“Yes, it’s Lis. Now, I know you’re going to ask me about the tower. But it isn’t important, you already know King Euron keeps his treasured here, his menagerie as it’s referred to.”
I nod my head as that does check out. Though many of us had heard of his sequestered menagerie, I hadn’t realized that it was quite literally in Ezmelir.
She continues, “I’m not sure how high it is, but I know that he keeps a person with a rarity on each level. Basically we’re prisoners, but sometimes we’re able to interact when Euron is feeling generous. Unfortunately, I’m locked up here because of my bloodline.”
She speaks quickly now and I’m not sure if it’s because she hasn’t had company in awhile or that she’s worried we won’t have time.
“Because you’re an oracle?” I almost stumble on my words.
“Well I’m not anoraclebut I come from oracles. That’s not important, what’s important is why you’re here.”
My stomach tumbles. I don’t want to talk about that. I don’t want to relive anything that happened prior to this.
“I’m not important,” I whisper and look away, “I’m no one.”
She laughs and I slam my gaze back to her, my brow lifting in the process.
“Oh, gods,” another round of laughter, “I’m sorry, you wouldn’t know. How could you?”
She sets the cards down and grabs my hand, not giving me a chance to snatch it away.
“You have the ability ofiludreer. It’s been many turns since anyone had that magic. The last time anyone possessed such essence, the beginning of all this started.” She waves her hands around emphatically. I simply blink, not knowing how to react.
“You’re the great harbinger, the change in the kingdom. It could only start with you as it ended before.”
I take back everything I said, she’s crazy.
Slowly, I pull my hand out of her grasp.
In an effort to change the subject, I ask her, “How do we get out of here?”
Her face drops and she closes her eyes. Sadly, she says, “We don’t. At least I haven’t been able to escape yet in my many turns up here.”
Turns.
I feel like I’m going to be sick so I push to my feet, toppling the chair in the process.
I hold my hands up to her to keep her from following and make my way back to the silken bed.
Looking around the room I take inventory of the surroundings. No doors except one and there’s no handle on the inside where we currently reside.
I lay back on the bed, my thoughts spinning in a different direction. I’ve been a prisoner before, but this time feels different. Like I will die here.
Lis’ soft pandering of feet on the marble slowly makes its way to me.
“You know,” her voice seems smaller this time, “I’ve been in love before.”
I scoff, not at the idea of her loving, but of love in general.
Spite laces my reply, “As far as I’m concerned, that’s the biggest farce in this forsaken life.”
She kneels at the edge of the bed, watching me again with her feline eyes. “Alora, you must hold true to your heart. Don’t forsake what you know to be true. There is still love in the center of heartbreak’s remains.”
Lis speaks in riddles and I don’t even know if she realizes it.
Callousness creeps into my tone. “The remnants of my heart are overshadowed with disappointment. I should have noticed long ago that the gods have forsaken us to those that would watch the world be torn apart, and tear it apart in turn.”
She doesn’t blink, she just studies me.
