If we were crowned. Ethan acted like we were going out for coffee, not drinking a deadly nectar that might turn us insane.
The carriage jostled on our way to the palace. Ethan placed a hand on my knee for comfort. The only words he spoke were, “I love you.”
“And I love you.” The declaration was more than a promise. It was a vow that we’d conquer this as one.
When the carriage stopped in front of the palace, I looked up at its looming monstrosity. It was empty, searching for me to fill it, and thus had never been more intimidating.
There were literally thousands of people waiting around the palace when we exited the carriage. A collection of cheers and boos resounded through the air. I couldn’t decide if the public loved us or hated us. Ethan kept his head high. I wanted to look down at the ground and hide, but I decided that wasn’t very queen-like, so I took his arm and kept my eyes ahead as we fixated on the woods.
The crowd parted as we moved forward. I expected someone to jump out at us, try to stop us from partaking in the Trial. After all, there were no guards stationed around the area to keep us protected. But the Arcanea held back, and let us pass as the cobblestone ended and our feet hit grass.
We wandered past the wall surrounding the palace, and headed into the woods. No one followed us— only Circle members, priestesses and royals were permitted into the Sacred Gathering on any day but Heimskanun, upon penalty of death. If the ceremony was to be successful, we had to go alone.
We roamed nearly half a mile into the woods before I felt power tingling up and down my arms. I’d never been to the Sacred Gathering, but my magic thrummed inside of me as we approached, telling me this was a special place.
There was a break in the trees. A circular clearing had been cut into the forest, flaming torches forming yet another circle within the woods. A massive cauldron hung in the center of the circle, suspended on three chains. Inside of the cauldron was a thick golden brew, which bubbled and stewed above the light of a meager flame. The area smelled like honey, ambrosia, and white wine.
Ethan had told me the Sacred Gathering was a holy area, meant for only our most powerful ceremonies and our most consecrated rituals. Strong magic was born here, and what was wrought was not for the faint of heart.
I think I’d underestimated his tales of the Gathering. I hadn’t expected this much power to be in one place. My illusion magic wanted to jump out of my skin at the mere touch of the Gathering’s power.
Stationed around the Gathering were the newest members of the Circle. I didn’t recognize most of them. They were young, and obviously wealthy, judging by the state of their clothes.
As promised, Lady Magdalina had managed to get Stefan installed on the Circle, speaking for the dragon Faction. He was a lord now, and Delmare was his lady. Both of them were dressed nicely, Stefan in a dark hussar’s uniform, and Delmare in a long-sleeved, black corset dress. They gave us encouraging nods as we passed, which moved the stone of nervousness in my gut just a little.
I did a double take when I saw Finlay standing amongst the Circle members. Lady Magdalina must’ve pulled some strings with the rest of them, because it was hardly believable that she’d put Finlay on the parliament.
Amantha wasn’t with him— as she wasn’t his mate, only his girlfriend, and of the griffin Faction, she probably wasn’t allowed to come. That gave us one less vote.
Beside the Circle members were priestesses, dressed in the traditional garb of deerskins and antlered headdresses, runes tattooed across their skin and eyes blackened with soot from the fire. There were seven of them, from young to old. Six priestesses danced around the Sacred Gathering, shaking their staffs and weaving their heads to music that the youngest played on skin drums.
The oldest priestess was at the cauldron in the center, taking herbs out of a leather bag on her side and tossing them in. I realized I recognized her— she’d been the high priestess that had performed the ceremony Ethan and I had observed during my first Heimskanun. She paid no attention to the Circle around her, merely sang Malovian words under her breath and continued to add more ingredients to the cauldron. She circled her hand over the brew, stirring it with her magic, and my mouth went dry.
Lady Magdalina called the group to attention by clearing her throat. The priestesses continued their music as she spoke, drums lingering in the background.
“Since we do not have a steward, I will lead the meeting,” she began. “Normally, Circle members must be installed by a king or queen, but this is a time of civil war, and desperate times call for desperate measures. As the last surviving member of the original Circle, it is within my rights to install the rest of you on this new council. Those who have left with Queen Gabriella are considered to have committed treason, and therefore, have lost their right to govern. All of you took your oaths last night— the only thing that is left to decide is who shall be the next king and queen.”
She gestured to us. “As you all know, this is Ethan Nowak, son of King Lycus. I have seen fit to restore his good name, and his royal standing amongst the fae now that the man who made the ruling to take away that name is dead. His mate is Emmaline Sosna. They are here to take the Trial of Tears, and prove their worthiness for the crown.”
The members of the Circle said nothing, and my hands shook anxiously. Magdalina had probably made them all agree to accept us as monarchs, as part of the deal for putting them on the Circle, but they could change their minds at any time. I wasn’t convinced we had allies here.
Lady Magdalina nodded to those gathered in the clearing. “I believe if we are to work together, we need introductions. For the dragon Faction, we have Lord Slasky, and his mate, Lady Irena. Lord Slasky is of royal blood, the grandson of King Benevir, and therefore, has good standing to be on this council.”
Nobody objected to Stefan and Delmare’s presence, which lessened the tension in my back. At the very least, I wanted two of our friends among us.
“Continuing on, we have Lord Lockett, and his mate, Lady Elowen, also representing the dragon Faction,” Lady Magdalina said. “For the alicorns, we have Lord Bennett and Lady Raelinn, as well as Lord Eryk and Lady Ursa.” Magdalina gestured to the four blondes collected together at our right.
With a double take, I realized that the pale face of one of the alicorn lords was entirely too similar— though the person I recalled with his features was long since dead. Albin Eryk had taken his own life after his mate, Krystyna Manfred, had been killed by Gabby during the King’s Contest. Lord Eryk had to be Albin’s brother. Clearly, he was out for revenge against Gabby by joining this council.
Lady Magdalina shifted her attention to the left. “For the griffins, we have Lord Deverel, and his mate Lady Bella, as well as Lord Gray and Lady Renia.”
I glanced at the faces of the griffins she’d introduced, and didn’t get anywhere. I expected to be able to read these people, but almost everyone appeared ice-cold. I couldn’t tell their motives, or what they wanted by being on the council. What was more, Lady Magdalina was the oldest person here. There wasn’t a person on this Circle besides her that was over thirty-five. What was she trying to do?
“Finally, for the wolven Faction, we have myself, and Lord Dunbar, leader of the Malovian Revolution,” Magdalina finished.
The moment she said Finlay’s name, Lord Gray immediately erupted. He stomped his way in front of the other griffins and pointed an accusing finger at Finlay. “Why ishehere?” Gray sneered. “If you ask me, he should be on trial for treason!”
“Lord Dunbar was a critical factor in getting King Elijah off the throne,” Magdalina replied coolly. “He deserves a place on this council.”
