“What’s this prophecy talk the queen spoke of at breakfast?” Taryn asked as they sat down, getting straight to the point.
Ismene flipped page after page in her book as she spoke.
“How does one control a God?” she asked nonchalantly, ignoring his question.
Taryn arched his brows. “I’m sorry?”
“How does one control a God?” she repeated, as she stood up and moved toward the hearth, reaching her hand in and drawing out a bundle of flames.
“There are several ways, I suppose. You can drug them, take away their ability to think clearly and skew their perception of the world.” She began to guide the flames lazily in the air, weaving it in slow spirals.
“You cantrickthem, make them believe another holds power over them, so much so that they believe they don’t have power overthemselves.” Ismene’s gaze was heavy on Taryn before she averted her eyes to Airess.
“You can take away their knowledge, erase their history, so that they don’t even know theyexist. A God can’t act on their power if they don’t know they have power, can they?” Ismene asked sharply. “Thatis how you control a God. And that, my children, is what the wretched country of Luciena has done to you.”
A silence fell over the room before Airess broke through it. “I suppose you may be correct in regard to Luciena numbing our powers with drugs, but we are noGods.” Airess laughed casually.
“Perhaps not that strong of a term,” Ismene agreed. “But a step below it, to be sure.”
Taryn sat back in his chair and crossed his legs. “And what is that supposed to mean?”
“You want to know of the prophecy and what it has to do with you, yes? We are just getting started.” Ismene chuckled, guiding the fyre fluidly back into the hearth.
“If you were regular people, Taryn wouldn’t be here right now. That Oathmark should have shattered his sanity, and Airess’ magick wouldn't have the strength to bring back his soul. But you are both not regular people.You both areGodlings.”
Taryn fought the urge to roll his eyes. Of course, he should have expected this from a priestess, taking her religious ideology a little too far.
“Godlings?” Taryn deadpanned.
“She tells the truth,” Airess blurted, her golden eyes set on Ismene, no doubt unveiling her Sight on Ismene to judge her. Taryn pressed his lips together in doubt, but listened to her continue on.
Ismene gave Airess a slight nod in approval. “I’m sure speaking the plain truth that you have been deprived of for so long sounds ludicrous after so many years, so I will convey it in a way you can understand. Each family House is a direct descendant of the Gods. Each house began with Godlings, a God-Touched family deemed worthy of Godlike power.
“As a Godling, you are able to access Spirit–a heightened state of power that allows the Gods’ power to flow through you. Think of it this way, the Gods gave you a sliver of their soul when they Touched you at birth. You access their soul when you are Spirited.”
Spirited. The word hung in the air between them. Airess leaned forward, brows drawn together in concentration.
“Thatis the meaning of God Touched, of being a Godling. King Roznarr is Touched, an elemental Godling of Eileamaid. We suspect that you both are Godlings as well.”
Taryn’s eyes widened at the detail. If Godlings were as powerful as Ismene claimed, no wonder the energy at breakfast was permeating through the air like lightning. He glanced over to Airess, her expression a mix of curiosity and belief. He exhaled a steady breath and bit his tongue, listening carefully.
“And how does that tie in with us fulfilling a prophecy?” Airess asked, on the edge of her seat.
Ismene walked to her desk, sifting through the piles of books and papers until she found a singular piece of parchment and placed it in front of them.
“When The Obadiah came to Rune, we brought over many manuscripts of information, including this document written by a Seer hundreds of years ago. Read for yourself.”
Taryn leaned in and read the words handwritten in ink:
A stolen Death
A touch of Fyre
An earth rebirthed
To be made from desire
A soul of Mind
