Chapter 21 #2
“Restoring Pliris is Raelle’s destiny, and I can’t imagine the Statera being anything but ecstatic with her if she fulfills her purpose. But her redemption is between her and the creator. She will know if and when its graces are granted to her again,” says the Sibyl with a smile.
I run my thumb over Raelle’s knuckles, and she quirks her lips.
She feels the map calling her to fulfill her fate.
I have that same feeling in my gut. We’re so close to getting what we want.
.. to commanding our own future. I’m ready to call us into action and race out the door, but I’m brought to a stop.
Everyone across the table goes stiff. Their eyes grow wide as they scramble to stand. I turn around, resting my arm on the back of my chair. My happiness deflates into a shriveled corpse of dread.
“Fuck,” I mumble under my breath.
Raelle places a comforting hand on my forearm and rises. “And I thought our day couldn’t get more eventful,” she says, forcing a smile.
I run my hand over my face to hide an eye roll and prepare to play nice. Or as nice as I can.
Two women in silk dresses with flared skirts walk hand in hand toward us.
They wear thin gold bands around their long dark hair and matching simple gold rings circle their second to the last fingers of their left hands.
I’ve never met them before, but their elegant yet practical attire and matching medic pouches secured to their waists give me a clue to who they are—Queen Camila and Queen Consort Lina from Sara.
The Divine Sibyl walks a step ahead, towering at least a foot taller than the queens.
Their blue robes sweep the floor with each step.
Nothing sets them apart from the other Sibyls except for the turquoise stone secured to a golden chain around their neck.
Although I’ve been in their presence before, I might not have recognized them if it were not for the Ignosi.
The Sacred Gift bestowed upon the Sibyl leader gives them the ability to speak directly to the Statera.
They are literally the voice of the divine.
I stand as the group moves closer and dip my head in reverence to the Divine Sibyl.
“Chin up, my king. You bow to no one,” Raelle whispers before lowering into a curtsy.
I jerk my head up and fight the urge to pull Raelle upright. I was taught to always show the utmost respect to those in positions of authority. It feels wrong to stand tall and appear more important than those around me, especially her.
“Divine Sibyl,” I say in greeting.
“King Kyron,” the Sibyl’s leaders says, taking in the members of my party one by one.
They save Raelle for last, lingering on the top of her head.
The hard set of their thin mouth and blank stare give no sign of their feelings toward her.
Do they despise her for going against the Statera to save me?
Is it hard for them to believe that she found me more worthy than a crown?
“You may rise,” the Divine Sibyl says.
I slide my fingers between Raelle’s and pull her closer to my side. Let the Sibyl think what they want, it doesn’t change my intentions. Raelle is not only my match, but I’m still determined to make her my queen. I will not shy away from that truth.
Raelle bows her head and says, “Queen Camila and Queen Consort Lina, it is a pleasant surprise to see you here.”
“King Kyron. Raelle Mansi, it is good to see you safe and sound,” says one of the women.
I nod in response, my gaze darting to the small, square stone dangling from a short chain at her neck. The few short lessons Borin has taught me are all I needed to recognize the Sacred Stone and know it is Camila speaking.
Lina’s hand flexes around Camila’s, holding on to her tighter. The sad smile Lina gives Raelle says it all. She dreads the thought of going through what we have. I doubt they know what it’s like to go days without each other, let alone weeks.
I found myself the most disappointed in them when I sent out my request for help finding Raelle.
The Saras are known for their compassion.
Many of them leave their kingdom to serve others, offering their skills to heal the sick and repair broken bodies.
It seemed natural to think they would come to Raelle’s rescue, but they remained quiet.
I can’t help but wonder why they didn’t respond when they appear sincere in their well wishes now.
“Thankfully, I was reunited with a friend and made a new one while I was imprisoned. They are the reason I stand before you today,” Raelle says, glancing back at Ulric and Ashavee.
Ulric places a gentle hand on the shifter’s shoulder, and I’m shocked that she doesn’t shrug him off but slightly leans into the touch.
Camila’s hazel eyes fall on me, and she gives me a weak smile before turning back to Raelle. “Your king worked relentlessly to bring you home. I wish circumstances would have worked in our favor to help.”
I shove my free hand in my pocket and glide my tongue over my teeth. “And what were those circum—”
“I’m sure you found the information you seek,” the Divine Sibyl says, ending the conversation and demanding everyone’s attention.
My eyes shift between the Sibyl and the queens.
I had my suspicions as to why my pleas went unanswered.
Causing unrest throughout the continent would have direct implications on the Sibyls, even if they stayed neutral in a war.
Their kingdom is landlocked between the other four.
If everyone but them fought, they would be stuck in the middle with no choice but to take a side for protection.
Raelle flashes the smile that I recognize as part of her diplomatic mask and says, “I believe we have. Thank you for giving us access to the tomes about our history. We’re so grateful for your kindness and knowledge.”
I pinch the skin above her thumb, signaling that she doesn’t need to lay it on so thick. Her fake smile is replaced by a genuine one as she spares me a side glance. Dammit, if she doesn’t have me smirking back.
“It is our pleasure to help. If you fulfill the prophecy given to your godfather, it won’t be just your kingdom which is changed. The entire realm has been off balance since Pliris’ fall. Your fate will bring peace.”
I don’t give a fuck about the other kingdoms right now.
If they benefit from what we must do, then so be it.
They have forsaken us in a time when we need them the most. Kingdoms like Sara and Sibyl wouldn’t last a day if they faced what we have so far.
Although they have militaries, war is not something they prepare for.
They would need help protecting their lands from the Allaji.
And guess who they would come to first—the kingdom that has spent decades fighting amongst itself.
The one who would have skilled soldiers in high quantities. Pliris.
I open my mouth to say as much, but stop when the Divine Sibyl’s body quakes, like the ground below them is unsteady.
They run their slender, knobby fingers over the Ignosi.
Golden veins weave through the aqua stone and pulsate like a heartbeat.
Their eyes squeeze shut so hard that the fine lines at the corners spiderweb up their temple and down their cheeks.
They nod their head as if acknowledging someone speaking to them.
We remain silent, exchanging uncomfortable glances until the Sibyl opens their eyes again.
“The Statera wishes me to remind you that this quest is yours and yours alone, Raelle Mansi,” the Divine Sibyl says as if they are reading a letter from the Statera.
“Your friends may join you on your journey, but only you can mend what was fragmented. Pliris should have never been two kingdoms or possessed two stones. Shatter what you have always known and restore Pliris. Only when you possess the Imperium can your kingdom take its rightful place amongst the four.” The Divine Sibyl’s voice grows deeper, darker.
“If you should fail, the power once granted to your kingdom will be forever lost, and Pliris will meet its demise.”
I run my hand over my heart, where it aches to the point of breaking. I don’t need elaboration. If Raelle doesn’t get the Imperium, she won’t have another chance because she will not make it out of this war alive. And if she does, she will be at Zekel’s mercy again. We all will.
“I understand,” Raelle says, her hand shaking in mine.
Queen Camila steps forward as she reaches into the medic pack at her side.
“Take this,” she says, holding out a simple tin canister to Raelle.
“It’s a salve that will quickly heal wounds.
It doesn’t come close to making amends for us ignoring your requests for help.
We should have come to your aid when your king asked.
” She turns her attention to me. “I’m sorry.
It was my fear for my own family that made me hesitant to want to get involved.
I see now how wrong I was. The outcome of the war you face will impact us all. ”
“Thank you.” It is all I can muster in acceptance of her apology. I tried to warn her and the other rulers what the implications would be to their kingdoms if the Allaji was not stopped. I was treated like a novice sovereign who was overreacting.
With a somber expression, Lina grabs Raelle’s hands and says, “We will dispatch healers to your kingdom to help. They will be able to save lives on the battlefield.”
“Thank you,” Raelle says, with a gentle squeeze to Lina’s hands.
Camila lowers her head in respect to Raelle. “I don’t envy the trials you face, but I admire the strength in which you face them.”
“Raelle isn’t the only one who will face trials,” the Divine Sibyl says, looking me up and down.
“Do you understand what this means for you if she succeeds? The power you will wield comes with a great responsibility to all five kingdoms. You’ve doubted your ability to lead while accountable for only a fraction of your people.
Will you break under the pressure of answering every kingdom’s call? ”
I should be scared. Each ruler will come to me for judgement of any major infraction their people commit.
It will be daunting, and I will have the power to take and give what isn’t mine.
It’s an uneven balance and fundamentally against everything I stand for.
This should be a line I’m not willing to cross, but boundaries don’t exist where Raelle is concerned.
I meet their cold stare and say, “You seem to think I will shoulder the weight of the Imperium on my own. I don’t see it that way. If Raelle accomplishes restoring Pliris, I will never have to carry that responsibility alone.”
“I pray you have the chance to prove yourself right,” the Divine Sibyl says.
My parah shifts. Her back goes straight and her chin lifts. “I vow to you now; my king will hold the Imperium. Our kingdom will be made whole again, and I will rule at his side.”
The fiery passion I saw in her eyes when she first walked into my office and asked to join my soldiers returns.
This is the woman I wanted to see fight for us when it felt like everything was stacked against us.
She is determined, fierce, and unstoppable.
With her taking the lead, the Imperium is as good as ours.