Chapter 12
“Iam overjoyed to sense your gift has returned.”
Isarion’s voice drifted out from behind the mountain of paperwork spread across his desk. “The gods smile upon you, Rain. All the whispers from the other side speak your name.” He paused, fingers stilling mid-search as his attention shifted fully to the prince. “I fear I must caution you.”
He hesitated, just long enough to make Rain’s skin prickle.
“You must choose your steps wisely… particularly where it concerns Az—” he corrected himself, “your father.”
“What makes you say that Isarion? It’s unlike you to speak so plainly.
” Rain leaned forward, elbows on his knees, studying the Elder.
He sent out his energy feelers for what felt like the hundredth time, only to slam into a solid wall.
The impact throbbed through his already pounding head.
Isarion shielding himself was strange; he could do it, of course, any master of the Order of the Aurora could but he rarely did so around Rain.
Which meant he was hiding something. And not subtly.
“I dare not say too much to you, Your Majesty.”
“Dare you say anything at all?” Rain snapped, he wasn’t in the mood for deciphering. “You’re more cryptic than usual and it’s unnerving. And why are you calling me ‘Your Majesty’? You’re being very odd today and the fact you’ve got your walls up isn’t helping.”
The Elder smiled, which only irritated Rain further.
“As a bridge to the other side, I must be wise with what I share with the living,” Isarion said gently.
“This is a crucial time for you, Your Majesty.” He emphasised the title, holding Rain’s gaze.
“I am here to guide you spiritually; to nurture your gifts so you may rise to your full potential. But I must not influence your path. That is not my place.”
He folded his hands, serene as ever.
“My walls must remain up for the foreseeable future. You and I both know how skilled you are at reading beyond mere emotion. And I know too much. I have seen too many potential outcomes.” His voice softened.
“Which, I must caution you, is not something you should speak of to anyone. Unless you wish for me to be tortured for my insight.”
He smiled again,; far too calmly for Rain’s liking and returned to rifling through his papers.
“Ah. There it is.”
He held out a parchment.
Rain took it slowly, still processing everything the Elder had implied; loyalty sworn without explanation, warnings without answers, and now this.
He stared at the parchment. The markings, if they were words, were in no language he recognised.
“What you are holding is a printed copy of an insert said to have belonged to the long-lost Prism Codex,” Isarion explained.
“You know of it from my teachings, of course. Many have tried to decipher it. None alive today have succeeded. What little we do know is printed on the back, which you may read at your leisure.”
He gave Rain a knowing look, one that blossomed into a spark of excitement.
“And now you are going to ask why I am giving it to you, and what its relevance is.”
Rain opened his mouth, but Isarion clapped his hands before he could speak.
“You are going to meditate with it, Your Majesty!”
“You want me to meditate with a piece of paper?”
Rain stared at the Elder as though he’d finally lost his mind, silently praying he’d misheard.
“Yes. Well, you are going to.” Isarion didn’t look up from his desk. “My guides inform me your last meditation was very successful. They are pleased with your ability to receive them.”
“That voice was your guide?”
“That voice, Rain, was a collective voice of many. The very being’s mortals refer to as the Gods.”
Rain’s eyes nearly launched out of his skull.
“I’m sorry—what? Are you suggesting the Gods were communicating with me?”
“Yes, child. What did you think was communicating with you?”
“I don’t know. It felt… celestial, I suppose.” Rain rubbed his brow, trying to wrap his mind around the idea. “Why would the Gods be communicating with me, Isarion?”
The Elder chuckled warmly, as if the answer were obvious.
“If you do not know that yet, it is something you will soon begin to discover. Now—give me your questions before your sister interrupts us.”
Rain jerked his head, sending out his feelers. Sure enough, Snow’s energy signature was heading straight toward them.
“Shit. Uh… There was a mention of a Queen in my vision. Have we ever had a Queen of the Blue Kingdom?”
Isarion actually looked taken aback.
“A Queen? None of the eight kingdoms have had a Queen in any of our recorded history. What did you see?”
Rain hesitated, recalling the vision with a knot of apprehension.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Are there any prophecies you believe are about me?” Rain redirected, choosing safer ground.
“Yes. Quite a few.” Isarion folded his hands.
“I was ordered never to speak of them to you when I first entered the palace. A couple you have already fulfilled; including the unfortunate events caused by your powers. Which, in my opinion, also mark you as the subject of far greater prophecies. One’s many others are now beginning to connect to you. ”
“That’s all you’ll tell me?”
The Elder cleared his throat and began walking toward the door.
“Yes. I’m afraid I have witnessed what may come if I am the one to tell you.
Which brings me back to your father.” He paused, turning slightly.
“Choose your confidants wisely. Trust your intuition. You are more powerful than you believe—in ways you do not yet understand. In ways others will underestimate. And those ways will guide you to the correct path.”
He opened the door just as Snow reached it.
“A path I hope to witness,” he added softly. “Ah, Princess. How lovely to see you. To what do we owe the pleasure?”
Snow startled, clearly having prepared to knock. Her eyes flicked between the Elder and her brother.
“Good morning, Elder Isarion. May I steal my brother away?”
“You may. I believe we are finished here.” He turned back to Rain. “You understand your homework, Your Majesty?”
“Yes, my most humble servant,” Rain replied with a smirk, folding the parchment into quarters and sliding it into his back pocket. “Same time next week?”
“Perhaps,” Isarion said mysteriously, waving them out of his office.
“What was that all about?” Snow asked as they wandered down the corridor toward their shared dining room. It was nearly lunchtime.
“Honestly? As always, I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to. That man is far too cryptic. I leave every session with more questions than answers these days.”
“Ah, the student has become the teacher,” she teased, sliding into her seat. Dishes were already laid out; she’d clearly instructed the servants before coming to fetch him. “I requested your favourite eastern dishes.”
She beamed at him as he sat opposite her. Rain narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“Why are you buttering me up?”
“Can’t a sister do something nice out of the kindness of her heart?” She pressed a hand to her chest dramatically. His stare deepened until she sighed. “Fine. It’s a peace offering. Or a forgive-me meal.”
Guilt and hope fluttered through her aura in overlapping waves.
“And what, pray tell, am I forgiving you for?” Rain muttered, resting his head on his propped hand. He was far too hungover for games. First Isarion, now Snow—the gods were testing him.
“Now don’t get mad,” she warned. “I persuaded Father to invite Purple, Pink, and Green for a banquet and ball. This weekend.”
Rain just stared at her.
“You know how I am with public relations,” she continued quickly.
“I thought it was in our best interest to solidify alliances. With Red seeking an heir and hosting celebrations, I felt inspired. My charity events are great for our people, but they don’t guarantee strong allies if this war goes the way Father wants. ”
Still nothing from Rain.
“Okay, you’re mad. And to make it worse, Green will be arriving first—tomorrow—which is obviously not ideal for you. HOWEVER! I did this for you.”
“How does this help me?” Rain groaned. “How is inviting Ivy and her entire family helpful right now? How is it helpful that I’ll have to attend these events as Father’s heir and play happy families while I’m trying to avoid being in his line of sight?”
“It helps you by buying you time,” Snow insisted. “You know how he is, he’ll be too busy keeping up appearances to bother you. He won’t let other kingdoms see that he and his son don’t get along. He thrives on flaunting his powerful heir. Use that to your advantage.”
Rain grumbled but began loading his plate with curry and rice.
His appetite was low, but the smell was tempting.
Snow followed suit, leaning over to add paratha to his plate before serving herself.
They ate in silence for a while, lost in their own thoughts, the only sound the scrape of silverware on porcelain.
When Rain finally dabbed his mouth with his napkin, he broke the quiet.
“I’m getting tired of replacing one method of torture with another.
” He glanced at Snow’s identical eyes. “It’s starting to feel like I need to stop enduring all this nonsense and start paving the way for a better future for us.
I know you’re buying me time, and I appreciate it.
You’ve always been able to see what’s needed and put it into practice.
I admire that. Meanwhile, all I’ve done is take the hits and survive. I’m done simply surviving.”
“I’m happy to hear your fighting talk, but what does that mean exactly?” she asked, setting down her cutlery. “Are you finally going to step up and marry Ivy? Start learning what it is to be a king?”
Her words hit like a slap, dragging sobriety closer to the surface.
“Really, sis?” Rain felt his defences spike. He inhaled deeply through his nose, steadying himself before he snapped. “Are you truly ready to accept Ivy as your sister-in-law? Have her living permanently down the hall?”
Snow’s nose scrunched instinctively.
“I thought as much. Horrifying thought, isn’t it? Yet that’s supposedly in my best interest. That’s what it takes to be taken seriously as king? I think not.”
“I like Ivy,” Snow argued weakly. “In small doses. It’ll be an adjustment for all of us. But it’s a sacrifice we must make. We don’t get to choose love, Rain. You know that.”
“I am the heir, Snow. Not you.” His tone sharpened. “Sometimes I think you all forget that. You are the one expected to marry for the crown. Not me. Father may have been too cowardly to fight his betrothal, but it is well within my rights to refuse mine.”
Snow’s expression hardened to match his. Rain softened his voice.
“I know I’m not worthy of real love. Maybe one day I’ll find someone to carry on my legacy with.
But despite your lack of faith in me—which is rather insulting—I’m making this decision as a future king, not a selfish child.
Ivy and I are a chaotic combination. Her powers influence mine too easily.
She’d have far too much control over me and the crown.
I won’t allow that and I’m shocked you can’t see it.
You’re the most critical thinker I know. Tell me I’m wrong.”
Snow’s face softened into a pout.
“You have selfish reasons too,” she muttered.
“Fuck yes. I can’t be bound to that woman. Can you imagine?”
They both laughed as he visibly shuddered.
“I didn’t mean to insult you,” she said quietly. “I just worry. And I’m starting to think maybe you shouldn’t fight Father so much. If you gave him a little, maybe he’d stop being so hard on you. And what better time than when he has an audience and is singing your praises?”
“Oh, sis.” Rain shook his head. “For someone so intelligent, you’re very na?ve when it comes to Father. But you’re right about one thing...I need to take advantage of this opportunity you’ve so annoyingly thrust upon me.”
She sighed.
“I need to start making friends with our allies,” he continued. “Will you help me?”
“I’ll consider it… if you ask nicely,” she said, plucking a piece of chicken off her fork with her teeth.
“Pretty please, oh wise and beautiful sister,” he begged dramatically.
“Pretty please what?” she replied, swallowing. “And don’t forget to add powerful. I’m a trifecta.”
Rain grinned.
“Pretty please, my wise, beautiful, and oh-so-powerful womb-mate, would you take pity on my poor introverted soul and use your exceptional networking skills to help me build friendships with our allied kingdoms?”
Snow made an exaggerated show of thinking, humming, tapping her chin, before finally, painfully slowly, placing her cutlery down.
“Very well. But don’t ever use that ‘I’m the heir’ crap on me again!” she said, folding her arms and mimicking his voice.
“Don’t give me a reason to,” he shot back with a smirk. “And thank you. Though you owe me for what I’m about to endure with Ivy this weeks end.”