Silence. The room grows small with it. My father has barely uttered a word since I requested this audience. Not since he told the courtiers to remain in the Watching Chamber, barked orders at my mother, Astrophel and Izarius to follow us and, once seated at the head of the Star Table, demanded to read Noelani’s letter after I outlined its contents.
My mother sits beside my father, but the rest of us stand across the table from him. The Celestial Chain lies atop the table. The tension in the air is thicker than the dense clouds of incense rising from the thurible. Astrophel has been glowering at me since we got here, hand braced on the pommel of his Crescent Sword, as if he’d like to draw it and lop my head off.
I shift my weight and turn from his vicious stare.
My father is bent so low over the pages of Noelani’s letter I can’t gauge his reaction to them. I’m tempted to try and use my magic, to summon it again like I did in the Reliquary, but there’s no guarantee my second-sight will cooperate and reveal his thoughts to me, and there’s every chance someone will notice my eyes misting over and realise what I’m doing.
I can’t risk that.
I’m walking on thin ice and need to tread carefully. My father is already furious the binding has been interrupted. One false move and the whole idea of searching for the Starlight Staff will shatter, and I’ll lose my chance of redemption.
My father turns to Orthriel, who’s hovering near the door. ‘Can you confirm this document’s authenticity?’
My Guardian nods.
My father’s eyes widen, and he picks up the Celestial Chain.
‘The moonrunes have faded,’ I say.
He sneers. ‘How convenient. What did they say?’
I swallow. ‘I-I’m forbidden from sharing the location of the Starlight Staff.’
My father stiffens. His chair scrapes the floor as he rises. ‘A proviso to avoid that information falling into enemy hands.’ He strides towards me, fists curling at his sides. ‘Are you calling me an enemy?’ Orthriel darts with inhuman speed to my side. My father steps back, and I’m sure it’s only the cielsylph’s presence that prevents him striking me.
I stare at the floor mosaics. ‘She forbids my sharing the information with anyone. I can only tell you I’m required to travel north.’
‘The High Lands are rough and inhospitable, much like their occupants… unsafe for Estelia’s Crown Princess.’ The air around my father shimmers, his aura flashing black as he lays a proprietorial hand on my shoulder. Fear. Flushed deep rose at the edges. Shame. Crushing shame.
My curiosity is piqued. Silver threads worm my vision. Without thinking, I tug at them, biting back my gasp as memories that don’t belong to me crystallise in my mind. I try to ignore the wave of giddiness making the room lurch like we’re on the Orbital Sea, the buzzing in my ears, as images whirl before me.
Highlanders gathering. Mounting a challenge for the Crystal Throne. The Conclave intercepting messages. Driving the rebels back. Foiling the coup.
I loosen my mental grip on the threads. Blink. It’s all over in a matter of seconds. Similar to what happened with Elvi in my rooms, and again in the Watching Chamber, only with one crucial difference. This time I summoned the visions. The second time my magic has obeyed me in the span of a single moonsrising.
It’s the first I’ve heard of any such Northern rebellion. My father has obviously hushed this up. He likes doing that – pretending uncomfortable truths away.
I file this juicy morsel to the back of my mind. Something to chew on later.
My father has resumed his seat, and Astrophel is speaking now; his terse drone echoes the room. Blinking my eyes one final time, to remove any trace of mistiness, I raise my head and give him my full attention.
‘… far safer to allow the Conclave to investigate the truth of these claims. I volunteer to lead the effort.’
Oh, I bet you do! I open my mouth to object, but Orthriel gets there first.
‘Leilani has been chosen for this task, Lord Astrophel. You’d do well to consider Starborn magic flows in her veins. She possesses qualities no one else can boast.’ Orthriel’s halo flares, a reminder they could manipulate their Star-Aether and blind Astrophel at this proximity.
Though I’m grateful for the intervention, it’s hard to accept Orthriel’s words. How can I reunite feuding realms, summit an unscalable mountain, and retrieve a magical relic so many have sought and failed to find? Stars, I couldn’t even escape the city.
But I have to convince my father that I can. That I’m more than a liability. That I can save Estelia – or at least try.
‘Leilani won’t be going anywhere.’ My father scrapes his chair back again and rises. ‘We’ll return to the ceremonies. We’ve kept our guests waiting long enough.’
‘Radiance,’ Izarius says.
My father halts in the doorway.
‘The hour is late. If the ceremony is conducted now…’ He spreads his hands. ‘To bind under waning moons bodes ill for the union’s future fruitfulness.’
