I hold on to her tighter … asking again, “Why are you here?”
She sighs deeply, and nods her head to me. I lower my sword as she takes a step back. She retreats back into Thylas’ room. The four of us follow her.
“I guess the time for secrets is over,” she says, before she sits on the edge of the bed. “My name is Shahri, and I thought when you returned Princess” — she looks at Carnaxa — “that you would return with my son. I was just searching for him.”
“Your son?” Siphonie asks from where she stands in the room's corner with Rhenor. Rhenor’s hand holds hers and his thumb graces the back of her knuckles.
“Thylas.” Shahri smiles sadly. “I just wanted to see him.”
“Thy’s mother has had no contact with him since he was thrown into the Great Sea. I saved him when he washed up on these shores,” Carnaxa speaks up. “I don’t know what you want from this charade, but I promise you, there is nothing to gain here.”
“I know ...” Shahri twirls her long hair with her fingers. “I was once a handmaiden of your mother’s, Prince. Atlas found me in your mother’s room. Cleaning was all I was doing. I tried to scream for help, for anyone who could hear me, but there was no one. The tonics to prevent pregnancy aren’t allowed in Shaston, as you know. I had no choice but to keep the child — and I did my best to hide him.”
“Your mother, Loraelin” — Shahri looks at me — “owed me a favor. So she did what she could. She started spinning a story of how I was aKiTor’s nlottirin the castle, because by then I was already married to Reph. A bargain struck by my father. Loraelinhoped the King wouldn’t remember me on face alone, so long as she could make it seem as if I was never in her service, then we might have a chance. And we did for a while.”
“Then why were you in Midaeliea?” Carnaxa asks as she walks to me, and I sling my arm over her shoulder. My mother. I always knew she had a kind heart and tried so hard to keep me safe, but I never realized she would do it for a complete stranger.
“I don’t know how King Atlas found us, but he did. After Reph tried to kill Thylas, I couldn’t stand it anymore. He beat me when he took Thylas. I had a plan but wasn’t able to put it into motion before that night. I pretended to be dead til he left and then I found someone who was rumored could be bribed by coin, and bought safe passage into Midaeliea. Your mother, all those years before she ...” Her dark blue eyes shine with sorrow. “She couldn’t deal with your father anymore. She sent me a note informing me of who to go to if I ever wanted out. She gave me coin and a letter I was to take to Queen Natala. Loraelin was ashamed of herself for not being able to protect you, but she had faith that you would be okay and that, hopefully, all this would end.”
“I didn’t know Thylas had been saved, not until Queen Natala came back from a trip to Antalis. She told me the story of a boy washed up on the kingdom’s shores and rescued by the Princess. Queen Natala said he looked so much like Atlas that she knew he was my boy. But it was too late by then to be the mother he needed. So I moved on with my life going by the name Emi, and was blessed enough to find my current husband. When you came to my stand withBelitSiphonie, I knew you were the one Natalatold me about because of your beautiful hair. You are the daughter of prophecy and you rescued my son those many years ago.”
Siphonie’s eyes seem to look at her with questions. “You said one of your sons was a soldier in Midaeliea?”
The woman gives a smile. “I’m proud of the man he became, but I couldn’t say who I was. Not then. My other children and I have had a peaceful life in Midaeliea and Thylas has become a man of honor. I was scared, but I also didn’t realize Thylas was with you in Midaeliea, at least not until I saw him next to your carriage as you departed. But that’s why I had a wedding dress hidden in your luggage, thanks to Natala. A thank you of sorts for you and your family’s kindness.”
“You are the one who made the dr —?” Carnaxa says, her eyes filling with sorrow.
“Why didn’t you come find him? He’s worried about you for many lunar years? And he has siblings? He wouldn’t have been alone all this time,” Rhenor sternly says, cutting off Carnaxa.
“And tell him his father is the King of Shaston? He was kept away from his siblings for most of his life. I worried daily about his striking resemblance to that evil man, I couldn’t risk him being found. Every time I asked Natala what she knew, she said he was happy. I wanted him to grow up happy in Antalis, rather than suffer what the horrors of Shaston would have done to him.”
“Worried he would have ended up like me?” I ask before I can stop myself. Carnaxa looks up at me, putting her hand on my chest. I let my arm squeeze tighter around her. “Why would my mother help you, though? I don’t understand.”
Shahri stands up and walks to me. “You’ve never guessed.” She holds out her wrinkled hand, wanting mine. I let go of Carnaxa and she steps away as the woman grabs my hand. “You don’t burn with fire like King Atlas. Even your skin, it’s cool to the touch and if I had to guess, with all the magic doing wild things, you don’t have his flames either.”
“How did you know?” I ask.
“Queen Loraelin dreamed of a different life.” She shrugs and my hand drops as she releases it. “She helped me because I was the one who helped her see her beloved from Antalis. He was a fine soldier, one who often traveled to Shaston and Midaeliea. She played her part and remained shrouded, and only spoke to whomever your father sent to chaperone her – at least in public. But that didn’t change the love that bloomed between them. I don’t know when it started, but I found them together one night — brought in through your father’s whore road. She was so worried I would say something. But I would never. He was called to his home with the Goddess, and your mother couldn’t stand the thought of never seeing him again. Even though their union created you, she wanted to be with him.”
“I’m not ...” I run my hands down my face, turning in circles. “No ...”
“Natala sent me here. She saw the love between Thylas and Carnaxa. We thought I would see him when you returned. Where is he?”
Carnaxa twists her fingers together. “In Shaston.”
“But that means ... no, he can’t be. The prophecy.” Shahri turns quickly to Carnaxa and grabs her by the shoulders. “No, if he’s near his father, that means Atlas can perform thepyu ningpi. He can’t do that! This was supposed to end. Atlas was supposed to end. If he can control Thylas ...”
fifty-seven
Carnaxa
It is nice to walk the halls of my home, but even nicer to be back in my room. Even if it lacks the personal touches I took with me to Shaston, this is my sanctuary. This room holds so many memories, a place I thought I would never see again. The white and blue marble is cold as I kick off the thick boots that I’ve become accustomed to wearing. As I walk, I stretch my toes and let out a deep sigh, feeling relieved as I take off my leathers. I spot a forgotten night gown in a shade of purple and quickly grab it. The barely-lit room is filled with the refreshing sweep of salty air as I gaze ahead.Ereon stands outside on my balcony, gripping the railing as he looks up to the moon.
He found out tonight that most of his life was a lie. His hair is ragged from having his fingers brush through it so many times. He still wears his Shastonian armor. I walk up and wrap my arms around him, burying my face in his back. I take a deep breath, and it suddenly makes sense. How he has always been a cooling presence, his smell of citrus and rain. I thought he was just unique, but no, his blood hails from the same kingdom as mine.
His hands come down and hold mine in place across his waist, his thumb idly grazing the back of my fingers.
“I can’t help but think how things could have been different if —” He cuts himself off and straightens up. “It doesn’t matter.” He releases my hands and turns to face me.
