“Eat!” Octiva ordered. “Do not stop eating. Everything must be gone from that tray, or the Bandon will wear off.”
As if awakened from a dream, Queen Zoë picked up the egg, finished it, and made herself another wrap. All the while, Akub waited in confusion. Part of her wanted to return to the simple quiet of Kanton’s cottage.
When the eggs, bread, and part of the potato had been consumed, Queen Zoë fell back against her pillows. “Devourer…”
“Akub,” Akub corrected and leaned back against the wall opposite the bed. “I left that part of myself in the waning past.”
The queen smirked. “Yes, of course. Tell me about this prophecy. This vision.”
Octiva lingered near the bed. “It is a vision, for a prophecy cannot be altered…”
Queen Zoë lifted her hand to silence her. “Akub.”
Akub pushed off the wall and began to pace. “One afternoon I sat alone in the temple meditating. As my spirit centered, the oracle, the goddess, spoke. I saw Veloris completely devoid of life. I came to the ice planet to stop it. I had to save…”
Her.
Queen Zoë looked up at her hesitation.
Akub turned away, her mouth unable to verbalize the fear in her heart.
“Anything else I should know?” Queen Zoë asked, her tone firm, but inquisitive.
“No.” A frown tugged at Akub’s lips. What more did the queen need to know? Either condemn her to death or let her go back to Saturn Four. She had resigned herself to either of these two fates, but by the goddess, pick one. This was her judgment?
“You kidnapped my soul because you meant to save my planet. Irony resides in actions, and now with your plan interrupted, you stand before me without humility. Unflinching. You regret not your actions?”
“No.” Akub would do it again.
“Even if it means your death.” The queen looked over her tented hands. The disbelief in her tone echoed throughout the room.
“Yes. If my actions mean my death, then the Goddess Ana willed it.” Akub’s eyes watered, and she struggled to keep them from spilling over. She held the queen’s confused gaze.
“That is not the action of an assassin or a person seeking the death of a queen. If you meant my death, you would’ve killed me, here, in my bed, unattended. Taking my soul to Saturn Four wouldn’t have provided you benefit either. Valek is no longer alive, and Solance is no longer crafted. The use of soul snatching is almost non-existent.” The queen peered at her. “If not for profit or hate, that leaves only one reason for your actions.”
Akub stiffened. Now she saw where Marion had received his perceptiveness. The queen’s words landed all too close for Akub’s comfort.
“Love.” Queen Zoë broke into a wide grin. “Only an emotion as full of power as that can invoke such reckless actions as yours.”
Akub held her silence, for her actions proved answer enough.
Octiva patted the queen’s leg and stood. “I see that you are feeling much better. Come, Akub.”
As they exited, Octiva sang a song of undetermined origin. The same as yesterday, Akub didn’t know the language, but sorrow reverberated with every note. She decided to not invite questions from the elder.
“Do you see now?” Octiva inquired as they reached the hallway.
Akub shook her head. “No.”
“The ministers will need you. The future you had hoped to stop comes still. If you do nothing, then the oracle’s vision will be realized. The tide has crashed into the castle.” Octiva’s voice rose.
“Elder!” Akub shouted and touched her shoulder. “The guards.”
Octiva hesitated, adjusted her sleeves, and lowered her voice. “The queen visited the Antiqk Oracle many days ago at the onset of the Warming Season. When I found her, unconscious at the feet of the goddess, the illness had taken root and eaten away at her inside. The Bandon purged it from her body, but the images, the vision itself is gone. She is unable to recapture them.”
Octiva spoke rapidly, but Akub heard every word. Nevertheless, it didn’t explain why the queen let her walk out of her chambers or why the elder wanted Akub to help the minister knights when no apparent threat had presented itself. She also understood love.
“Why can’t she recall?” Akub asked.
Octiva held up a stiff palm to silence Akub. “She can’t recall the oracle’s words because they weren’t meant for the queen.”
“Despite the queen’s words, the ministers, her sons, will advocate for my death. Zykeiah will champion it.”
“Your death will not come at the hands of the minister knights.” Octiva’s wrinkles grew more pronounced, her desperation apparent.
Akub pressed her lips together to stay the ugly reply in her throat.
“Follow me.” Octiva spun on her heel and left.
8
Arrival
Manola braced herself as she left the warmth of the Allerton Circle and stepped into the harsh iciness of Veloris’s Northern Forest. It had been ages since she last visited this world, and even longer since she could fully feel its frosty temperatures. When she escaped from Valek, she forfeited her right to be a whole human.
Without a soul, she existed only because of her magical binding in another’s body. Perhaps that made a perfect retribution for her soulless actions over the many years—to be denied her soul and condemned to forever walk among the living, although spiritually dead.
She no longer remembered her previous life or what she looked like, where she came from prior to her soul’s snatching.
It meant Manola couldn’t have her soul returned, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t have another’s soul. Like those trapped in the soul cages, Manola wanted to feel again, to touch, to laugh—to escape the icy hollowness of her existence. To do so, she would have to be cunning. Cut off from Valek’s vast network of buyers, tradesmen, and soldiers, she had little with which to work.
Night had descended on Veloris. Fat snowflakes rained down on her. She wore her black leather bodysuit, stiletto boots, and her gloves. Despite being soulless, Manola could feel faint traces of snow against her skin. She could feel when the pressure touched, but the impact had been blunted. The howling gusts of wind-tossed snow smacked her square in the chest, face, and torso. Its ferocity attacked all those traveling. Stumbling through the snowdrifts, Manola steadied herself by grabbing onto the closest tree.
“The climate here doesn’t suit you, eh?” a young man shouted down to her. He sat astride a hairy, smelly, and gassy beast. “You gotta prepare to come to the ice planet, ma’am. You’re with the others from Saturn Four?”
“Indeed,” Manola shouted and fell in step with the loose traveling group. She peered ahead and saw the trail cut through the forest. A large castle loomed in the far distance.
The man slowed down. He had dark, nearly black hair tied at the nape of his neck. “It’s late for arrivals. Not many come in the evening to Veloris. Are you heading to the castle or to the village?”
Manola didn’t answer, but offered him a weak smile. Something about him tugged at her. Covered in a heavy gray cloak, the man could’ve been a Minister Knight of Souls. She didn’t want to encounter them again. Not after their last interaction. She didn’t doubt they would recognize her on sight, and she hadn’t anticipated the weather. She hadn’t thought at all, only reacted when opportunity arose.
First Saturn Four, and now Veloris. The trail she followed had led her to this hunk of ice and snow. The slick path and ankle-deep snow made walking dangerous. She slipped and almost fell before a gloved hand shot out to steady her. The cloaked man appeared like an apparition at her side.
“You truly aren’t prepared for this weather. Thank the goddess, this is the Warming Season.” He smiled. “Put this on.”
Manola took the gray furry item from him. She shook it, and a large cloth cloak unfolded. She peered up at him. He didn’t offer suspicion, only kindness. “You aren’t a minister knight.”
“No, ma’am. My name’s Kan
ton.” He released her arm and with agility and grace, climbed back onto his animal. He glanced down at her before snapping the reins. The creature made a noise before commencing the trek.
“I’m at a loss for words.” Manola pulled the garment over her head. It covered her torso and stopped just shy of her knees. She realized the item belonged to him, for it was much too long for her. Why would he give a complete stranger his own cloak?
Oh, beware, youngling—I am not some poor pathetic woman.
Kanton tugged on the reins and slowed to her pace. “Come on up. You won’t make it to the castle in those shoes.”
Manola didn’t turn to look at him but kept her pace as she walked with careful footsteps. Beside her, he all but stopped moving forward. She spied him watching her with curiosity etched onto his face.
This continued for a few more minutes, before he caught up to her again. “You won’t ride with me? Suit yourself, ma’am. This weather won’t.”
With that, he rode off.
But not too far off. Although she had rejected his offer, Kanton stayed a few short paces from her. As if feeling the weight of her stare, he looked in her direction, the wind blowing his dark hair into his eyes, before he turned back to the path.
* * *
In Zykeiah’s bedchamber, the minister couldn’t believe her ears or the words coming from Octiva’s mouth. To release the Devourer meant certain death, as she had already proven time and time again. Why had she believed Akub meant no harm? Her former lover hadn’t achieved that name by being a greedy eater. No, the Devourer ate through trust, lives, and currency without fail. No amount of destruction could sate Akub, or so the stories went.
During their relationship, Akub presented no such acts, at least not at the onset, not before Manola got her claws into her. Once that happened, all changed between them.
She had believed Akub because she loved her—still. It had been all she’d given to the goddess in prayer that Akub would one day return to her whole, renewed. Zykeiah didn’t hold to faith as much as others, but she did have it, and what little she had, she possessed toward her love for Akub.
“No, we won’t need her,” Zykeiah countered Octiva.
Even now she wanted to believe. Her grief had become anger.
She walked over to Akub, grabbed her arm, and began pulling her away from the queen’s servant. Elder or not, Octiva didn’t make policy and she didn’t act as defense for the castle or queen—the minister knights did.
“I mean no dishonor to the Ana priestesses or the goddess, but the safety of Veloris and her people are our blood-sworn duties. We’re honor-bound to follow them.” Zykeiah stood on the opposite side of her room, away from the fireplace with Kalah at her right and Akub on her left.
Across from her Marion, Sarah, and Octiva stood.
Octiva kept her eyes on Akub.
What do these two have planned?
“Zykeiah…” Sarah took a step toward them.
“No, Sarah. Not this time. I know the Devourer better than anyone here. I know what she’s capable of doing. She can make you feel stronger and more powerful than anyone. She can convince you that she’s being honest and true, but nothing could be further from the truth. She’ll devour your trust and spit it right back into your face.”
Sarah and Marion exchanged looks. Octiva did not speak. Kalah grunted his approval.
Marion spoke at last. “Of course you knew, Zykeiah. You wanted to take her away from the castle. We know how that all worked out.”
“And your mother has spoken,” Octiva said. “Akub is to leave the ice planet as soon as she is well, without marker.”
Beside her, Kalah crossed his arms in a huff. Marion rubbed his bald head roughly in an attempt to shake off the horrid day. Soon they would all be snipping at each other from the thick blanket of stress that covered the room.
“She should die. Here. Now.” Zykeiah removed her dagger and held it in her hand.
“No! The queen has already rendered her judgment.” Sarah took another step in front of Akub. “Zy, listen. Please.”
Zykeiah watched Sarah with careful eyes as the woman could shoot fire from her palms. She shoved Sarah out of the way and placed the dagger at Akub’s throat. Snatching the woman to her and securing her within striking range, Zykeiah held her fast. Akub’s hair smelled of cold snow, but she didn’t pull away or try to flee.
Why aren’t you trying to escape me, Devourer? Why let me take you captive?
“She hurt you, and now you mean to hurt her in return.” Octiva broke the tense silence. “You speak of duty, yet you ignore the queen’s words.”
Zykeiah held her tongue. The queen forgave too easily. First Amana, now Akub. She marveled at out how none of the ministers tried to stop her. Deep within, she battled against her emotions. As the ministers’ only female, she presented a tough and hardened edge that cast off doubts that she wasn’t capable of handling the responsibilities bestowed upon her.
But underneath, she was still a damaged woman. Her physical battle scars had little comparison to the emotional ones. Her previous relationship with Marion failed, leaving her alone and without companionship. She still loved Akub, and being alone on Veloris had intensified that vacancy in her life.
“Zykeiah!” Kalah shouted, breaking her concentration and bringing her back to the conversation at hand.
“What?” she asked.
Kalah cleared his throat and repeated, “Let her go.”
“I don’t understand her. After the trauma Amana wrought on Marion, the queen did not order her death. Pardoned and allowed her to wed a prince as reward. Now this.”
Marion scowled. “Not as a reward, but as good faith. I value my mother’s and the elder’s wisdom. They see things that we cannot. Leaving Akub in the holding cells is not an option. Those cells weren’t created for people to live in.”
“I don’t understand,” Zykeiah repeated breaking the tense quiet. She released Akub with a push so hard she stumbled. “Stay out of my way, or I will kill you.”
Sarah’s sister had stolen Marion’s soul and fled from the planet, in much the same way that Akub had, but her intentions had been for evil and that alone. Once Marion had been rescued and restored to flesh, the queen had pardoned Amana’s actions because she claimed to be under the influence of Manola.
Even with this last action, Zykeiah did not tell them of her nightmares. The swirling visions of horror…of Manola pulling the strings on a puppet that wielded a sharp knife, cutting off heads, and laughing that unforgettable, gooseflesh-raising cackle.
No, she kept this to herself, feeling as she often did, that it must be dealt with alone.
“There’s nothing else to say. The queen has spoken,” Marion announced.
“Then get out of my quarters.” Zykeiah yanked open the door.
She watched them file out, all avoiding her gaze. Over the many years she spent on Veloris, she’d not always agreed with the queen’s judgments, but this one, it hit her harder than she’d like to admit. She knew Akub better than anyone. Had Octiva or the queen asked for her knowledge of the Devourer?
No.
Once they’d all left, she secured the door and went about tidying her rooms. She poured some warm ale into a glass goblet she’d traded a danker rug for earlier in the week, prior to Akub’s landing on Veloris. She placed the glass on the floor and lay back on her bed. Mentally, she reviewed how much had occurred in the last three rotations.
She blinked to snap herself out of the foul mood that threatened to explode over the matter. Why did she care? Akub had been ordered to leave the planet; if only Akub had listened when Zykeiah told her to do that three rotations ago. Now, they’d come full circle.
Without further thought, Zykeiah checked her thigh dagger and left for the Great Hall. She stopped outside Marion and Sarah’s temporary housing to inquire as to whether they would join her at evening meals. Sarah’s moans of pleasure could be easily heard from the spot where Zykeiah stood. Upon hearing Sa
rah’s moans and Marion’s muffled grunts, she knew they wouldn’t make it to meals that evening.
She headed off to eat alone, as she had done so often before. She entered the Great Hall and noticed that the crowd had thinned out. The few tables that held servants appeared to be wrapping up the meal with after-meal drinks.
Zykeiah took a seat at the minister knights’ table, none of whom were present. Even the queen had continued to take her meals in her bedchamber.
“Good evening, minister.”
Spooked, Zykeiah had slipped her dagger from its holster and positioned the blade at Katya’s throat before she had even finished her greeting.
“Forgive me, minister,” Katya whispered in horror, her color paled.
Zykeiah smiled and re-holstered her dagger. “You spooked me.”
“I seem to be doing that a lot lately,” she explained. “I did it this morn to that new person with the elder.”
Zykeiah usually blocked out Katya’s ramblings and blathering on, but the mention of the elder caught her attention. “The elder?”
Katya put a mug of ale down. “Sure. That new woman, the pretty one. She’s a jumpy lot. What can I get you, minister?”
Akub. Jumpy? Zykeiah pushed it out of her mind because soon the woman would be off Veloris and no longer her problem.
“Grilled henckens and fresh greens tossed with hota fruit.” Zykeiah handed Katya the mug. “No ale tonight. Water will be fine.”
“Oh? Sorry.” Katya sped off toward the Great Hall’s kitchen.
The clamor of the Great Hall seemed somewhat reduced. Perhaps because of Marion, Kalah, and Sarah’s absence or maybe the seriousness of the attack on the queen, Zykeiah could not be sure. Within moments, Katya appeared at her elbow and sat down a mug full of water. Chunks of ice floated in the mug.
“Be right back with your meal.” Katya hurried back into the kitchen.
Zykeiah grinned and thanked her. Her life in the castle hadn’t been terrible, considering where she’d come from. As of late, her emotional state had become vulnerable. Seeing Akub again had dredged up much pain and anguish, but also reminders of the benefits of having a lover.
Devourer: A Minister Knight Novel (The Minister Knights Series Book 2) Page 7