"You were going to go to Corunia?"
"Yes. Today, in fact. But then you both arrived here, and now there is no need for me to make the journey."
"You were going to tell him? Of the pilgrimage?"
"Well, in a manner of speaking. I would have been more subtle, broaching the subject carefully. I might have called it more of a tradition, an initiation done by previous kings as well. A blessing to be given by our goddess."
"Do you think he would have listened?"
"I might ask you the same. You know him better than I do."
Jeffrey didn't hesitate in his answer. "I believe he would have. He wanted to find answers, solutions. He wants to make things better."
"He will. More so with you at his side."
Jeffrey eyed her, wondering what she meant.
"You're the son of a priestess. You may have become a soldier, but you use your gifts to help people. Don't you?"
He stared at the ground. Did he? He tried, yes. Did he succeed? Not nearly as often as he would like. "I didn't want to be a soldier. I tried to become a scholar, but no one would take me without credentials or money."
"Your father pushed you into a path that wasn't meant for you. But you've done the best you could with it."
"I kill people. I've killed countless men. Gaia abhors violence. And I, your son, have--"
"Shush. You've protected Gaia's people from invaders that would cause harm. You've protected innocents from being murdered by heretic fanatics. Gaia is merciful, and your service to her is honest. She would never judge you for it."
He stared at her, certain that his disbelief was written in his eyes.
"My son, this, how torn apart you are at your actions? It is the clearest sign you mean no ill and have acted from a place of honour."
"I try. I really do, but then...when I fight, I...it's like something else takes over. A darkness inside me."
She cocked her head to the side, gazing at Jeffrey solemnly. "My dear son. You know you were born under a full moon, do you not?"
Jeffrey nodded, wondering at the relevance.
"The full moon is Tempesta's sign. She was watching and has blessed you. Her blessings are a little less...calm, shall we say, than Gaia's might be."
"She controls the storms."
"She is a passionate goddess and if wronged, she will fight with a fierceness as any mother bear would for her cub. You have that same fierceness in you."
"You mean...my bloodlust comes from her?"
Aedinia shrugged, her lips curled in an enigmatic smile.
Endless questions filled Jeffrey's mind. Knowing his mother, however, he suspected she would not answer most of them. "What will you do now? Since you're not going back to Corunia."
"I will stay here with you, keep you company and hear more of your life. When you're ready to leave, I will guide you back to Pyros."
"You?"
"Do you not think I can?" She shot him a look of mock outrage.
"It's not that but...how do you even know the way?"
She laughed. "Sweetheart, sanctuary is my second home. I have spent much time here. As has Kendra. We both know the way in our sleep."
"But..."
"I may tell you in time. For now, I wish to hear more of your life. Tell me how you found your way into the legion?"
Jeffrey sighed but knew better than to argue. At least, if she stayed, they would have many days to talk, and maybe he'd be able to weasel more information out of her sooner or later.
***
Wandering down endless hallways, Jeffrey continued to question the size of the temple and how it had been built in this isolated part of the mountains. It was a beautiful building, much of it marble: the floors, the columns lining so many of the halls, the arched windows. Only a handful of rooms he had seen held murals on walls or ceiling, never both just one or the other, the decorations typically more modest, busts of priestesses or sometimes animals and plants. The entire place held the style so common in Vicini and Ascoia, its origins dating from a time before Adriano.
Rounding a corner and seeing the hallway continue for another long stretch, Jeffrey sighed. He should have asked one of the priestesses to show him the way after all. But there was nothing for it now, and he continued onwards. Halfway along, he noticed the lack of doors. One wall was entirely solid, no windows, arches, alcoves or anything else. The other wall had only a double door. Jeffrey stopped in front of it, as if drawn to it.
The only other double doors he'd seen in the temple had been on the ground floor, entryways to the temple sanctum or large halls. This door was thick and solid; he could tell just by looking at it.
Without a conscious thought, Jeffrey stepped closer and reached for the handle. The door opened as if on its own, and Jeffrey's gaze landed on the room beyond. Lamps illuminated gold-framed pictures, dozens of them, covering every inch of wall space.
Thinking he shouldn't be there, Jeffrey tried to move away, but instead he entered the room. In the centre were several rows of stands, each holding more neatly stacked paintings. On the far wall hung an enormous piece, covering the entire length from ceiling to floor. In it, Adriano sat on his throne in a white tunic under his usual armour, a golden cuirass designed like a bare chest with strong pecs, two small, pointed nipples, and deep lines of abdominal muscle. His limbs were protected by matching greaves and braces. At his throat, a brooch in the shape of the tree of life held a purple cape in place. A shield lay propped against his throne, a helmet with a long, white crest beside it. He gazed down at Jeffrey with gentle, blue eyes, a kind smile on his lips.
Beside him on his left stood a tall woman, light-brown hair flowing down her shoulders, friendliness in her forest-green eyes. She had a white palla on with a purple stola, its edges trimmed in gold. Adriano's wife, Diana, who had supported him in his quest to conquer the barbarian lands to the north.
On Adriano's right stood a boy in the prime of his youth, his features those of his father, his hair and eyes like his mother's. Nero had the same kind of armour as his father, but his was black with gold edgings on top of the lines of muscle. A purple cape fastened around his neck with a gold chain, a black and gold helmet tucked under one arm. Where both his parents had a kind and friendly look to them, Nero's held something else, like a haughty kind of arrogance. Then again, painters would rarely be so honest about their subjects, less so when they were as powerful as the men portrayed in this piece. Jeffrey put it down to his imagination.
Having seen many paintings of Adriano's family, Jeffrey was familiar with them. But he had never yet seen a picture like the one in this temple. The startling thing about it were the two young girls sitting at the foot of the throne, leaning into each other, the younger one with her hand raised to her mouth as if she were giggling, her black hair hiding part of her face. The older one appeared more composed, but she, too, seemed to be laughing, her bright eyes sparkling.
"Such a happy family."
The voice startled Jeffrey, and on instinct, as he turned and fell into a defensive stance, his hand went to his hip, searching for a sword he wasn't wearing. He came face to face with his mother, Aedinia. She seemed to have a tendency to surprise him.
"I did not mean to startle you, and yet you are not supposed to be in here."
"What is this room?" Jeffrey asked, straightening up again.
"A history of those who came before."
"But that painting, it can't be real. I've never seen him with two daughters."
"No, you wouldn't have." Aedinia gazed at the painting, her head cocked to the side. "What else do you see?" She gestured at the rest of the room.
Jeffrey turned to take it in, realising his attention has been fixed on the biggest of the paintings and he'd hardly seen anything else. To the left of Adriano's painting, a series of smaller pieces hung in six rows, covering every inch of wall and continuing around one corner and almost the entire length of the longest side of the hall. The people seemed familiar, but it wasn't until he reac
hed the end that Jeffrey recognised a painting of Akoni's father, Luciano Faustus. "It's the line of kings, every one of them."
"Yes, what else?"
"You're missing one of Akoni."
"His will be added as soon as he has one commissioned and we receive a copy."
Jeffrey eyed his mother. She smiled but said nothing else. He wondered how they got the copies. Did the kings send them? Did they even know? He suspected she would not answer his questions, at least not now. Turning back to the room, he looked at the side to Adriano's right. Here the pictures hung in four rows, two at the top, two at the bottom, with a large gap between.
Where the line of kings showed only men, the opposite side showed only women. The top rows were all priestesses, dressed in simple robes, standing beside a tree, part of its thick roots and a large crown visible. All of them had the same kind of circular pendant as Tiana. The bottom rows were less distinct. All women, all dressed in rich cloth. When he reached the end of the rows, Jeffrey's heart skipped a beat. The last painting in the top row was one of Tiana, and the bottom row was one of Kendra, the previous one Aedinia.
Jeffrey opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He turned to his mother, certain his confusion was written all over his face.
Aedinia stepped closer and laid a hand on his shoulder. "It is a long story. I will tell you what I can if you wish to hear it."
"You...we...it's not possible." He shook his head, his voice laced with disbelief.
She gave him an indulgent smile. "And why not?"
"There are no other descendants. Akoni is the only one."
"Because Adriano only had two children, who carried children of their own. And if you follow the male line, that is the truth, since Constanca's son died before reaching maturity. But the way of the goddess follows the female line."
Jeffrey shook his head in confusion. "I don't understand."
"The history we are taught is not all the truth. Much has been erased or lost to the centuries. Will you listen to me with an open mind?"
Jeffrey regarded the room again. Was it possible for something this big to be true and not known? Did he want to hear this? Could he listen to it? "What about Akoni?"
"He can't know."
"But...this is his family's history."
"Exactly why he can't know. His reign is unstable enough at the moment. You can't risk telling him no matter how much you care for him."
Jeffrey ran a hand over his face in agitation. Their relationship was fragile enough; could he keep a secret this big? "I will listen and I will keep my mind open. But I'm not promising I will believe it."
"That is your right." She nodded and led Jeffrey to a small circular couch, facing Adriano's painting. "Adriano had three children. Nero, his only son; Constanca, his youngest; and Valencia, his firstborn. If you dig deep enough, the only histories mentioning her tell us she died in an accident after her father's passing. The truth is, she did not die then. Threatened by her own brother, she made it appear as though she had died in the accident and went into exile. She is the founder of this sanctuary. She wrote down the truth of what happened and shared it with her inner circle of priestesses as well as passing it on to her daughters. She had many, but the line continues only through the firstborn."
"But why would Nero threaten her?"
"Because she was the firstborn. As such, she was the true heir of the crown and her father's chosen successor."
Jeffrey started at the thought. A queen to rule instead of a king? It seemed an alien concept. And yet, they bowed down to a goddess.
"I see you find the idea suspect. But we know from the histories that in ancient days it was the women who determined bloodlines, not the men."
"But that was before Adriano."
"It was not Adriano who changed the practise. It was his son, Nero. Envious of the attention his older sister received, he resented her. He wanted the crown for himself and thought himself more deserving of it. When their father died, he plotted to assassinate Valencia so he could take the crown and become king."
"What about the magic, though?"
Aedinia's lips quirked as if to tell him what an excellent question that was. "Adriano received the magic as blessing, a gift from Gaia. When he died, it passed to Valencia as his successor. Nero resented her even more for it. Valencia herself didn't know what he did, but he found a way to split the magic, and instead of it being concentrated in one person, it broke apart and a piece settled within each of Adriano's children. The change affected Valencia and left her vulnerable. Nero used that time and laid a trap for her. She managed to get away with her life but she was badly hurt and weakened. Knowing well that returning to the palace would mean she would not be safe, she sought refuge in a temple where she was cared for in secrecy, while Nero spread the news of his sister's tragic passing. By the time Valencia was strong enough to try and challenge Nero, he'd established himself firmly as king. She tried to reclaim her throne and failed."
"So she went into hiding."
"Yes. In time, she came here."
"But this temple is older than that, isn't it?"
She smiled at Jeffrey. "You always did have a thirst for knowledge. Yes, it is older than Adriano himself. We don't know its true origins or purpose. Most likely it was abandoned during the Great War, when Adriano led thousands of men through the Pyros Mountains, but the entire structure remained undamaged. Valencia and a loyal following of women established themselves here."
"And none of her descendants ever left again?"
"The time was never right, and they've been able to do much good from here. I cannot tell you the inner workings of our priesthood; suffice to say, we do more than pray and tend gardens."
"I didn't--"
She smiled. "I know, sweetheart. I taught you well. But many men think it is all we do."
"Only the ignorant ones." Jeffrey's forehead creased, his thoughts spinning. "So, Tiana is a many times granddaughter of Valencia?"
"Yes."
"The pendant she wears..."
"Not something you will share with anyone; few know its true meaning. For most it marks her as our highest member."
"And Constanca?"
"Ah yes, your own many times grandmother." Aedinia paused for a moment. "She had two children; her firstborn was a boy, the girl came second. By Nero's new rules, the men would inherit their father's land and title. In the absence of a direct descendant, a sibling and their child have always been next in line. This did not change with Nero, only the gender of the relative in question did. Where once a niece might have inherited, now it became the nephew."
"Valerian was Nero's nephew and therefore a threat."
"My smart boy." She nodded. "It didn't help he was named after his aunt, who Nero was trying to eradicate from history."
"Did he kill him?"
"Valencia had been in exile many years by then, and so she had to rely on reports from priestesses at the temples. They couldn't be certain but believed some unsavoury practise had taken place."
"And Constanca's daughter?"
"Terra grew into a strong and healthy woman, who married a noble chosen by Nero. Someone of the lower nobility, meaning Terra's children would be of little threat to Nero's own offspring."
"And because they began to trace descendancy through the men, the link to Adriano faded."
"Except, we have watched from afar and continued to trace the female line."
"Then, I really am a descendant from Adriano?"
"Through the female line, yes."
"What does it mean?"
"For you, little. For your sister, much."
"Does she know?"
"Yes. By the time she turned thirteen, she came into her strength. You had been gone many years by then."
"Thirteen. That's when Akoni's magic changed. Are you saying...you, too?"
"The magic was split in three by whatever Nero did. And each piece has passed down the lines. The firstborn male on Nero's side, the firstborn femal
e on Valencia's and Constanca's lines."
"How does that work?"
"It is Gaia's gift, and by her rules it would pass to the firstborn female. Whatever Nero did to receive a piece has also forced it to pass to his son and continue through the male line."
"How does no one know this?"
"We are good at keeping it secret. My magic is purer than Akoni's. By forcing it into a pattern that isn't natural to it, it has been corrupted. Maybe a little more with each transfer, making it more volatile."
"The ritual. Tiana, you, and Akoni. The three descendants with magic."
She nodded, her lips curling at the corners.
"Why me?"
"You are also a descendant. While you may not have magic to call on the way Akoni does, you have remnants of it from when you were in my womb."
"But... I've never done any magic or felt anything or..."
"You have visions from the goddess, no?"
Jeffrey nodded.
"You can sense things others can't. Maybe emotions or unspoken things?"
Jeffrey thought about it. He'd often been able to tell what kind of mood another person was in even when they hid it. He'd thought himself good at reading people, but maybe it was more than that.
"You came to this room, and where others would move on and stay away because of the protection woven into the door, you were drawn to it. Your magic pulled you towards it. And it is your magic that Akoni's responds to."
"I'm so confused right now." Jeffrey leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, face hidden in his hands.
"It's a lot to take in," Aedinia said, rubbing a hand down Jeffrey's back. "But it does not truly change anything. You are the same person you have always been."
"Except with magic."
Aedinia chuckled. "You've always had it, even if you didn't know it."
"What does it mean that Akoni's magic reacts to mine?"
"From what he has told us, he was drawn to you from the first moment he saw you. His magic reacted in your presence. It felt a counterpart and wanted to be closer to it."
"But why doesn't he react like that to you or Tiana?"
"The magic has its own rules. Maybe because it needed another male. Maybe because you're destined to be together. I suspect the corruption has taken its toll and the magic sensed something in you that would help it somehow. Only Gaia knows for certain."
Ties of Magic (Curse of the Crown Book 2) Page 27