“What in the Fates is going on?” I asked, my voice rough.
“Here, put this on. The King’s troops are on the way. They raided Tyskir, set the whole village on fire, killed all the immigrants.”
Dread washed over me. Total and utter dread.
Waves of ice followed by burning heat raced down my limbs, my vision going blurry.
The diplomat.
The night together at ‘The Nest.’
My conversation with Madame Celestine.
The immigrants.
The King.
My secret.
Death.
No choice.
My choice.
* * *
It was almost time to leave for the conclave.
I stood in my room, unable to decide which gown to choose.
This was an important night and probably not a decision I should make hastily.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Red for the roses, white for the veil, one to remember, one to betray.
The purple dress.
I donned the stunning floor-length, A-line gown in deep purple hues. The dress had a halter-style neckline, with a keyhole opening at the front, emphasizing my shoulders and neck. The bodice was fitted with a soft draping that gathered at the waist, offering a defined silhouette. Flowing from the waist down, the skirt was made from lightweight chiffon, swaying ever so slightly with every motion. My favorite part was the high slit on the front, allowing for ease of movement and revealing a little glimpse of my legs underneath. I had decided to curl my long hair and leave it open, save for a few pins that held the side bangs out of my face. For the finishing touch I put on the earrings Theo had gotten me, the purple eyes of the owls matching the color of my dress.
I wasn’t ready to face the reality of what was going to happen tonight, but then again, nobody was ever ready to face such important events. I gave myself a little pep talk and reminded myself that all I had to do was be Theo’s eyes and ears in the crowd. I left my room and made my way to the grand ballroom that had been prepared for the conclave. Theo was already there, I could see him standing on some sort of stage, talking to Lythandra and a few other Gods I didn’t recognize.
I spotted Lydia and gave her a little wave, which she answered with an encouraging smile. Someone dimmed the lights, and Theo took his place in the center of the stage.
“Thank you all for gathering here this evening, and for granting me the honor of your attention. I shall speak plainly.Though I am no poet, nor one for grand oration, the truth of what must be said outweighs the elegance of how it is said. Most of you are familiar with the prophecy, spoken more than five centuries past, from which my existence was shaped. A god born of arcane power, destined to rise when ancient evil stirs once more, threatening the fabric of our world. That time has come. The Fates, in their infinite design, foretold that I would not face this darkness alone. And so it is that one has arrived, an outsider, yet bound to us by purpose. A wordsmith, gifted and chosen, has crossed into our realm. Not merely to safeguard the mortal lands, but to stand with us all, to protect Aerethia itself.”
He swallowed and I could see how much he hated being the center of attention. But his voice was steady when he continued.
“Over the past thirty years, we have observed a troubling rise in attacks, both upon the mortal realm and our own. The signs are no longer subtle. The threat grows bolder. Recently, we succeeded in capturing one of her Heralds. Under questioning, he revealed what many of us had feared: the Heralds of the Forsaken have not only endured these past five centuries, they have multiplied. In secret, they have strengthened their numbers and forged alliances with certain gods, seduced by the promise of power. Their aim is clear: to reclaim dominion over the mortal realm and in doing so, to upset the balance of all things.”
The murmuring started instantly, some guests were clapping, others looked shocked and some of them simply shook their heads in disbelief. Theo gestured for them to calm down. “It is not my place to pass judgment on those among you who may feel a measure of sympathy for their cause.Of all beings, I perhaps understand best the weight of a life bound by duty, a life shaped by limits, by questions of purpose, and by longings left unanswered. And yet, I must remind you why we chose, long ago, to part ways with the mortal world. The strife between men and Fae, between Gods and Goddesses, had grown beyond reconciliation. The mortals sought their freedom from our dominion, and rightly so. For in truth, it is not we, but the Fates alone, who should wield the power to shape the course of our lives.”
I heard some more claps again and scanned the crowd for anyone who looked to be displeased by what Theo had said.
“We chose, together, to part from the mortal realm and to forge a life of our own. A realm shaped not by conquest, but by intention. Tonight, I ask you to remember that we are the architects of our world, the authors of our purpose. To enslave the mortals now, and invite another bloody war, is not the path of wisdom, nor of honor. If you share this belief, then I urge you: stand with us. Join in the effort to stop the Heralds before their darkness spreads beyond our reach.” Applause erupted, but not all of the Gods looked as enthusiastic as I had hoped. A Goddess came forward, tall and beautiful with red hair and silvery skin.
“Thank you for your invitation, Auretheos. It is good to see you. Though I share your concern about preventing a war, there is one question that seems to trouble many and which I feel compelled to raise. We don’t know the wordsmith you have brought here tonight, none of us has ever heard of her before your invitation came in the mail. I mean no disrespect, but why should we trust her? Wordsmiths have their way of manipulating realities, they never strive to do good other than to suit themselves. I understand that youand her share a connection through the prophecy, but we outsiders do not.” A lot of the Gods applauded and some shouted “She’s right” or “We can’t trust her.”
