“Let us assume you are correct, Your Holiness. Then it would be safe to say you knew my intentions, yet you invited me to join the guardians anyway. Your actions would suggest you either considered entertaining my purpose, or you lured me here as a means to curb my actions on the matter by controlling me through the vows of your order.”
Jezra raised an eyebrow, impressed by his audaciousness to give an honest answer. Her grin was the confirmation he needed. There was indeed a hidden motivation for her in this situation, which meant the bargaining would begin now. He was curious as to what the high priestess had in mind. Clearly, she was not the holy and spiritual figure the kingdom assumed her to be. She came off as more of a politician than a temple figure.
He was ready for anything she might suggest even though he had no real intention on bargaining for Raiven. Sytravious believed control over the priestess’ life did not belong to anyone but the priestess herself. However, if it helped him to get closer to Raiven, then he would lead anyone into believing he would play by his or her twisted rules.
“While the vows of the temple bar you from pursuing her, they can hardly prevent anything from happening between the two of you. I am the High Priestess of Valcrest after all, and no one can court her until I have deemed it so. You do not honestly think you are the only one interested in my young beauty?”
The way she referenced Raiven as if she was her property sickened him, and he had to restrain himself from grabbing the wine pitcher and breaking it over her head.
“No, I am aware of the competition, but once again, why are we even having this conversation now? Someone as wise and influential as yourself must have a specific reason to invite me to dinner, yet leave the general locked outside these walls.”
Jezra chuckled, and Sytravious reminded himself he must be more cautious with what he revealed. His emotions had gotten the better of him for a moment, but she did not seem concerned.
“You are much more clever than anyone gave you credit for, but I suspected as much. To be so patient in hiding your worth all this time, living as a smith in the slum district, all the while being capable of defeating the kingdom’s best warriors. Yes, you are someone I can use indeed, physical superiority, wit, and youthful. Your ambition has paid off and I have special plans for you, Sytravious. That is, if you are willing to hear me out.”
“Go on.”
“As you might know, King Lucas is getting old and frail, sitting on his throne while the dust settles on his robes. He has never been an active ruler and is content to let the wheels of the government turn as they will, while ignoring the glaring threats our kingdom faces,” she said, pausing to take a sip of her wine.
“Nobody thought much about King Lucas’ lack of verve when it came to his leadership, being he had a capable heir in Prince Just, an impressive leader who had the thirst for greatness his grandfather once had. However, due to a series of unfortunate events, the prince was dispatched to the south to battle with an enemy that never posed any serious threat to us. Womachs are barbaric beasts and it is beneath the royal army to deal with them. The creatures should have been the sole responsibility of the southern forces to handle, but someone convinced the prince it would be glorious for the king’s own son to march a brigade - a single brigade - into the unknown lands beyond the Foxfire Woods. King Lucas, of course, just let the prince do as he pleased, believing his military leaders knew what was best. Now, we have no heir to the Crown and have lost an entire brigade of the royal guards.”
“As much as I appreciate the lesson, Your Holiness, I fail to see how I fit into any of this.”
“It will become clear to you soon enough. Normally, I stay out of these matters, being that military strategy is something that should be left to the commanders of the armies, but my issue is this… Kenshiro is the very man who convinced the prince to march south. It was foolish to send the heir to the throne. It was something the general should have done himself, but instead, he advised the king to send all the other generals on the same campaign with the prince. Every other general knew better, and tried to object to the king’s demands, but they were sent nonetheless.”
Kenshiro’s genius plan to remove every one of his rivals in one masterful move impressed Sytravious. He did not even have to dirty his own hands, and left the king to shoulder the blame for any wrongdoing. The final result was that he was left as the most experienced and adorned military leader in the armies.
“Now, we both know Raiven has had many suitors, but there have been none worthy of such a marriage. We are also both aware of the fact that Kenshiro has been pursuing Raiven for himself. I believe the general has overstepped his boundaries. He seeks to reach the throne himself one day, no matter the casualties. I am no fool, nor am I blind. For him to be the highest-ranking military commander in the army, have the King’s ear and trust, all this while there is no living heir to his throne - well, let us just say that his marriage to the priestess will only boost his chances of taking over the kingdom one day.”
He considered her insinuations. If what Jezra said was true, then Kenshiro was indeed a foe to be weary of, one who would do anything to accomplish his goals. Unfortunately, for the general, so would Sytravious.
“Your Holiness, I understand your concern, but once again, how can I help you?”
She leaned in and spoke in a low voice, “In the event of Lucas’ death, Kenshiro would become king, and that would be very bad for Valcrest. He has never cared much for the temple, which is evident in his desire to turn its prized priestess into a trophy wife. Under his watch, the temple would be reduced to an optional religious house, for the sole purpose of worship, while the Crown assumes all aspects of protection for the kingdom. A man as selfish and cunning as Kenshiro cannot be trusted to safeguard anything but his own interests, and must never reach that level of power.”
Her passion regarding the subject had reached borderline insanity. Her eyes were animated as she talked to him with enthusiasm. He could tell this woman despised Kenshiro, and she was willing to go to extreme measures to prevent him from achieving his supposed goal.
“Now, pay close attention, Sytravious. Contrary to what the king believes, the real threat to Valcrest lies on the west, not the south. Moruz has been a sleeping giant for far too long, and it is only a matter of time until they attack our shores with full force, but if the temple is reduced to nothing and Kenshiro is in charge, this kingdom is doomed. The temple must be kept in the fold when it comes to protection, more so than ever. We need to step out of the shadow of the army, and be recognized as our own force within the military. I plan on accomplishing this by creating a temple knighthood and recruiting soldiers to fight under the flag of Vesalys.”
“That is where you come in. My order of knights will need a champion, someone people can rally around and who can stand up to those who oppose us. Do not get me wrong, I have many talented guardians who are loyal to the temple, but none is as capable as you are. You defeated Kenshiro’s own protégé. You beat Bryce, Havencrest’s strongest guardian, and then took down my own personal guard, who remained, before your fight, undefeated.”
There it was. She finally had revealed her objectives. Militarizing the temple was a clever move, and one that would bump up her standing in the kingdom, placing Kenshiro and Jezra on an even playing field. As of now, the guardians served only as protectors of the temple and its stewards, but as an order meant for battle, they would be a force to be reckoned with.
Sytravious was flattered she thought so highly of him that she would ask him to be the face of her campaign to upgrade the temple, but he questioned how sincere she was being. To allow a commoner to join the guardians so quickly was already rare, but to elevate that same man to lead the whole guardian order was a bit much. There had to be something else up her sleeve.
When she saw his reticence, she carried on. “I think about the extent to which you went just to sit next to Raiven. Imagine what you can accomplish if there was more on the table? I find it r
emarkable! I know the people will rally behind you, a commoner just like them who climbed to the highest level in the temple. They already love you for what you did in the tournament, and the way you handled yourself at the banquet, so poised. It makes me confident in your political talents.”
If she was implying he could be with Raiven, then what she was presenting intrigued him. Supposed her plan did work, the life he would lead could be so much more than anything he had previously imagined. Sytravious had intended on somehow convincing Raiven to leave this place with him, rather than court her through the temple. It would have been a tough sell, and he knew that, but she already expressed a desire to live her own life. However, having a life where he would lead an order of guardian knights, and have Raiven by his side sounded more exciting than the plan he had devised.
“Be my champion, command my forces and together we can recruit the best of the best. You can train my men and assist me in every way to attain my goal of creating this organization. We could defy General Kenshiro, and save Raiven from his ravenous grasp. By doing those, we will ensure she remains a maiden, untouched by any man, until the day you can make a legitimate claim to her. When that time comes, I will give you my word that I will approve the courtship, and she will be your wife. You, two, will be the future of this kingdom, and perhaps even next in line when King Lucas’ reign ends.”
At the mention of the succession to the throne, his jaw dropped. Jezra had just accused Kenshiro of being too ambitious, yet here she was plotting to remove King Lucas’ herself. This woman was just as dangerous as the general was. If only the king knew what was brewing, he may want to awaken from his slumber and take control of the kingdom.
“What is in all this for you, though? If it ends as you say and he dies without an heir and we are chosen to step in, why would you go through all this trouble to see someone else rise?”
“If you have not noticed, I am an old woman, Sytravious. The days of my prime are well behind me now. My only ambition is to see this kingdom in the right hands, to protect us from the threat of Moruz, and honor our holy goddess, Vesalys. I am here to serve her will, and this is her will. I know it in my heart.”
The fact that she might believe her own lies is what impressed Sytravious the most. Someone who took all this time to plan everything around her own desires, and see the control of the kingdom fall into the temple’s hands, would not intend to hand that power over to others.
“How do you know Raiven will go for this? Does she not have a say in who she marries and what she wants to do with her own future?”
“Oh please, do not insult me. I have paid attention to more than just your affection for the priestess. Despite how subtle she is, I can still see her excitement every time you enter the room. Sending those women to bathe you was my way of confirming my beliefs. When her cheeks turned redder than the wine in this goblet, and you refused such an obvious pleasure, I knew I was correct. How you have enraptured her is beyond me, as she has been very disinterested in romance up until now.” She shook her head and snickered. “And all after meeting you for the first time at the banquet.”
He knew what she was getting at, but he would not say anything more on the topic. Sytravious knew revealing the full truth about him and Raiven was much too dangerous for both of them. He gave her a small laugh and said, “Yes, it must be my charm.”
“I am sure. I care little for these distractions, but Raiven can enjoy her youthful desires in time. First, you must prove I have made the right choice in selecting you for this mission.”
“What about General Kenshiro? He is a smart man, and is already suspicious about Raiven and me. If what you have told me is true, he will not sit back and allow your plan to come to fruition. Who is to say he does not pull another ‘Prince Just strategy’, and make one of us disappear?”
She scoffed. “The general is not the only one with tricks in his bag. When you are up against the High Priestess of Valcrest, my ploys are always more effective. I am an old woman, remember? Time has given me more than wrinkles,” Jezra winked. “I can handle Kenshiro. Just make sure you follow through on your part. Only then will I be justified in blocking his petition for Raiven. You need to become the better option for her.”
The way she addressed handling Kenshiro reminded him of his disturbed mother, and Sytravious wondered if Jezra was as ruthless as Nyxseous. Was it possible that Jezra could kill someone as easily as his mother had many times? By moving here, had he traded one insane woman for another? No matter how crazy she was, the high priestess had already offered him more than his mother ever could. She had presented what he wanted - permission to be with Raiven.
“I must say, Your Holiness, you make it very difficult to say no. How can I refuse the promise of Raiven?” He hesitated, and then asked one more question. “Will she be told about our future?”
“She will be told of my refusal of Kenshiro, and that a more suitable match has been found. I will let her connect the dots on her own when she witnesses your rise within the guardians.”
With her confirmation, he made up his mind. Raiven would be his and only his forever, and all he had to do was go along with a ridiculous plan to take over a kingdom. It sounded easy enough. He took a gulp of wine from his goblet and then smiled before replying, “I will do it.”
Chapter 23
Crossroads
Rabbit stew boiled on the fire, but the savory aroma of the meat did little to appease her sour mood. As Nyxseous stared at the pot’s contents, she stirred supper and let her mind wander. The shock of learning Sytravious had fallen in love with the priestess was bad enough, but then she had to watch him join the ranks of the guardians, too. Knowing he abandoned his family for the temple only added insult to injury. She knew she was never the greatest mother, but the idea of losing her son altogether had never crossed her mind.
It had been two days since she watched the temple convoy disappear up the hill with her son alongside them. Disheartened, Nysight was hardly speaking and had not bothered to show up at the forge. All the while, Hellios continued to insult her with his lingering presence. Nyxseous was in no rush to forgive his attempt on her life, regardless of his justification.
When the fire under the stew began to die, she rolled her eyes. Any other day, Nysight would have already fetched the wood, but he had failed to, due to his miserable behavior. She expressed her irritation with a loud, exasperated sigh. “I hope you enjoy undercooked rabbit,” she said while glaring at her husband.
Nysight looked up and focused on her. “I will get more firewood, my apologies.”
“Just forget it.” She shot a small black flame at what was left of the wood, and watched the stew begin to boil again. She despised living in Havencrest all these years because she has to conceal her magic for fear of being persecuted for something as simple as cooking supper. Yet this was the life she had chosen when she escaped the wrath of the bloodthirsty king.
Hellios helped her move the pot of stew to the table, and they gathered around to eat. It was a quiet meal, until Nysight finally spoke up.
“Did you two have to corner him that way? What young man in their right mind would not take offense to such an act?” He slammed his fist on the table.
“It is over and done with. There is no use in talking about it now.” She shrugged.
“Sytravious belongs in the south with the Fifth Legion. He does not belong here, and the sooner we stop wasting time sitting around, the better,” Hellios declared.
Nysight and Hellios continued arguing over where Sytravious fit in, and Nyxseous shut her eyes in an attempt to block out the noise. She had spent the last twenty years trying to prepare her son for every sort of threat he might face, but she had failed to take into account the biggest danger of all, falling in love. She slipped her hand into her pocket, and felt the familiar amulet she had spent so much time creating. No matter how stubborn Sytravious was, she had to see to it that the amulet made it to him somehow.
“Are you toying wi
th that trinket of yours again?” Nysight asked with annoyance. “You have been obsessing over that thing since we left Moruz. I bet it is just something else that has to do with your obsession with Fheng.”
Her husband was oblivious as to the amulet’s intended purpose. She knew it always bothered Nysight when she fooled around with the charm, but Nyxseous could not find the courage to explain it to him. Since the day Sytravious was born, she had started working on it, and poured a majority of her power into its essence in the process.
She sneered at him. “Do not trivialize my work with your jealous accusations. You would not even begin to understand the usefulness behind my actions, and frankly, I do not have the time to enlighten y---”
“Enlighten me, please.” He mocked her. “I have come to realize how things work around here. You only summon me when it is convenient for you, but after that, I am nothing until you need me again. Does that sound about right?” Nysight scowled across the table.
Nyxseous gawked at her husband with shock and hurt. The unease in the room was obvious, and in an attempt to avoid being a part of such a personal conversation, Hellios excused himself.
“Is that it, then? You think I have been using you all these years?” she asked.
Nysight heaved a sigh and placed his face into his hands for a few moments, before he looked back up at her. The sadness in his eyes struck deep into her soul.
“Have you not? You needed me to help you escape Moruz after the legion turned their backs on you. You needed me to protect the two of you when things got dangerous. I worked tirelessly for twenty years, forsaking my entire life as the general of the most storied legion, all for you, and what have you given me in return except put your feelings for Fheng, be it love or hate, above everything else?” His voice was strained with emotion. “Your mind and focus have remained in Moruz, fixated on a man who never cared for anything but his own glory. You are not here! Sytravious needed you to be present in reality, and I need that from you even more.”
Sytravious: The Lost Warlock Of Moruz (The Oathbreaker Book 1) Page 22