s gaze.
“Is there something you know that you aren’t telling me?” he asked.
She released her arms to her sides, donning a casual posture. Too casual.
Teryncouldtrust her…right?
“I’m telling you what’s for the best,” she said. “If you overexert yourself, you’ll be forced to rest anyway. Remember what happened yesterday?”
Teryn knew she was referring to the way he’d lost consciousness after witnessing Morkai’s conversation with Cora. He shrugged. “So be it. I want to know what business Morkai has with Cora’s brother. I will watch their interaction for as long as I can.”
“Just…just know that there’s nothing you can do right now.” She spoke slowly. Carefully. “Whatever happens, whatever you overhear, we can only continue with our plan.”
Teryn’s sense of unease increased, but the guard returned, pulling Teryn’s focus back to the Godskeep door.
“The king will see you,” the guard said, opening the door for Morkai to pass.
Teryn and Emylia shadowed Morkai through the antechamber, then to the nave. It was much smaller and darker than Dermaine’s, with no bright tapestries, no painted ceiling, and no stained-glass windows. Its only adornments were a red carpet that ran from the doorway to the dais, a long wooden table that served as an altar, and seven statues of the seven gods that rested upon it. At the foot of the dais, Dimetreus kneeled. He was dressed in ceremonial robes in Khero’s violet, embroidered with threads of gold and the kingdom’s black mountain sigil on the back. A simple gold circlet rested upon his brow, while a bejeweled dagger hung at his waist. Teryn’s gaze slid to Morkai’s hip, relieved to see he was unarmed. Even if the sorcerer had thought to bring a weapon, the guards would have disarmed him upon his entrance to the Godskeep. Only the king and his guards could enter a Godskeep armed.
