“Father.” I kiss his cheek. “I’m here, Father.”
His eyes flutter open and look around the room, not truly focusing on anything, but he squeezes my hand and asks, “Iviloan ...” Then his eyes focus and a smile returns to his face. “No ... Carnaxa. What are you doing here? You are supposed to be in Shaston.”
“I was.” I hold his fevered hand to my cheek. “But I heard you were sick. I had to come. Why is thePrelhere?”
As he coughs, Eldoris brings a glass of water to him before helping him sit up. He takes a small sip before he explains, “King Atlas. He sent them … said that you and the Prince dispatched them.”
I glance back at Ereon, who looks like he wants to punch a wall, before my attention returns to my father. “We just need to get you better.”
“I won’t get better, Carnaxa. I have barely any time left. I know Iviloan is waiting for me. I can hear her singing for me in my dreams.” His wrinkled fingers graze my cheek. “Sometimes I even think I see her.”
“I saw her.” I smile down at him, a tear falling. “I sawAta. She misses you.” I know she didn’t say that, but I know how much love she has for my father; she wanted to make sure I saw him before he goes to her. And for that, I will comfort him. Eldoris comes and helps him recline back. My father takes hold of my hand until he falls back asleep.
I step away from him and Ereon comes to wrap me in his arms. “Are you okay?”
“I will be.” And I know the words that leave my lips are the truth, because eventually I will. This is not the first death that’s happened in my life. I am not the same girl who lost her mother.
Suddenly, a woman with black strands peppered with a brilliant gray comes rushing in. She carries a tray of food, but she’s not a worker I’ve ever seen before. She turns and notices our presence. “I’m sorry ... I’ll bring this later.” She smiles, and something about it seems familiar, but as she glances behind me her expression falters for only a moment before she retreats.
“How did this happen? How was thePrelable to gain so much control?” Rhenor asks as he stands next to Eldoris.
Eldoris replies, “TheShayiwas stretched thin when they arrived. Many taken down by the deluc, same in Midaelia. It wasn’t hard forPrelsoldiers to take over those who remained and throw them in the dungeons. We’ve sent word to those in Midaeliea, but with thekhind, they haven’t made it back … or the correspondence was never received.”
Rhenor looks to Siphonie who bites her lip and asks, “So what can we do?”
Eldoris looks to my father who sleeps soundlessly. “I don’t know. For the first time in many years, Antalis is falling. Nothing can be fixed tonight, hopefully with Prince Ereon here, he can keep thePrelin check, and our men will return home shortly from Midaeliea.”
We make our way down the corridors, the blue-streaked marble beneath my feet helps me feel grounded, despite all that is going on around us. Siphonie and Rhenor mumble amongst themselves behind us.
My heart quickens as we turn the corner near Thylas’ room. A room I hope he sees again. He shouldn’t have returned to Shaston, a foolish mistake in his unwavering loyalty to me. But Atlas won’t be fooled. He knew, somehow — he always seems to know.
Just ahead the door knob rattles, the one to Thylas’ room and I stop. Maybe he didn’t leave us, maybe he came back and was separated. I run to the door and quickly open it.
Inside his room is the same woman I saw in my father’s. Her hair hangs down the side of her face as she stifles a gasp. “Princess … forgive me. I was turned around and got lost.” But it’s her face that reveals the lie. Her eyes flicker back and forth across my face, not meeting my gaze. “I’ll just be on my way.”
She starts to walk past me when Siphonie grabs her elbow. “I’ve seen you before. In Midaeliea, you sold me clothes for my baby.”
I look closely at the woman, thinking about our time in Midaeliea. I focused more on the words of the prophecy than the appearance of the one who first spoke it to me, so I don’t fully recall what shelooked like.
“No … I’m sorry, you must be mistaken.” She tries to pull her arm away from Siphonie. “I’m new to this land, just arrived a few weeks ago.”
“No. In Midaeliea, you watched us leave … you stared at Thy — my guard. But before that you spoke of the prophecy.” I look at her and the room she just came from. “You are leaving the Ambassador’s personal quarters. Why were you in there?” I ask, my words coming out quicker as the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. This can’t be a coincidence.
Ereon walks in front of her, eyeing her with suspicion. “You’re from Shaston. I know you, you used to be my mother’s handmaiden.” He draws his sword then issues his threat,“So either you tell us why you are here or I’ll have to assume you are a spy, and I don’t take kindly to spies.”
fifty-five
Thylas
Walking through the dark halls of Shaston’s castle has my magic flickering in anticipation and I’m doing all I can to control it. The magic hums inside of me calls to me, begging to be used. Next to me, Anara walks with her head held high, and I can feel the heat coming off her in waves. She changed into leathers instead of traditional Shastonian wear. Her vest does nothing to hide the fact that her shackles no longer adorn her wrists. I want to ask her to hide them, but there’s no point. Perhaps if Atlas thinks she can fight back, he won’t do to her whathe did before.
ShacheAtaiun stands outside of the throne room. He uses a leather tie to pull back his mix of blonde and brown shoulder-length hair. He is a monster of a man, but even monsters have their weaknesses — we just have to find them. His gaze immediately gravitates towards Anara who walks beside me.
“My favorite pet has returned.” Ataiun reaches towards her. “So Ereon decided to pass you off —”
A spark shoots from her hand and grazes his fingertips, cutting his words off. “Careful,Shache, this pet has remembered how to bite.”
The corridor is filled with the haunting sound of his deep, menacing laughter. “Oh ... the King won’t be happy about that.” He straightens up. “How did you arrive without announcement?”
