The fear in Hyperion’s face mirrors the emotion which briefly consumed him in the Orbium when he presented me with my sword. Leilani must have used her cursed powers to learn of the threat the Outrealmers present. Their attacks must be imminent, the situation more dire than I’d supposed.
She smiles. An ice-brittle smile. ‘And just think of all the other things I know. What do you think would happen if those secrets got out? I’ve left records. If you stop the Council of Four from proceeding, if anything happens to me, they’ll be made public. Orthriel will make sure of it.’
How dare she blackmail her own father? Everything Hyperion has ever hinted at: her slyness, her malignant heart. It’s all true. I was a fool to feel sorry for her.
There’s a heavy pause, then Hyperion moves towards her, eyes narrowing to slits.
‘And how will you explain the arrival of Outrealmers?’
Peak’s sake! He’s not actually entertaining the idea?
‘I-I thought you might announce a temporary truce for the exchange of information, ways to slow the spread of the Sickening. An exchange such as used to happen in the Lustrous Age,’ Leilani says. ‘Everyone can see there’s been a shift of late. The courtiers will welcome any chance of slowing the curse.’
Hyperion huffs through clenched teeth. ‘I won’t leave your mother’s bedside to consort with traitors.’
I smirk. That’s right, set her in her place.
‘If you do this, Astrophel will serve as my proxy and chair the Council of Four,’ he continues. ‘You’ll defer to him, or not go at all. And if by some miracle you convince them to join you in this fool’s errand, he’ll accompany you while you search for the lost sceptre.’
Me?Go withher? Consort with sand-rats?
I start to protest, to stammer something about the danger to the realm, but Hyperion silences me with a flick of his wrist.
‘The Outrealmers are not to be told about the Sister-Stones,’ he mutters darkly. ‘They’d only try to steal them.’ His lips thin. ‘And measures must be taken to avoid the risk of contagion. Stars only know what foul plagues those sand-rats harbour, confined so long to a cesspit. I’ll not risk another outbreak of Flamefever. Not for anything.’
Leilani nods.
It’s agreed, then? I can hardly focus on the words spilling from their lips. How has she got her way again? These past few risings, Leilani has been pulling all the strings. Making the rest of us dance.
Hyperion is opening his arms, pulling his daughter into an embrace. I freeze. In all my time in their company, I’ve never seen him show any physical affection towards her.
His grip on her shoulders tightens again. ‘You may have a letter from the Elemagus, you may indeed be the chosen one.’ His voice is feather-soft, but pitched just loud enough for me to catch every word. Of all Hyperion’s tones, this is the most dangerous. ‘But you’re still my daughter, my sworn subject. You’ll not blackmail me again. Do I make myself clear?’
The Princess nods, but her eyes don’t venture higher than his collarbones. She knows as well as I do that she’s walking on the thinnest of ice.
‘You’ll pay for this.’
He releases her, motions for me to follow him.
I don’t bother looking back at Leilani as we swirl from the library. Even the coldest of stares wouldn’t equal the chill Hyperion’s parting threat leaves lingering in the air.
THE CALL
LEILANI
THERHYTHMICflap of the zephyrsteeds’ wings is hypnotic as they tow the carriage to the meeting point beyond the city wall. My eyelids flutter shut, but this is no time to sleep. I shift position, resettling the fur across my lap and the mantle over my hair. Ever since the binding, I’ve done away with the full veils that obscured my face. They made me clumsy and the entire court’s seen me now, anyway. I’m still adjusting to being unshielded from people’s stares, but covering my hair shrouds some of my strangeness, affords some measure of refuge, at least.
Astrophel huffs from the other side of the carriage. He’s still refusing to look at me, and the regular thud of his polished boot against the carriage door sets my teeth on edge. I’m tempted to ask him to stop, but don’t want to risk putting him in an even worse temper.
I pull the Celestial Chain out from under my bodice and cradle the starstone in my palm, allow its gentle crystalline rhythm to steady my rattled nerves, glad to have its reassuring weight about my neck once more. My finger grazes the edge. It’s rough, but the extraction was neatly done. You can’t see the fissure unless you look closely. I can only pray my decision to have Izarius make the tincture hasn’t interfered with the magic of the Sister-Stones, that I haven’t compromised my mother’s only chance of recovery.
Astrophel huffs again. I’d sooner poke a slumbering hoarclaw than attempt conversation with him, but necessity compels.
‘What did the earlier doves say?’ I try to keep my voice light. ‘Were all the envoys met at the Barrier?’
‘Surely you can foresee who’s answered the call?’ The arch in his voice is unmistakable.
Heat floods my cheeks. Instinctively, I tug down my sleeve. Astrophel has never made direct reference to my being Branded before.
