The Golden Basilisk (The Lost Ancients Book 5)

by Marie Andreas

  I had no idea how long I stood there holding it before Alric gently took it from me and laid it on the bed.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “That’s pretty,” I said stupidly. My brain had pushed aside all of the horrific things of the past year, our current situation, everything except this gown. Covey would have probably slapped me at this point. I shook my head. “I’m fine. How are your clothes?”

  Alric turned away from the closet holding up a distinguished looking tunic, leggings, and cape combo. It was all black with green and blue trim finely worked on the edges. “If you want a bath before we go, you should probably do it now.”

  I broke away from my gown and trotted off for a quick bath. Alric took one after me, and by the time he came out I was dressed and waiting with Siabiane in the front room.

  Seeing his outfit and seeing him in his outfit were two different things. He was stunning. I admitted that I looked good, but he looked amazing. Black might not normally be a color of the current nobility, but after this ball, that might change.

  Siabiane smiled. “You two will be the stars of the ball. And no one will know who you really are. Sometimes the best place to hide is in public.”

  We went to the hallway outside and Alric held out both arms, one for each of us.

  The palace was huge, but fortunately, or unfortunately, the ballroom was near where we came down the stairs. I would have liked to see more of the palace, but would satisfy my curiosity with the ballroom.

  Alric paused inside the entrance so they could announce us, but it was also my chance to take it all in without tripping over my feet. The delicate shoes that I had on under the gown weren’t anything like my digger boots. The terror and fear of the past few months fell by the wayside as the magic of who the elves were, and who I was at this moment, took over. The room was glorious and magical.

  I followed Siabiane in a simplified curtsy toward the raised dais ahead of us. I was certain she kept it simple so I could copy her, and I was grateful.

  The queen was lovely, regal, and sad. She had more black in her entire gown than any other attendee aside from Alric. She nodded to us, and they announced the next guests.

  The digger part of my brain couldn’t help but try to classify the statues and art that filled the place as we moved forward. I was certain Qianru owned parts of a few of the statues. The floor itself was a work of art, a deep marbled gray worked with delicate designs.

  Siabiane’s version of small and my version of small were two different things. There were easily two hundred people in the ballroom by the time they stopped announcing names. There were a number of curious looks thrown our way, but Siabiane tossed them back with a smile. She might not live in the city, but she was well known enough that her stay-away looks were respected.

  I know Alric was afraid of us giving something away and messing with the future. I was more afraid of making a fool of myself.

  The musicians in the corner started at a nod and wave from the queen. A soft waltz filled the room.

  “Might I have this dance?” Alric gave another of his bows and held out his hand.

  My heart was pounding so hard it felt like a tribe of rakasa were chasing me. I forced a smile and put my hand in his.

  He pulled me close. “You trust me, right?”

  I nodded.

  “Then relax.”

  I took a deep breath and he whirled us onto the dance floor.

  I’d never seen this part of Alric. When I’d met him he was a wanted thief with a nice bounty on his head. Then I found out he was an elf, and a noble born one at that. I’d never seen that side of him until now. Alric was good at adapting new personas, and this was probably another one for him. But it was amazing to see the change from a closed-off, serious tracker and fighter, to a gracious and charming elf noble. If I wasn’t already in love with him, this night would have done it.

  I was so busy thinking of the change in him I didn’t even notice how he was guiding us around the floor for the first few minutes. My feet were following his lead, and while we weren’t doing any of the fancier steps that some of the others were, we were still upright and moving through the floor, which was better than I’d feared.

  The dance ended and I found myself wanting to go back to the dance floor. The next number was an elaborate group dance that looked to involve groups of three. Alric most likely could handle it, but I knew I couldn’t.

  Siabiane came over to us. “You both dance beautifully, and you made many of the palace hens mutter about the two beautiful strangers. Thank you for that. I would like to introduce you both to the queen—actually you caught her eye as well and she requested you be presented.”

  My heart started doing the rakasa rumble again. There wasn’t a logical reason. Aside from thinking they might try to lock me up for the rest of my life, I had been fine meeting the royals of my time in the enclave. But this was the king’s mother. A woman who had ruled at the highest time of the elven empire and lived through its lowest. Knowing what she was about to go through leant a serious turn to meeting her.

  Even seated on her throne, it was clear she was at least as tall as Siabiane, if not taller than her. Her long dark hair was piled severely atop her head and looked to be designed strictly to hold the simple, gold crown in place.

  We bowed and curtsied as Siabiane presented us.

  “I am pleased to meet the people who helped save my friend.” She gave a genuine smile in Siabiane’s direction. “I know she is most formidable on her own, but there are times we all need assistance.” She paused and peered closer at Alric. “I was told neither of you are from here? Yet you show a remarkable resemblance to Lady Marlisa’s little daughter. Not so much to the parents, but very much to the girl. Sadly, she was ill so they did not attend tonight.”

  I’d been glancing between Alric and the queen. We knew there was a chance that family of his would be here. I didn’t know his great-grandmother’s name, but I’d be willing to bet it was Marlisa. The sick little girl was most likely Alric’s powerful grandmother. She’d scared me the only time that I’d met her—it would have been interesting to see her as a child.

  “Thank you, your majesty. I believe our family does have some distant relatives in the capital, but we’ve been in Lathing for a long while.”

  The queen nodded, then a lady in waiting caught her attention with another guest.

  “Thank you both again for your help, and enjoy the rest of the evening.”

  Siabiane nodded to us as well and went to go chat up a few stuffy looking men in the far corner.

  Alric and I were turning away when a soft voice called to us.

  “I can see who you are, my lord.” The speaker was a tiny, bird-like woman sitting alone at a small table for three. She was also the oldest elf I’d ever seen. Her face was lined and wrinkled, but her grin was fierce and her bright blue eyes were intelligent. “I am Nuthaina, and I have been watching both of you.” She patted the chairs next to her. “Please sit, it’s hard for me to make the rounds these days.”

  Alric bowed and held out one of the seats for me, then took the other. He looked extremely uncomfortable, almost as if he was afraid of her.

  “I am Taryn, and this is my husband, Alric.” I was surprised at Alric’s failure to introduce us. He’d sat at her request but was looking wild around the eyes.

  “No, he’s not,” Nuthaina leaned close to me, “but I promise not to tell anyone you’re not married. I also won’t tell them you’re human.” She looked at my ears so pointedly I reached up automatically.

  “No one can see but me. I see all.” She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes at me, then finally shook her head. “Except for you. Human you are, and not his bride, but the rest is blank.”

  A sharp turn to Alric made him jump back a bit. “Now you, on the other hand…why do you fear me?”

  “I don’t. It’s been a long and trying day. I believe we should be getting back to our rooms.” He wasn’t rude, Alric could
channel rude if the need called for it. But he was so rattled by Nuthaina that he was ready to run out of the ballroom.

  “For someone who has lied most of his life, you are suddenly very bad at it. You have heard of old Nuthaina, haven’t you? Maybe a family member long ago had his fortune told and life exposed.”

  She didn’t give Alric a chance to respond, just grabbed his right hand almost faster than I could see, and flipped it over to look at his palm.

  “So much pain, fear, worry.” She traced different areas of his hand.

  I expected him to pull his hand away, he was easily much stronger than she was, but he simply drew his body as far away from her as he could.

  “You have been through much, and most you hide under this.” She patted his cheek. “But you need a purpose, one that is yours and yours alone. You have one, buried in your mark, but it has been forgotten.” She covered his wrist completely with one hand and placed the other where I knew his high elf mark was on his cheek. “This is who you are meant to be, it was passed to you through the noble blood you carry.”

  A quick flash took place under both of her hands and then she allowed Alric to pull free. The mark on his face remained hidden, but on his wrist was a new mark. It was the same color as his high elf marks, but smaller, and vaguely horse shaped. He blocked my view of it by rubbing it.

  “What have you done?”

  “Only what should have been done long ago. There is a heavy heritage you carry in that mark of yours. Did your father die young?”

  He shook his head.

  “Then he failed to tell you the full meaning of your family mark. Your line is an old and powerful one. A family around since the time of our lost Ancients. Your family pledged to kill the person or persons who led to the destruction of the Ancients.” She beamed and rubbed his wrist. “It was a geas, one upon your family. It faded with time, but I have reactivated it and given it power again. You don’t have to worry about doing the right thing in this—you won’t have a choice.” The way she was smiling, she seriously thought this was a wonderful situation.

  Alric looked terrified and I couldn’t blame him. Everyone wondered if what they were doing in life was right, but that didn’t mean they wanted to be locked into a path. Not to mention that magic spells and things like geas weren’t always as straight-forward as expected.

  “Whoever destroyed the Ancients is long gone by now; there is no need for this.” He held out his wrist.

  She patted it and rose to her feet. “Time is more fluid than thought by anyone. You might find yourself facing their destroyer. You will kill them.” Her eyes held his for a few moments and the ballroom felt like it had suddenly gone cold. Then she pulled back and smiled.

  “Have a special evening, you two. You both look so lovely.” She trotted off before Alric recovered enough to respond.

  “What was that, and who was she?”

  The worry on his face was replaced by a scowl. “Soothsayer. I recognize the name, but she wasn’t around in my time.” His eyes looked haunted as he glanced around the ballroom. “Would you mind if we called it a night? It has been a long day, and I suddenly don’t feel like being here anymore.”

  He had my chair pulled halfway out before I nodded.

  21

  I awoke the next morning relishing the soft bed. It really had been far too long since I’d been lying in one. Then I realized I was alone.

  Siabiane had been thorough in creating clothing for me. I even had a nightdress and robe. I tied the robe on and went out to the front room. Alric was gone. Even more disturbing, so were the faeries.

  I went to the window, but it wasn’t that late in the morning, so it wasn’t like I’d overslept. Alric must have woken and decided he needed to skulk around somewhere. In our current situation that wasn’t a bad idea. But I did already miss the charming and gallant man of the previous night. At least the man who had been with me before Nuthaina put a curse on him.

  Alric had briefly explained that it wasn’t a curse per se, but something he would have to do. To me, that was a curse. I agreed that whoever destroyed the Ancients should be punished—if they weren’t already long dead—but being forced to do anything was horrible.

  Looking at the city before me was both awe inspiring as well as heartbreaking. The enclave had been gorgeous, but this city was breathtaking. The view I’d had from the carriage coming in was nothing compared to what I could see from this window. I might not be in the highest building, but I was very close. An entire quarter of the city was spread out before me like an upturned jewelry box. I turned to look out another window, and a familiar shape came into view in the corner. A silvery dome.

  I dropped the curtain as the reality of what was going to happen here slammed into my gut. It might not even be the same building, but that rounded dome reminded me of the room that Locksead had used in Beccia as his hideout. It had been almost intact when it had been swallowed by the gapen trees.

  I went and threw myself on the sofa.

  “We help!” Crusty and Leaf popped out from nowhere and landed on my stomach. It was amazing how much impact two four-inch faeries could make when they landed

  “Where were you two?”

  “You say stay invisible so we do.”

  “I meant when there were strangers.”

  Leaf nodded enthusiastically. “Was stranger. He come, look at you, start to go in, then Crusty bite. Gone now.”

  I sat up immediately and looked for anything I could use as a weapon. “How long ago? Where did he go?” I looked down at Crusty and gave her a rub between her wings. “That was good to do, brave, but too risky. He could have seen you.”

  My heart started pounding. Alric was gone and some stranger had been in our rooms? I knew there was no way Alric would have left the doors unlocked. Unless he hadn’t left voluntarily.

  I went to the door, but it didn’t look broken and the locking mechanism seemed to be working fine.

  I started to ask Leaf how long ago the man came in, or any distinguishing markings about him, but I gave up before I opened my mouth. The girls were not good with descriptions, nor, for that matter, time.

  “I want you to both watch the door and if anyone comes in, and I mean anyone, I want you to sing as loud as you can.” That would get my attention and possibly scare the hell out of whoever was trying to come in.

  I checked the lock once more then went to find something more suitable to wear.

  The clothes Siabiane had found for me—more likely magically created—were all my size. They looked to be new and lovely variations of the beat-up tunic and pants that I’d come in wearing.

  I grabbed a tunic and pants set then looked around for my old boots. They were worn but fit perfectly and I’d made sure they came with us out of the carriage. They were tucked in behind another newer pair.

  Dressed, I gathered the faeries, tucked them inside my tunic, and stuck my head out into the hall. The hallway was empty but since this was the one inside Siabiane’s suites that wasn’t surprising. I went down to her door and knocked softly. It was early, judging by the sun, but I had a feeling she was one of those up-early-and-loving-it type of people.

  I waited a few seconds and knocked again. Still nothing.

  Checking the main hallway, again not terribly surprised it was empty since I was sure there was only one other set of suites on this floor, I went to the stairwell. Up until that moment I’d been worried about some evil folks waiting outside of the locked doors to grab me. So I hadn’t really thought about where I should go next.

  I followed the stairs down to the ground floor. While not as impressive as the main entrance hall, it was far more glamorous than anything I’d ever seen. There were few people up and about and most seemed bent on errands and moving quickly. I wandered around, looking at the art that covered the walls. Small statues set inside alcoves again made me think of Qianru—it was possible she even had some of these in her collection. I’d have to take a better look next time I had the chance a
nd we weren’t all racing about to try and stop the end of the world.

  “Hello, you’re one of our guests, aren’t you?” A soft voice came up behind me and I almost jumped a foot in the air. A tall, thin elf, all in white, but with the royal crest on his left shoulder stood behind me. “They are having a breakfast down that hallway. Take the second set of doors and you’ll find them.” He didn’t even wait for my answer, just gave a small smile, nodded, and went on his way.

  I felt stupid gaping after him, but he was moving too fast for me to politely follow. I was sure I wasn’t one of the guests he thought I was. But I was a guest, and maybe Alric had gone down to get food. And taken Garbage with him? Unlikely.

  Having no better direction to go, and feeling hungry, I followed the elf’s instructions. I could grab food to go and eat as I tried to figure out even where to start looking for Alric.

  The doors were large, but not as grand as the one leading into Siabiane’s suites. The room was a soothing lemon yellow color, with huge windows at the far end. And what looked like enough food to feed an army.

  I was about to go see if I should sit first, or go get food, then sit. I almost screamed when I was grabbed and pulled back behind a rack of fresh bread.

  “Didn’t you get my note?” Alric looked frazzled—something I rarely saw on him. He kept looking around the side of the rack, then pulling me back out of sight of the diners. “There is something bad going on: someone has taken Siabiane.”

  That got my attention. “Who has taken her? And what note? And yeah considering what is coming, there is probably a lot of bad going on.” He wasn’t acting or looking like himself. I felt a kick from one of the faeries. “Where’s Garbage?”

  “Why do you care about the trash? I need you to come with me to the edge of town; we need to get Siabiane back.”

  He pulled on my arm but I pulled back. We were mostly hidden by the rack so I tapped on my tunic. “Leaf, come out and tell me who this is.”

  Leaf came out and even looked around to make sure it was safe. She started to smile at Alric, then shook her head and growled. “Bad man come in room.”