“Then she’ll have to take me, too. We can go into the next adventure together.”
He can’t possibly mean that, can he? But when I look into his beautiful violet eyes for what may be the last time, I see nothing but sincerity.
“Well. We can’t have that. Valourian needs her king.” I blow out a breath and wipe my face. “Should we just get it over with? As Sergeant Neville says, no use being late to a place, even if you don’t want to go.”
I smile at the old soldier, but his face is so sad I can’t look at him for long. Still, he nods.
They all do.
I let the key drop to the center of the chain, the softclinkof metal on metal as loud as thunder in the clearing.
A familiar bolt of light shines from the amulet.
A female form appears in the light.
I hear Artemisen’s voice.
But this time, she’s not only in my head or speaking through me.
She’s stronger. We canallhear her.
“Ah, my Solitude,” she says. Her voice is infused with so much sadness it buffets me, nearly driving me to my knees.
But I refuse to bow before justice.
I made the choice. I’ll stand to face whatever fate I earned.
“Mylady, before you take any action against me, I want you to know that Trick died a hero. He gave his life to protect me and this quest. If you … if you see him beyond the stars …” A sob blocks my throat.
“I am sorry you lost your friend. I will watch for him. But we must address your transgression.”
“She did what she had to do, my lady,” Kaelen says, stepping forward and bowing. “If you need to punish someone, take me.”
“No!” I grab Kaelen’s arm. “Never. It was my choice, and the consequences will likewise be mine.”
“You belittle her if you try to shield her, young prince,” the goddess says sternly.
I step slightly in front of Kaelen before his courage gets him killed, too. “I made the choice. Do with me as you must. I’m so sorry I failed you, though.” I have to stop and fight back tears. “I did my best.”
Artemisen tilts her head and considers me, waving a hand to silence the others when they try to defend me. “You did not fail me or the quest, but you violated the balance over which I rule. You used my amulet to kill, no matter that your reasons were sound. You chose to profane the amulet to commit murder.”
“But she had no choice,” Elianna says hotly, her eyes glowing with suppressed power.
Artemisen turns to her. “The Last Kiss of Breath, sorcerer? You protected my amulet with your arts?”
“I did.”
“Well done. But do not question my reasoning. It is not for a sorcerer to argue against the dictates of the gods.” Power, raw and unrestrained, lashes through the air, and we all bow.
Even imprisoned, Artemisen is still a goddess. I hope my friends remember that after I’m gone.
“My lady,” Andras says. “Long have I yearned to free you, but Soli’s actions only helped to guarantee success for our quest. Please spare her life.”
“My Sylvan,” the goddess says sadly but with a hint of fondness for her warrior. “Success without balance cannot hold, or the quest fails.”
“I don’t question you,” I say, swallowing hard. “If I must die for mychoice, so be it. But it wasmychoice. I’ve had little enough cause to determine my own destiny in my life. If doing so leads to my death, I go to my grave with my head held high.”
Artemisen stares at me for so long my skin begins to crawl with dread, anticipating the fire that will, this time, burn me to ashes where I stand.
