Ignara seemed to be satisfied with Maelis’s answer and started talking about the plans for the day. Mae was supposed to meet with one of their priests and explain tohim the spells they needed for the harnessing.
Apparently, Mae had written down everything the Abbot had told her and would go over the details with the priest and Somnaris. How she had convinced the Abbot to entrust her with the spells, I had no idea.
Maybe they had been working together this whole time.
The ritual was supposed to happen later tonight.
Maelis looked down at her plate and scooped up the last bit of egg when she casually asked, “When are you bringing Auretheos out of his cell? Does he suspect anything?”
Ignara gave her a cruel smile that made the hairs on my arms raise.
“Oh, he is already here. I didn’t want him to miss out on all the fun.”
She pointed towards the end of the room, where I was crouched on the floor.
A dog in a crate.
Maelis looked over to me, but quickly turned away from the cage, taking a sip of her coffee.
“Please make sure he gets some food, Ignara. I don’t want him to faint when we harness his magic, it will be difficult enough as it is,” she said.
She stood up then and waved for the servant to take her plate.
“Where can I meet with the priest?” Maelis asked.
One of the Heralds stood up. “We can start right away, my lady.”
I snorted at that title, and she whipped around to look at me.
“You are pretty snarky for someone in your position, God of Wisdom. You should know when to keep your mouthshut and when to speak up.”
Even though I had trained my face to be impassive, I was sure she could see the pain behind my eyes. She had always been able to read me like a motherfucking open book.
“I will see you tonight,” she said curtly and followed the priest out of the room.
Chapter 37
The day dragged on.
I kept drifting off, half-asleep, half-conscious.
My magic was drained, my body weak, and the lack of food wasn’t helping.
The priest turned out to be sharper than I expected.
Eager, too.
He’d clearly absorbed everything Maelis had fed him like it was sacred text.
When he arrived at midday, he was practically glowing.
Giddy.
All because he was about to perform a ritual so old and corrupt it had been banned before half the Realms had names.
Unfortunately, I knew the ritual well.
I’d studied it long before Maelis ever existed.
