Chapter 24
Morgana
Istare down at the dress lying across the bed. It’s a deep red with a dropped waist and long sleeves, the neckline draped with delicate pearls. It’s pretty without being frivolous, striking without being showy. It’s a dress fit for a queen.
It’s strange to shed my tunic and shirt after a solid month of wearing nothing else.
I’ve slept and traveled and fought for my life in these clothes, but now I’m supposed to leave all that behind.
If all goes to plan, I won’t be a rebel or a fugitive anymore.
The rogue princess will be gone, replaced by Trova’s rightful queen.
Phaia sourced the dress for me from one of Elmere’s finest dressmakers.
I’d argued with her about it being totally impractical to issue a challenge in.
She pointed out that I might technically win the throne by beating Oclanna in a fight, but I still had to convince the rest of the court I was monarch material.
That meant turning up to the palace looking the part.
I sense Leon coming to the door just as I finish fastening the dress. He stops in the doorway, taking me in.
“I’d say you look beautiful, but the word doesn’t do you justice,” he says.
I feel my cheeks color. He steps forward, lifting a hand to cradle my jaw, examining the flush on my face.
I can tell through the mooring how much he likes that blush, and his attraction ignites mine.
I close the gap between us, wrapping my arms around his neck so I can pull him downward for a deep, satisfying kiss.
A rumble of pleasure vibrates in his throat.
“I’m suddenly wishing there wasn’t quite so much material between us,” he says, his hand tangling in my skirts.
“You could always just rip it off me?” I suggest hopefully.
He chuckles. “Later, when it’s served its purpose.”
I pout, guiding his hand up under my skirts, but I’m thrown when he laughs.
“Are you wearing pants under this thing?”
I freeze. “I forgot,” I admit, and he gives me a knowing smile.
“Now I see how Phaia convinced you to wear it.”
“She made some adjustments at my request,” I say. “It’s more versatile now. But apparently not suitable for every activity.”
He grins, letting his voice drop low. “When you’re Queen of Trova, my love, then I’ll give you whatever you want. Until then…” he pauses, listening to something. “Hyllus says we should go downstairs. Some friends of ours have just arrived.”
We’ve not even taken two steps out the bedroom door when I hear the shouting.
“I’ll kill him! I’ll fucking kill him!”
It’s Tira’s voice. We rush downstairs to see Corrin and Damia standing in front of the door to the kitchen, blocking Tira, who’s currently being restrained by Hyllus.
“Hyllus!” she shouts as she struggles against his hold. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if you don’t let go of me right now.”
Given their relative sizes, this demand should seem ridiculous, but no one’s laughing. There’s too much raw fury in her voice.
“What’s going on?” I ask, looking around at them all. The rest of the soldiers and Harman are down the other end of the hallway, conflicted.
“The mission was a success,” Damia says and steps aside so we can see into the kitchen. There, sitting at the breakfast table, is Sophos.
He looks extremely odd surrounded by normal household objects, his tall frame folded into a small chair.
He turns to me, and I’m reminded of the last time I saw this man, back when I was locked up in the Temple’s prison.
As quick as that, I feel Tira’s rage catch hold of me like a spark to tinder.
I’ve seen this man cut down my friends in cold blood, all while doing his absolute best to kill me.
And still, we need him. I exhale shakily, trying to adjust to this development.
“This is it, my love,” Leon reaches out across the mooring. “This is the start. As queen, you’ll have to deal with thousands of difficult encounters like this.”
He’s right. I’m about to become Trova’s leader; that means taking a stand for the greater good, whether I like it or not.
I turn to my friend.
“Tira…Take a breath.”
She stares at me, her eyes wide. “You can’t be serious. Ana, that man is the reason my family is dead!”
“I know,” I say heavily.
“And you’re really just going to let him sit there?” Her face twists into a violent expression. “He should suffer like I did. I’ll make him suffer,” she growls.
“He’s proven he’s on our side,” Corrin says. “We wouldn’t have brought him here unless we were sure. He has a lot to lose by trusting us.”
“I believe you.” I nod at him before stepping up to my best friend. I gesture for Hyllus to let her go, laying a hand on her shoulder.
“I understand, Tira, I do,” I say, meeting her gaze. “Don’t you think I feel it, too? Don’t you know there’s a part of me that wants to tear him to shreds? Sophos had a hand in so many deaths. Your parents and mine, and Kit, as well.”
She doesn’t say anything but doesn’t immediately bolt for the kitchen either, so I take that as a win.
She was angry with me in Agathyre when she realized I’d lost my magic because of how bad I felt about her brother’s death.
I know she doesn’t doubt the strength of my grief for her family, even if it will never be as sharp as hers.
“But you were there when we agreed that Damia would make contact with Sophos. You knew this was a possibility, and you didn’t protest it,” I say gently but firmly.
“I guess I just didn’t really think…I mean…
I know he can be useful…” Tira’s face crumples, the anger slipping into despair as her arguments fall out from under her.
Her eyes brighten with tears, and she shakes her head as she wipes them away.
“I just don’t understand how he can be here, after everything he’s done, and they’re not. ”
I hug my friend, squeezing her tight. “I know this so fucking hard,” I murmur. “I know I’m asking too much. But if we use Sophos, then we’ll be closer to getting justice for them. He can help us kill the one who’s actually responsible.”
Tira pulls back, her gaze hardening beneath the tears.
“Alright. But don’t expect me to go near that worm in the meantime.” She sniffs. “And when we have Caledon down in the mud, I get to watch him die.”
“Fine by me,” I say.
Most of us filter through to the kitchen. Harman catches me on my way in, giving my arm a squeeze.
“Well done,” he says.
I shake my head. “I thought you as much as anyone would argue about joining forces with a Temple insider.”
“I’ve been playing this game a long time,” he reminds me. “You’d be surprised how often pieces change sides. You have to get used to it.”
I nod my understanding and move into the kitchen. Tira is true to her word and keeps her distance, watching from the doorway.
“Hello again, Princess Morgana,” Sophos says. “It’s good to see you looking better after the last time we met.”
“No thanks to you,” Leon growls.
Sophos inclines his head. “I wish I could have done more in Qimorna, Prince Leonidas. But my hands, so to speak, were tied.” He lifts his arm up, reminding us all of the injury Leon left him with, and Leon lapses into annoyed silence.
“I can’t say it’s good to see you again, Sophos, but I hope that together we can improve things for everyone. Now, Corrin and Damia say we can trust you.” I sit down opposite Sophos stiffly, still suspicious and slightly repulsed. “But I would prefer to be as certain as possible.”
I beckon Alastor over. “I know there are no guarantees with a bearer trained to block sensic magic,” I say to him. “But I would like Alastor to ask you a few questions.”
Sophos looks at Alastor warily. “What kind of questions?”
“We just want to know if you’ve been telling the truth about what you’ve told us,” Damia says sternly. “If you have, then you have nothing to be afraid of.”
“And if you haven’t, then prepare to be very afraid,” Leon rumbles.
Sophos shifts in his seat, like he suddenly regrets this whole idea.
“You made contact with us,” Harman reminds him. “You must’ve realized there would be a price to pay for our trust.”
“Of course,” Sophos says. “But forgive me if I’m not completely comfortable with the idea of someone rifling around in my head.”
“They’ve all been there,” Alastor says with a shrug, gesturing to us. “You’re not really one of the gang until I’ve rifled around.”
“Very well,” Sophos says. “It seems I don’t have much choice.”
The fizz of magic fills the air as Alastor meets Sophos’s gaze.
The bearer straightens, appearing to fight the magic for a moment, but slowly his expression eases, slipping into a contented smile.
It looks odd on his face, but for a moment, I glimpse someone much younger and more trusting underneath the bearer’s mask.
“Why did you make contact with the Hand of Ralus?” Alastor asks.
“Because I wanted to warn the princess of two pressing matters. First, that the Grand Bearer planned for the Morelium to assassinate her when she was in Filusia. Second, that he had succeeded in using the solari children to increase his reserves of celestial magic,” Sophos replies instantly.
We all exchange a look.
“At least he’s thorough,” Corrin says.
“You don’t get to be Caledon’s number two without being meticulous,” Harman points out grimly.
“When did you decide to betray Caledon and join his enemies?” Alastor asks.
This time Sophos hesitates. “I cannot say for certain.”
“He’s lying,” Tira snaps from the doorway.
Alastor throws her an annoyed look. “No, he’s not. It’s difficult for people to answer questions like that truthfully. Often, they don’t know themselves why they do the things they do. I’ll try something else—look.”
He clears his throat as Sophos blinks blearily through Alastor’s magic before falling back again under its spell.
“Do you think Caledon is evil?” Alastor asks.
“Yes,” Sophos replies instantly.
“Why?” Alastor presses.