Chapter 25
Sage
I stood with my ear pressed against the red oak door of my family’s summer home, my fingers gently resting against it. Hushed footsteps sounded behind me, followed by a cupped hand placed softly to my cheek and the tickle of warm breath on my ear.
“What are they saying?” Artemesia whispered before she pulled back.
I gave her a stern look and pressed my finger over my mouth.
She stuck her tongue out at me and then tiptoed closer to the door, placing her ear against it, listening in.
My father’s voice was diplomatic as he said, “I do not mean any disrespect, Your Majesty, but Sagentia is the future chieftain of my people. If anything were to happen to her . . .”
“Herulf and I would not be able to live with ourselves,” my mother finished for him.
The conversation stalled, and the room filled with silence.
Then, Empress Avena asked, “What is your price? Surely, Mrs. Belmont, you must have one.”
“I beg your pardon?” Mother spoke with disdain.
“Luna,” Father cut in. I didn’t need to be on the other side of the door to know that he had probably placed his hand over hers, trying to calm her.
“It is fine,” Empress Avena said with a light chuckle.
“To put matters plainly, change is upon us, but for it to happen, I will need your daughter by my side, and so, you see, I will not take no for an answer. So what is it you want? You mortals always hunger for something. Riches beyond compare? Health for everyone in your clan? Just say what you want and I—”
“Our daughter is not for sale,” Mother growled.
“Luna,” Father warned.
There came a pregnant pause, and then, Her Majesty said, “Do you ever get tired of the way he reprimands you?”
“What?” Mother asked, the word a hiss upon her breath.
“The way he covers your hand as if he can control you. The way he says your name in a bid to silence your tongue. I have devoted centuries to making the genders equal, and still, despite my best efforts, we are not there yet. Your husband is evidence of that.” She huffed a mocking laugh.
“The only way us females will ever be able to live in peace is if the male gender were to cease to exist. ”
Artemesia and I shot each other strange looks, both of us wondering what we had just heard. I could only imagine the look on Father’s face; I doubted he’d be able to mask his expression.
“Prior, you spoke of the future of your clan. As chieftain, your people must be of great importance to you. That is something I can understand,” Empress Avena started.
“As I said before, change is coming, and it is coming in the shape of a great war. If you agree to send your daughter with me, in exchange, I will sign an agreement that will protect you and your people from the war. Your clan will be left untouched, unharmed by my forces.”
“And if we do not agree?” Mother asked.
“It’s quite simple, really. Your daughter is a vital part of my plan. If you don’t agree, I will take her regardless and leave your clan to suffer the consequences. So you see, the choice is yours.”
Unease filled my stomach.
This was my home, and becoming chieftain was my future. I had never aspired to leave these lands, but now, that all could change. Please tell her no , I silently beseeched my parents.
But instead, Mother said, “Will you ensure that same security will pass over to our daughter?”
“If she does what I ask of her, then she will be safe.”
My breath stilled in my chest and my hand fell from the door, seeking the comfort of my sister’s, which was already searching for mine. Our hands clasped tightly together.
“But our daughter is headstrong,” Mother said, her voice almost pleading. “She beats to her own drum and is not one to do as she is told. I cannot assure you that she will do as you ask of her.”
“You have another daughter, yes?” Empress Avena asked.
“Yes . . .” Father begrudgingly said. It was impossible not to notice the turmoil in his tone, as if it was an answer he didn’t want to give.
“Does Sagentia love her sister?” she questioned further.
“More than anything,” Mother answered.
“Good.” The direction of her voice changed as she projected it toward us. “Girls, you may come in.”
My sister and I exchanged confused looks before we did as we were told.
The rusty hinges squeaked in annoyance as I pressed the door open.
Somewhat hesitantly, we stepped into the small receiving room.
In the middle sat a table surrounded by chairs.
On the far side was an unlit fireplace—a painting of our family, set in a golden frame, hung over top of it.
We bowed, keeping our heads like that until the empress said, “You may rise.”
When we did, I took her in. I had seen her likeness before, painted on murals and stitched into tapestries, but in person, she was exquisite. The very definition of beauty and grace.
Her gaze swept over my sister from top to bottom before it shifted to me. “Your parents tell me you love your sister more than anything. Is that indeed true? ”
I swallowed, then answered, my voice shaky, “It is.”
“Aw, that is a beautiful thing. Sisterly love, how wonderful,” she exclaimed with a sunny smile, one that slowly faded.
A foreboding darkness began to taint the air.
She let out a heavy exhale and shook her head, offering me a look of sympathy.
“It is such a shame that she will not make it to her twentieth birthday.”
“No!” my mother wailed, leaning forward in her chair as tears filled her blue eyes, twin to my own. Swiftly, my father went to her side, and he took her in his arms.
My blood turned to ice. “What do you mean?”
“There are two deadly events that stand in her way. If the first one doesn’t kill her, the second will. One of those events just happens to be”—her eyes flashed with malice—“today.”
My sister started to choke, as if she had a piece of meat lodged in her throat.
I turned to her, my voice panicked. “Artemesia, what is it?”
Father and Mother scrambled over to us, their expressions as terrified as my own.
“What are you doing to her?” Mother yelled at the empress, as she held my sister.
Artemesia clawed at her throat, her fingernails cutting into her skin. Father grabbed Artemesia’s hands, holding them to stop her from hurting herself.
“Stop it.” I turned to the empress, pleading. “Make it stop. I’ll do anything you ask of me.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Empress Avena said, light shifting across her eyes once more.
Wheezing, Artemesia fell to her knees, gulping down mouthfuls of air as my mother tried to comfort her. Father looked at the empress, his eyes full of fiery rage.
“I will give you a moment to pack your things, while your parents and I sign this contract,” Empress Avena said as she waved her hand and produced a stack of papers on the table, accompanied by a quill and inkpot.
“Wait,” I whispered under my breath. I met the empress’s gaze. “Before we go, I have one more request.”
“Pray tell, child, what is it?” she indulged me.
“You said my sister will die before her twentieth birthday.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue. “Is that true?”
“It is,” she conceded, and my mother began to sob again.
I clenched my fists. “Then you will make her an immortal so she can live.”
She scoffed. “I am one of the most powerful goddesses, but I cannot just grant immortality.”
“I’m sure you know a workaround or two,” I stated.
She studied me for a moment, debating her answer.
“You’ve got fire. I’ll give you that.” She rolled her wrist and bolts of electric light began to spark from her palm, forming a giant cerulean egg.
She swished her hand, and the egg floated to my sister, who was kneeling on the floor, still trying to catch her breath.
“What is it?” I asked.
The empress answered, “It is an immortal creature called a gryphon. When it hatches, your sister will be able to bind her lifespan to the creature’s, thus granting her immortality.
Only when the gryphon dies will your sister die, but considering some are even older than me, I imagine she will now live a very, very long life. ”