I didn’t notice the absence of her staff until now.
“That’s why only the high priest and his priestesses go into the veil where the river is. You were sent there…” She shook her head, clicking her tongue as she did. “Because all reigning monarchs do. Kings before you all knew the truth, but Vahaga was gauging your reaction to meeting your supposed guide. He’d hoped your father would be the first to reach you.”
“That’s what I told him.”
“Finally.” She raised her eyebrows, pinching her lips together. “A sensible decision.”
My patience was wearing thin. “Why does he want me to kill Vahaga?”
“He said Vahaga is a threat to you and that one of you will be the cause of the other’s death.” She pulled a dagger from a sheath attached to her hip, widening my eyes. “Make sure you’re the one to do it first.”
“You want me to murder the high priest?”
“Yes, Winter. I want you to murder the high priest, then get the Sword of Impervius and stab it into the beating heart of the veil.”
“Why?”
“Because it will destroy the spirit realm.” A tear trickled down her cheek. “I have already said good-bye to my son. He wants to be at peace, and once I know you are safe and Vahaga is dead, I want you to let your brother free.”
Prickles of cold ran through my arms as I picked up the sharpened dagger. It had a ruby handle, and I was sure she’d taken from the royal collection. She unfastened the sheath and handed it to me too. “It has to be you. André was clear; one of you must cause the other’s death.”
“Why help me? I know you want to help André, but why help me?”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “I know I have been hard on you.”
I scoffed a laugh. “Understatement.”
“I’ve had to. We are royals, born to lead, and I’ve had to act out of duty, but I have always cared for you. You are my daughter. Now.” She clicked her tongue, turning her back toward me. “Let me know when it’s done, and don’t mess it up.”
I shot her a scathing look. “I didn’t with my father, and I won’t with Vahaga.”
She arched an eyebrow, turning slowly to face me. “What did you say?”
“You heard me. You keep thinking I’m not strong or know duty, but you have no idea what I’ve had to do to get where I am.”
The corner of her eye twitched. “Well then.” An air of composure returned to her features. “Get on with it.”
TWENTY-THREE
Vahaga’s snakelike eyes latched onto me as I tried to move through the hallway. “Your Majesty.” His sly voice slithered through me.
My heart raced as he closed the gap between us, the corner of his lip curled up into a sneer.
“I’m so glad you survived the attack, at your own coronation too.” He shook his head. “I can’t possibly know how it feels to have one’s own people hate you. I’m so sorry.”
I ran cold. The snarky, bold Winter I had faced him with was gone. The man standing in front of me was dangerous. He’d taken secret meetings, Nissa had said, and now I knew he was the most likely enemy to have orchestrated the attack. He was lying to almost every person in Magaelor, keeping us using magic, fueling the spirit realm so it remains, and harnessing energy from poor souls like my brother. I was sure the only reason my brother had been able to get through or wasn’t drained completely was because my father had perhaps tried to take care of him. Even he loved my brother. But my brother was a good man and, even in death, was trying to do the right thing.
“I’m just glad my guards were there to intercede.”
His gaze darkened. “It seems there is always someone there to protect you.”
“I can protect myself.”
He leaned down to whisper in my ear. “We shall see.” He pulled away, entwining his hands over his stomach and resting them against his pristine white robes. The many rings on his fingers jangled together. “The treasonist swines have been caught. They will be executed this afternoon.” He paused, watching me carefully.
I made sure to give nothing away in my expression. “Good. Let them hang. Anyway, I have meetings I must attend. The Ruby Circle is coming up soon, as it was delayed. I want to prepare.”
“I won’t keep you then.” His expression relaxed. He strode away, and I smiled, letting him think I was preoccupying myself with traditions and meetings. I couldn’t have him suspecting where I was going. Adius would be waiting for me.
Looking at my reflection, I didn’t even recognize myself, let alone worry about anyone else seeing who I was. I was ready in disguise, wearing the outfit of a kitchen server with flour powdered onto my cheek and hay hanging on the threads at the edge of my skirt. I wore an old, battered cloak taken from one of the maids, and I pulled the hood over my knotted bun. Shadows from the hood cast my features into animosity.
Adius gripped his staff, and rage pulsed through me. “Do me a favor. Don’t use that anymore.”
His eyebrows knitted together. “Why not?”
I couldn’t admit to what I knew without giving everything away. I trusted Adius with my life, but he was as religious as they came, and I didn’t want to test his loyalty between his queen and his beliefs. “Nothing. Forget I said anything.”
“Majesty?”
“Please, let’s get going.” I swallowed hard, but the lump in my throat didn’t move. “They’ll be hung in a couple of hours. I don’t want to get caught.”
He nodded curtly. “Walk out behind me carrying this.” He thrust a tray into my hands. “Don’t speak, and follow several steps behind me. I’ll meet with my men at the entrance by the dungeons, then you will go down with water for the prisoners.”
I inhaled sharply. “Let’s go.”
The door swung open, and Adius addressed to the two guards standing on either side of my door. “Her Majesty is taking her rest for the afternoon and will not be disturbed for the next couple of hours. Send any visitors away.”
“Yes, General.”
My stomach felt like jelly as I stepped out behind him. Neither of them even looked at me. The tray clattered against the metal jugs. I kept my head down, only watching Adius’s knee-high black boots strode across the hallway. Every so often, he’d glance back to check I was still following him. I held my breath as Lord Abor passed us, anger lacing his features, but he didn’t notice me. It was kind of freeing to walk around so freely without everyone jumping to attention and bowing or curtseying. I was going to keep this disguise for the future, in case I wanted to sneak out so I could be alone.
Someone walked into me, sending the water jugs clashing to the ground. Panic widened my stare when I saw it was Corbin.
Fortunately, one of the housekeepers was nearby. “Clumsy girl. Apologize to Lord Corbin.”
I had never called him that. He was only allowed the title because he was the eldest son of a lord.
Corbin tapped his foot. It had been his fault, not mine.
“Sorry,” I said as softly as I could. I distorted my voice, hoping he wouldn’t recognize it.
He clicked his tongue, then turned on his heel. I breathed relief when he walked away, and the housekeeper snapped, “Clean this up.”
“Right away.” I bowed my head, keeping my features hidden as much as I could.
After picking up the jugs, I rushed to find Adius. I turned left down a narrow hallway and found him leaning against a wall, a foot pressed up against it. Relief flooded his expression when he saw me. I looked down at the empty jugs, feeling a knot in my stomach. Already one thing had gone wrong.
I emerged into a windowless corridor barely big enough for two people to walk down. At least we were alone. His hair looked a pale gold under the light of oil lamp.
“I’ve talked to the guards. The others are waiting for us at the entrance. Leave the tray here. You won’t need it with the jugs empty. I’ll make another excuse for you going down there.”
I nodded, placing the tray on the uneven ground. Our footsteps clicked, ec
hoing as we reached a large, bolt-studded wooden door. On either side of it were two guards wearing the same red uniforms as Adius, without the medals.
“Are Rodney, Christian, and Jameson already here?” he asked the balding man.
He shook his head. “Not yet, we’ll send ’em down when we see ’em.” The guard looked at me, tilting his head. “Why’s she here?”
“She’ll be coming to help clean up, should we go a little for questioning.” He winked, and the guard laughed.
“Go get ’em,” he said. “You show those treasonist bastards.”
“Will do.”
I walked behind Adius, then jumped when the same guard slapped my behind. My eyes widened, and fury balled my fists.
Adius looked back, then growled under breath. “Killian!”
“What? She’s got a nice ass.”
I gritted my teeth, turning red. “That doesn’t mean you can grab it.”
Adius squeezed my shoulder. “I’ll deal with him. Come on.” He turned me around, then walked me down the steps and into the dungeons.
“He didn’t know who you were,” Adius said.
I looked at him incredulously. “It doesn’t matter. He shouldn’t be grabbing anyone like that. Make sure you deal with him, Adius, or I will.” I scowled, trying to refocus on the task at hand, but he had blinded me with anger. Were all servant girls treated like that? “You can ensure disciplinary action for anyone doing anything like that in future. If I hear of it, I’ll be much harsher with my punishments.”
He nodded slowly, looking abashed. “Of course, Majesty,” he whispered and creaked open a second door. I followed him past wrought-iron bars and sniveling prisoners. Rats squeaked, running as our feet hit the stone near them. The only light seeping through came through tiny square windows at the top of the cells.
“We don’t have much time.” I quickened my pace to match his.
“Here.” He stopped next to a cell with the man I recognized from the coronation. My disguise was worth nothing down there.
His expression charged with anger when he saw me. “Come here to kill me yerself?” His nostrils flared. “False queen.”
I gripped the bars, looking down at the hunched figure shackled to the wall. “Who claims I killed my father?”
He snarled. “Someone who wouldn’t lie.”
“I can take a good guess who that is, but I need you to confirm it.”
He spat on the ground, his expression darkening as he stood. “I’d rather hang than help you.”
“You will.” My expression hardened. “Your death will mean nothing. You will feel the life squeezed from your neck for nothing but a lie unless you tell me who told you. I can spare your life and give you a lesser sentence if you only give me the name.”
“It’s not a lie.”
“I never killed my father.”
“Yes, you did. You were seen.”
Panic flicked my gaze to his, and he smiled sinisterly. “There it is. The truth. No man or woman can hide it, not from their eyes.” His eyes bulged, making him appear unhinged. “You can put that rope around my throat. I’ll be welcomed and rewarded by the ancestors.”
I scoffed a laugh. “You’ll be punished for attempting to murder your queen. I was appointed by them.”
“When everyone finds out you killed the great King Amos, you’ll face a far worse execution than me.”
My stomach knotted. “Even if it were true, which it isn’t,” I lied, “why do you care?”
“We are in service to the ancestors. They will reward us.”
I shook my head. I knew it already in my gut, but I wanted to see if he’d flinch. “Vahaga is not a good man, and the ancestors are not who you think they are. There is no peaceful spirit realm. We’ve all been lied to. Whatever promises he made you, they will not be kept. You will have died for nothing.”
Anger guided his tone. “Vahaga will see that you are dethroned and your head rolls.”
I smirked. “Vahaga.” I smirked toward the ceiling. “Thank you.”
The man cursed as I walked away. Adius walked to my side, looking pale even under the dim light. When we were out of earshot, he grabbed my shoulder and turned me to face him. “What did you mean by all of that? Was it a scare tactic?”
I closed my eyes for a moment. “Adius, I’m sorry, I don’t want to lie to you, but I know how religious you are.”
“Tell me.”
I inhaled deeply. “The spirit realm is just an energy trap for the souls who aren’t elders, or monarchs, or priests or priestesses. Their energy is drained to give us magic. It’s like torture for them. I went to the soul river, and so did my mother.”
Suspicion crowned his eyes. “What happened?”
“My brother told us the truth, at great cost to himself. He was in pain and was dragged from me. He took a risk divulging the betrayal. We have all been lied to.”
“Maybe he was lying.”
“You knew André!” I cried. “You know he wouldn’t lie about something like this. It’s true and I’m going to prove it. Please, no matter how much this upsets you and whether you choose to believe it, keep this to yourself. I’m trusting you.”
He didn’t say anything.
“At least I know for certain Vahaga was behind the attack,” I said, changing the topic. “Now he will pay.” I felt the dagger press against my thigh as we walked, hidden under the skirt of my dress. The necromancer pushed against the barrier of the potion, relishing in my sinister instincts. Did I enjoy it?
TWENTY-FOUR
Morgana’s skin looked as if it had lost contact with the bone beneath. Her orb-like eyes were sunken back into her eye sockets. Her gaze drifted to mine, but the stare did not belong to her. I’d decided to come down to see if there was a flicker of her left. I needed her. Adius had left me alone, only after I’d ordered him too.
“Morgana, I know you’re in there.” A cold draft passed through the cell, through the bars she sat behind, and out through the other side, to me. I straightened myself on the rickety wood stool, my vision obstructed by the wrought-iron bars keeping her in and the rest of us safe.
“Your friend is no longer here.” He spoke in her voice but hissed the end of each word. “Soon I’ll have you too.”
“She’s not gone. Her soul is in her, and I bet she’s putting up a hell of a fight.”
“I could bring her back.”
“I will never let you out of this cell, and the fact you’re still in here tells me Morgana already bested you.”
His sinister smile faltered. I accepted it was no longer her I was talking to, in any part.
I gritted my teeth, motivated by the intelligence and strength Morgana had shown. “She took something to prevent herself from ever doing magic again.”
“She is a fool.” The smell of sweat and urine wafted by us.
“She’s smarter than you,” I snapped, leaning forward. He’d said “she is,” not “she was.” Confirmation. I smiled, knowing my mentor, my friend, was still savable. She had known he was going to take control. It was why she’d asked me to lock her away, to ensure he couldn’t hurt anyone. She must have done a spell or took a potion to stop herself from performing magic again. He housed her body now, and she’d ensured it was useless to him.
He snarled. “Do you know how many have gone against me in the centuries I have walked this world? I am unbeatable. I am immortal. No dagger or sword can kill me.”
“How exhausting it must be to live such a long and pointless life.”
“There is not one thing you can try that another has not. Many have tried to kill me, and none have succeeded.”
“I can trap you.”
He laughed, a sinister, hollow echo of one. “I’m trapped now, and yet here I am.” He gestured at Morgana’s body. “Still able to force myself into this world and time.”
I didn’t reply, mostly because the realization shuddered me into silence. He was in another place, like the spirit realm, and if he was trapped a
nd still able to reach through and inflict this sort of damage, then I hated to think what he could do if he were here in the flesh.
“You can bring her back.” His calculating stare focused on me. “She is dying, and in days, she will be nothing but bones and flesh.”
Prickles of cold stood the hairs on my arms on end. I licked my dry lips, casting my gaze to the floor. I couldn’t let her die. He knew I would do anything to help her; he was a part of me after all. “How are you inside me and her?” My eyebrows knitted together. “It’s as if your soul is fractured.”
“You will be surprised to see what I can do. You’ll find out soon enough.”
“I won’t because I will have more potion soon.”
He rolled his eyes. “Morgana, however, does not. It’s too late to give it to her. If you had been less preoccupied with your role as queen and instead helped your friend, knowing what was happening, you could have found a way to make more, enough for you both. Your lack of care in your relationships has only benefited me.”
I swallowed thickly. “I didn’t know she wasn’t taking any.”
He snarled. “You did know it was running out.”
Perhaps he was right. It hurt to think I was partially responsible for what was happening to Morgana. Blaise had sent his men into the forest to find anumi bones. He told me this morning he’d find a way to make more of the potion to keep the necromancer at bay. It made my stomach twist to think of how many of his men would be torn apart to do it. The anumi were highly territorial beasts, with a hunger for blood. There was no way any person could venture into those trees and take the creature’s bones without becoming dinner themselves. Fortunately, for me, the fae were immortal enough that they could survive an attack. It didn’t mean it wouldn’t hurt.
“Morgana,” I said, hoping my being there would flicker her soul to come to the surface.
He laughed. “Your arrogance is astounding. Do you honestly believe you are so special that your mere presence is enough to bring her back?” He spat; saliva trickled down Morgana’s bottom lip. “You’re a child, and I have nothing to fear of you. If you want to save her, then you will give me what I ask for, or watch your friend die.”
The Fate of Crowns: The Complete Trilogy: A YA Epic Fantasy Boxset Page 71