Chapter Eighty-Four
Cave
All the blood drains from my upper body while our feigned display of unity earns us the most raucous applause of the evening.
My hearing goes out. Much like my hope that his aims were impossible.
That he would never need to marry because he has made us all fear the Dragon’s reign in the event he were to die without ever naming an heir.
I have always assumed he would continue refusing to give us a reason to kill him, should he ever sire a sorcerer who could later claim his title.
And he would have no reason to marry since he could choose to name an heir.
Wrongly believing there was no possibility he would ever achieve the impossible.
The obvious reason his movements are too perfect, too precise.
Unlike any living being I know to exist. Because he has become something new and unknown to us.
Some being we no longer have any hope of killing.
Sound invades my ears again as she says, “Your Majesty.” The Imperial Grand Witch part of my being takes over now that I am trapped within the fear of what a union between this monster and me could be.
“You should take glory in your victory. You should be exalted as the first to achieve eternal life. A reward which affords you the freedom to never need to marry nor to ever produce an heir. Not even to appease the citizens, since your reign shall last forever.”
His eyes narrow as he leans in closer. “Trying to wile your way out of being chained to my side for eternity, are you, witch?”
Eternity. Does he mean to make me immortal? But of course, he would require access to what he believes to be my level of power for as long as he shall live. And if he knew how weak I have become? What if I tell him how my power is waning? Would he still want me to become his Empress?
“I will produce many heirs, so that my progeny will oversee the regions of the Continent where I do not wish to travel often. For the land is vast, and I will need eyes and ears in every corner. And if one should prove to be a disappointment, I can always sire another.” My stomach sours at the suggestion.
“For the history books will be filled with the glory of my reign, from the day of my coronation to the end of time.”
I nod as expected, then allow my gaze to flit back to my Guards.
Dread weighs heavier on my shoulders when their attention is still cast up at Sal, all of them still failing to notice I have left the center of their star.
Then my heart drops as it appears there is something transparent warbling around them.
Though it’s too translucent to tell if the undulating air is a figment of my imagination or an unfamiliar form of magic.
I desperately draw on the consideration Varic showed me before we were made to leave the safe room and use it on myself so I do not collapse in front of this large audience, feeling strangely grateful for the ability to recall emotions so precisely, since it saves me from whatever His Majesty would enact as a punishment—for now.
Emperor Aldritch brings our joined hands down to his side, and a small trickle of air pools in my lungs once he releases his grip on me.
I flex my fingers to regain some circulation when he reaches over and forcefully interlocks his clammy fingers between my own, clasping my hand in an undeniably romantic gesture. “I will admit, I have been reticent in considering marriage.”
My chest constricts with the hope that this will be the moment my Guards take notice. That this will be when they all charge forward and protect me from this monster. But nothing and no one comes to my rescue.
My stomach churns, and what little I ate for dinner might make a reappearance as the crowd chants, “Empress Tasch! Empress Tasch!”
Surely this will pull my Guards out of their reverie. Surely Varic cannot ignore this specific chanting. Yet when I turn, feeling so sure they will finally come to me, none of them move, nor do they so much as glance forward.
The Emperor pulls on my hand and forces me to face him. This has to be the moment Varic storms over.
But if the Emperor is truly immortal, I do not know how we can possibly defeat him. Or if whatever has given him eternal youth could also increase his power. With all the unknowns, and without my Guards here to shield me, I must do my best to play my role.
Because we endure for them. The citizens who have nothing to do with this.
The beings who deserve a better life. The very same Hendry died serving.
I can do this. I am capable. I have pretended every day of my life up to now.
I will do this for them.
“The citizens have had little faith in Wyrth’s ability to secure my immortality. Which has been their reason for demanding we marry, with the belief that any child conceived with our combined powers could be the most powerful sorcerer in the Continent.”
I nod, and His Majesty grins while failing to notice the way my eyes flick back to Varic—the one who would be most likely to aid in producing the strongest magical being, if that is how our power was inherited.
The same sorcerer who continues to stare up at Sal with the sickly satisfied expression he’s worn the whole evening, twisting my heart with the need for him to intervene as she refuses to aid me.
Leaving me alone and wishing for someone, anyone, even a fractured-off part of me to be here and help me through this.
“And though, with time, all will learn of my endlessness, I should like to stop their squabbling and give them the Empress they demand.”
“I would have guessed you would want them to know you are impervious, so they might stop attacking the Palace.”
His expression falls. “Do you think I would invite them to test the theory? For the moment I make the announcement, every land will stop at nothing to try to kill me. Do you think I want to risk their invading our land, which would ruin the surprise when I arrive in their land with my army behind me?”
His logic is flawed, and yet with the way his mind works, I have no plausible way of convincing him this plan will not end the way he wishes when the audience chants the title they demand for me.
“Empress Tasch! Empress Tasch! Empress Tasch!”
Their voices rise as a swell of pride enters my chest, imbuing me with a sense of confidence.
I furrow my brow and search the crowd for whoever might have sent me this strengthening emotion.
For it is a witch who knows too much. One bold enough to meddle with the most powerful witch on the Continent.
Its magical signature is faint, as if it’s been tampered with. Though it feels familiar.
“I do not have the patience to endure the actions of those who would disbelieve my immortal status to test it repeatedly. And we will not blame the citizens for seeking certainty in our union. Instead, we shall invite them to celebrate by promising our souls to one another now.”
My heart sinks as he continues, “Our union will overshadow the first Emperor’s accomplishments, as he will have merely procured us this land, whereas together we will conquer the Continent.
We will make this the most memorable Reclamation Day in history, where their Emperor will have ensured our dominion over all others. ”
He squeezes my hand, and my nostrils flare. “I shall announce it now. And just in case that clever mind of yours decides to try anything, you should know that additional Guards have been assigned to prevent you from escaping.”
His smile rises as he turns to the front row of pews in the center, then leans in to whisper, “Drusilla has arranged for your belongings to be sent to my chambers, as you and I will be sharing a marriage bed from this night forward.” His lips catch on my hair as he hovers.
“And despite the Dragon’s claim, I will not hesitate to punish any who dare to defy my orders.
” His gaze flicks back to Varic. “Because not even Dragon fire can kill me now.”
His sneer turns sinister. “Do you see the pews filled with young witches and sorcerers?” He indicates a section along the back wall where four long pews are filled with youth.
“They will pay with their lives should you refuse to wed me this night. As you are aware, a soul-bond is required, and the vow will not take if you do not mean the words you will promise to me.”
The wide-eyed children stare back, and my heart hammers so rapidly, I am unsure how I am still standing. Each one is so unaware of their purpose here. So entranced with their wonder reflected back, I barely notice the Emperor has released me until the itching ceases.
I turn to gape in horror at his calculated movements, unable to blink as he prowls back to his throne, leaving me frozen at the edge of the stage to carry all he’s thrust upon my being.
Feeling cold and alone, while left unprotected as my Guards continue their assault on Sal. Oblivious to the challenges now laid before us. With our plan of extraction lying in ruins, and the most dangerous sorcerer on the Continent even more so than we ever imagined.
My eyes flutter shut as an image flashes in my mind—
Dust covers everything around me.
I shake my head, but the vision will not relent.
Giant slabs of marble falling. Scattering in piles of rubble.
My lungs sting with the amount of air I pull in.
“Tasch!”
Varic.
My vision clears, and I’m still here. It’s merely my imagination.
Run.
Something urges, something with the impression of a Dragon’s warning—Mirinea?
But it wasn’t her voice. Though it was feminine and wizened, with the sense that it came from a Dragon.
Even with a strong wish to follow the missive, I cannot seem to move my legs.
Besides, where would I hide? The safe room, which only entraps me in the Palace?
Go to him. Now!
I spin around to find the messenger, though the voice comes from inside my mind, not anywhere I would be able to see who or what it is.
Then I turn to the left when a low humming sounds from the bottom of the stairs. I blink back tears pricking my lash line as I cannot believe what I am seeing—with Drusilla and Imelda standing hand in hand with a small circle of witches before the stage.
I tear my gaze away to stare at His Majesty, unsure why no one—not even the soldiers or witches along the perimeter, nor the telekinetics at the end of every pew—has thought to interfere with this aberrant behavior.
Bewildered, I await the Emperor to demonstrate his ire with my not having followed where he stands when I stop in my tracks with my pulse pounding from the terrible crack lashing through the air.
Panic courses through my veins as the harrowing cries of citizens rise. My blood goes cold when I spin around to find Varic and encounter clouds of dust falling over everything, tainting the air with the acrid scent of burning wood.
I cough into my hand as I cover my mouth and nose, trying to keep more debris from invading my lungs.
The tell-tale sting of explosives takes hold in my eyes and throat as I let out a scream for the being who was meant to be next to me.
“Varic!”