Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The Astral Sanctuary came into view over the hilltops, gilded bronze by the morning light. We’d anchored the ships and Father had handpicked a group of thirty warriors to travel on foot and horse to Leergaith in Pyros.
Excitement grew among the Cascadians around me as we closed in on the Reapers’ sanctum where Galomp’s uncle was waiting to commend us for our victories. He was going to be disappointed when he heard of our failure in Stormfell.
My heart thudded out of rhythm as I closed in on the Astral Sanctuary. Were the Reapers here just like those at Never Keep? Did they know of the monster that lurked beneath the fortress?
I couldn’t trust a single one of them anymore.
Not even Harlon. My dearest friend. He’d turned his back on me and chosen them in my place.
The sting of his rejection burned all the deeper at the sight of one of the Reapers’ holy places.
The twelve-sided building jutted up toward the azure sky, lurching toward the hidden stars among the vast blue.
It was beautiful, but was it just a facade that hid a terrible lie?
My father had commanded I travel within a litter, carried high like a boast to the Reapers.
I’d refused, stolen Galomp’s horse from the White Mare’s holding cells and ridden off ahead of the group toward our destination.
It hadn’t been long before I was flanked by Father’s warriors again.
Ransom was among them, now riding close on my right, but rarely uttering a word to me.
We hadn’t said much to each other at all since he’d witnessed me killing Jacobin and Agatha.
I wasn’t sure what I’d say even if he tried to whisper to me of it.
Ransom was no ally. But we were bound by that secret now.
And I couldn’t help but wonder where his conscience had grown from.
Thankfully, when Father had discovered their bodies, he’d fallen for our ploy and believed the Flamebringer girls had shifted into their Order forms and killed them.
Ransom, for all his flaws, was not the cold-blooded killer I’d expected him to become. He’d wanted to see those girls safe just as I had. And knowing that my half-brother was not all bad when I’d seen him as a villain for my entire life, was a strangely hard pill to swallow.
I nudged the sides of Galomp’s mare, Lalakin, to urge her into a trot and the group followed, picking up the pace around me as we drew closer to the Reapers’ place of worship. There was one thing that urged me onward, one single thing that caused an escalating hope inside me.
Here, Galomp awaited me alongside his uncle.
A man of the Magistrine, whose power was absolute.
He could bring news of the monster that was threatening our continent to the rulers of our nation at long last. And once a plan was decided, I could travel with them to Never Keep, Void all those who stood in our path and help the Cascadian leaders to cast that wicked beast to ash.
So, between the days of endless travel and the sour mood that had been left by our retreat at Pomair, I finally had something to hold onto again.
When we reached the paved white path that led through a row of elm trees to the Astral Sanctuary, we guided our horses to the surrounding woods, dismounted and tethered our animals in place.
Father tied his black stallion Karkinos beside Lalakin, walking close to me and resting a firm hand on my shoulder.
“Stay close,” he commanded, nodding to his warriors in a silent order and they all flanked us.
Up close, I could see the intricate designs in the sanctuary’s walls, the effigies of the twelve zodiac signs staring down at us in judgement. Even Pisces didn’t seem so welcoming, the two fish, glaring at me with a harshness I’d never felt from them.
A shiver tracked down my spine as we stepped through an archway into a rectangular courtyard of ragstone. Gold-cloaked Reapers milled around it, many turning our way in curiosity while our people bowed in deference.
“Praise the stars,” one called to us.
I could have sworn I felt all of their eyes on me beneath those gold hoods, burning deep. They knew exactly who I was and something in my bones told me that was no good thing.
“And praise to those who tread their destined path,” we all answered in return, though the words tasted like a slick of oil in my mouth.
“We have come to meet with the great Donavon Wader of the Magistrine,” Father said to them, spewing charm as he bowed again. “And to ask the stars for guidance while we are here of course.”
“You must pray to them first,” a Reaper woman said, pointing to the open door of the Sanctuary. “Then and only then, may you ask for more.”
“Of course.” Father bowed his head a third time then pushed me onward through the courtyard, climbing the three steps into the sanctuary.
The chamber was a grand space with zodiac statues flanking each of the twelve walls.
Cushions were laid out before them for Fae to kneel and candles lit the space in an ethereal glow.
Incense thickened the air, the scent of it reminding me sharply of Never Keep and the horrors I’d witness there.
At the centre of the sanctuary, a group of Reapers were singing in a low hum, a prayer to the stars that reverberated through the walls and made my heart shudder.
I finally had room to breathe when Father parted from me and headed off to praise the current ruling sign of the sky while the rest of his warriors followed to say their own prayers.
Ransom followed suit but I drifted away toward the far end of the chamber where an open door led out of the sanctuary, revealing a courtyard beyond and a stone building that must have been part of the Reapers’ quarters.
There were no Reapers watching and with everyone kneeling, falling into murmured pleas to the stars, I slipped away without notice.
I passed through the courtyard and found the door to the building cracked open.
Inside, I crept through a hallway where paintings of watchful eyes peppered with stars stared at me from all sides.
My hackles rose, my instincts making magic tingle at the fingertips of my right hand. But as I pushed through a door at the far end of the corridor, a breath of relief fell from my lungs.
“Galomp,” I called as he turned to me between two mighty book shelves, the expansive library around us stretching up three floors.
He stood with an older man who I had only ever heard descriptions of.
Donavon Wader was nearly half Galomp’s height with a carefully clipped grey beard and bright blue eyes.
His left arm was missing from his battle days and there were a few faint scars across his nose, but instead of the hardness I was used to seeing in battle-worn warriors, there was a warmth in his eyes that was entirely inviting.
“I’m Everest,” I announced, walking toward them.
“This is the girl?” Donavon asked his nephew excitedly.
“Oh boy, indeed it is, uncle.” Galomp took hold of Donavan’s wrist and led him toward me.
I bowed my head, unsure how to address a member of the Magistrine but Donavon waved a hand at me to dismiss the formalities.
“None of that,” he said, breaking away from Galomp and drawing me into a hug. He was short enough to bend me over to do so and I stumbled in surprise. “You sent me a fine donkey, Miss Everest. I am more than grateful.”
“Just Everest,” I corrected as he released me. “And you’re welcome.”
“You’re not ‘just’ anything.” He appraised me, his eyes bright and shining. “You’re the Void.”
“I am.” I raised my chin, proud of that very fact but I was glad when Donavon didn’t start fawning like the rest of Cascada.
“Well, my nephew here says you’ve been hoping to talk to me. I would be more than happy to lend my ear to the saviour of our people.”
“I’m no saviour. Not yet anyway,” I said quickly. “But I might be, if you take what I’m about to say seriously.” I stepped closer to him, glancing over my shoulder and casting a silencing shield around us.
Donavon frowned in surprise. “You speak of something not even the Reapers can hear of?”
“Yes,” I hissed and I glanced at Galomp who nodded encouragingly. Not that he knew for certain what I was about to say. “It’s about the Reapers you see…”
“Go on.” Donavon’s frown deepened.
“They’re not what they seem,” I whispered despite my silencing shield. “They’re harbouring something at Never Keep. A monster. A vicious creature intent on destroying Fae kind. They’ve roused it from some unearthly place and now it wants to devour the land.”
“A monster you say?” Donavon gasped and I hurried on, hopeful of his reaction.
“Yes, and that’s not all. This beast is wielded by the Reapers. I saw it do terrible things. Killing students on the orders of the Reapers. They’re responsible for it. And I believe...”
“Yes?” he pushed.
“That the Reapers are not what they seem. I believe those at Never Keep and perhaps many more, perhaps all of them in fact, are using their power to control us all.” The blasphemy spilled from my tongue like acid and Donavon’s face paled.
He stepped away from me, looking to Galomp in confusion, then back to me with something closer to fear. “How can you speak such words?” he rasped, clutching the collar at his throat. “It is a strike against the stars themselves.”
“But the monster–” I started, stepping toward him but he cut over me in a cry.
“Whatever the Reapers are doing, it is the work of the stars!” He retreated again, bumping into Galomp who was frowning from me to his uncle.
“I know it’s hard to hear, but you have to listen,” I implored. “I saw it with my own eyes. Galomp saw it too.” I turned to my friend and Donavon looked up at him, shaking his head in refusal of his nephew’s involvement in this.
“What do you have to say about this?” Donavan hissed. “Surely you don’t share the same sentiment as this girl?”
“I do not think Miss Everest is a liar.”