Chapter Forty-Eight
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
The solstice approached, and still Elara waited for further instructions as to what to do with the duskglass.
Enzo had taken the object they had created to the only blacksmith in Sol that he trusted, and the man had fused the slice to a hilt, fashioning the magickal glass into a knife. Since Elara had received it, it had stayed strapped securely next to Sofia’s dagger, the two weapons never leaving her thigh. She barely saw Leo and Enzo, who were tied up in the war room, strategizing with Idris. Leyon had refused to invite Ariete to Helios, and so they were back to the drawing board.
Isra was frequenting the palace more and more, trying to help Elara bring substance back to her shadows.
‘There’s still a block within you,’ she said, during their latest practice session on Elara’s balcony. ‘You loosened it on the cliff by pushing through your fear, but there’s no…’ She paused, trying to find the word. ‘It’s like your soul is twilight rather than the deep dark of the night. So your shadows have nothing to feed off.’
‘Isn’t that a good thing?’ Elara asked, lowering her hands as the shadows around her retreated.
Isra passed her a glass of peach juice. ‘No. A shadowmancer’s well of magick should be pitch black. Trust me, I dated one once.’
‘You dated an Asterian?’ Elara asked.
Isra nodded, lip twitching. ‘Cassandra.’ She sighed. ‘Forbidden love and all that. It was very thrilling.’
Elara laughed in disbelief, right as Enzo walked on to the balcony.
‘Still no luck,’ he said. ‘Prissy Leyon is still throwing a fit. And my father can’t very well tell him the exact reason that we want to invite Ariete. So we’re still nowhere closer.’
Elara twirled a strand of hair around her finger as she pondered. ‘What if we didn’t need Leyon’s permission?’
‘What do you mean?’ Enzo asked. ‘Ariete can’t enter our kingdom without it.’
‘Not without starting a war,’ Elara said. ‘But do you really think the god of war would care? If the object of his every hatred was being hidden in his own brother’s kingdom? You don’t think he would come, whether there were consequences or not?’
Isra’s head flew to Enzo. ‘She’s right.’
‘Outcome, Iz?’ Enzo asked, and Isra’s eyes flicked white for a few minutes before returning to hazel.
‘Unclear,’ she replied. ‘Many paths have been laid out, and the way forward is too dark for me to see. But the plan is not impossible.’
Enzo nodded. ‘I’ll tell Idris.’
On the morning of the solstice, Elara hadn’t even fully awoken when she became aware of the clamour of rumbling carts, servants shouting orders and streams of boisterous music. With a small smile, she opened her eyes and leapt out of bed, opening the doors to her balcony. She peered out, the magick of the longest day of the year hot and fizzing in the air. It was celebrated throughout every kingdom, yet Helios, with their worship of the Light, had to be the most spectacular. She lamented the fact she wouldn’t be able to witness the lavish celebrations, for Idris had agreed to her plan. She and Enzo would proceed to Aphrodea and tell the world that she was alive. Then they would return to Helios and wait for Ariete—Leyon be damned.
She gazed down at the grounds, catching sight of a band practising in the shade of a copse of trees. Her eyes wandered to a whirl of servants, who carried cloths in all shades of gold, bronze and red into the palace. She wondered how Aphrodea would be celebrating, and then considered what in the Stars’ names she was going to wear.
As though on cue, Merissa bustled in, her pretty green eyes even more sparkling and bright than usual. ‘Happy solstice!’ she squealed, kissing Elara square on the lips.
Elara’s eyebrows raised. ‘And that’s about the most affection I’ll get this week.’
‘Tradition,’ Merissa replied breezily. ‘It’s bad luck in Helios not to kiss the ones you love on the solstice.’
Elara smiled as Merissa planted her in front of the vanity table.
‘Now, we have to attend worship before we leave for Aphrodea this afternoon. I know, I know,’ she added at Elara’s raised eyebrow in the mirror. ‘But it’s all for show. Enzo and the king must, at least for the sake of appearance, show that they are devoted to the Stars—Leyon particularly. It’s his day more than anyone’s.’
She combed through Elara’s hair with her fingers, using her magick to help style it, though Elara didn’t see a glamour settle over her this time.
‘Surely I can’t step right into Leyon’s temple for worship?’
‘Many Helion women on the solstice wear a veil to the temple. Those devout enough believe that they shouldn’t cast eyes directly at a god.’
‘Stars help me,’ Elara muttered.
‘You, Isra and I will all wear them. You’ll be in Helion attire, of course.’ She finished with Elara’s hair, casting a few sweeps of her hand over Elara’s face before heading to the wardrobe.
‘This dress has to make a statement. Appearance is as powerful a weapon as any sword. Asterian royalty in a Helion dress will cause quite the commotion in Aphrodea.’
She handed two flimsy bits of fabric to Elara.
‘Who knows? The golden lingerie might come in handy later,’ Merissa grinned. She hauled out reams of gold cloth as Elara pulled the skimpy undergarments on. Merissa wolfwhistled as she brought the dress over, and Elara pushed her teasingly as she laughed. The glamourer began to fasten her into the swarms of golden material. When Merissa was done, she whirled Elara to the mirror, leaving her there to admire her appearance as she returned to the wardrobe.
The dress was exquisite. It was a celebration of the Light. Two wisps of lace fell from her shoulders, leaving her neck exposed, the neckline grazing low. A body of gold was stitched with tiny mirrors, so small they blended into a multifaceted bodice, the Light refracting off her as she walked. The dress glided down her curves, cinching at her waist and sweeping down to a full skirt of gilded feathers that pooled at her feet. A subtle slit carved up her left side. From behind, her back was bare, save for chains of gold that dripped down her, only her silver dragun tattoo peeking through.
Spun sugar grazed her décolletage and eyes, her ravenblack waves were loose down her back, and she stared at herself open-mouthed as Merissa fixed a thin, matching gold circlet to the crown of her head.
‘You look like a goddess,’ Merissa whispered, coming back up behind her.
Elara turned to her, radiant. ‘Says the one who could give Torra a run for her money.’
It was true. Merissa looked otherworldly. Before attending to Elara, she had already smoothed her curls, her long honeyed hair falling in a sheet across one shoulder. But now, a golden gown to match Elara’s, made of silk roses all along the bust, dripped over her curves, tight to her legs as it fell to her feet. The metallic shine accentuated her bronzed skin, and a darker gold was painted around her eyes, leaving the green of them smoky. Merissa only smiled at Elara’s remark as she reached back into the wardrobe, extracting two veils. She raised Elara’s over her head and settled it on her so that it covered her. The veil fell down her back, covering it and the conspicuous tattoo. Then Merissa placed her own over her head, adjusting both before standing to look over her work.
They both stood in front of the mirror and held one another tightly.
‘I’ve never seen such good-looking sinners about to step into a church,’ Merissa beamed.
‘I wouldn’t be surprised if I burst into flames the moment I cross the threshold.’
Merissa chuckled, taking one last look at them both before leading Elara out of the room.
Anticipation thrummed in Elara’s veins as they walked arm-in-arm down the grand staircase. She saw Idris by the main doors in deep discussion with Enzo and Leo. The king was dressed in cream with golden brocade, a long cape grazing the floor, a crown studded with topaz and citrine resting on his thinning hair. Elara felt her shadows writhe beneath her, desperate to wrap around Idris’s throat. But she clenched her fists, focusing on the pain of her nails digging into her palms until her shadows settled.
She took in more of Enzo’s appearance as she descended. His crown glinted upon freshly washed curls. He wore a white silk shirt and an embroidered jacket of a cream shade, embellished with intricate gold stitching. As she squinted, she realized what the pattern was.
Draguns.
Tiny detailed draguns, an exact rendering of the one down her back.
‘His jacket,’ she breathed to Merissa.
She felt Merissa squeeze her arm as she murmured, ‘He requested it specifically.’
When Enzo’s eyes found hers, seeming to pierce right through the veil, her heart hammered. The conversation between the men died out as Elara approached, still staring back at Enzo, ignoring Idris and Leo. When she reached the waiting group, Enzo nodded, maintaining the aloof pretence.
‘The lost princess, risen from the dead,’ Idris said, eyes glittering. Elara noticed Enzo stiffen beside her, and she gave more of a grimace than a smile to the king.
‘I trust that everyone is prepared?’ she asked.
The king placed a hand on the small of her back and Elara tensed, as he guided her down the corridor to the palace’s exit. She gave only one quick glance back to Enzo as she reached the doors.
‘Soldiers are already deployed to the border, and I have sent scouts further ahead into Asteria. If there is any news of Ariete making movements towards Helios, we shall hear it,’ Idris replied, pulling her to one side as they crossed the threshold.
‘And Leyon?’ She looked distractedly to Enzo and Leo, who were walking towards the carriages.
‘As far as Leyon is concerned, we accepted his refusal to invite his brother into the kingdom. Going to temple today will appease him enough for now.’
Elara nodded. ‘What about when we get to Aphrodea?’
‘In Aphrodea, you make sure your reveal counts. You make sure that everyone knows that Princess Elara is alive. That a Star could not kill her. And you ensure that there is no doubt, that you are Helios’s weapon.’
Elara’s lip curled beneath her veil as Idris looked to where his son waited. Three carriages stood ready behind him. ‘You and my son may not get along, but you will put on an act. At least for a night. To show our alliance.’
Elara didn’t think it wise to tell him that she and his son were currently sharing a bed every night. So, she only nodded curtly.
‘Nice jacket,’ Elara murmured to Enzo as he helped her into the carriage.
His lip twitched as he settled beside her.
‘I’m becoming increasingly fond of draguns. What did my father want?’
‘He wants to make sure my appearance counts. And told me to make sure that tonight, I show the world that I am allied to you .’
Enzo sat back in his seat, face unreadable. ‘Then I suppose we’ll have to pretend, won’t we, princess?’
Elara smiled.
They waited for Idris’s carriage to set off, followed by another with the King’s Guard. When their own carriage began to move, Leo leaned forwards, extruding a small flask from his jacket. ‘Who’d like a little revera wine before the service?’ he said, shaking it.
Merissa’s eyes widened. ‘ Leo , could you be more blasphemous if you tried?’
‘Oh, you have no idea, Merissa.’ He winked, and Merissa’s face grew pink.
‘It seems the general has already had a swig or two,’ Elara said.
He laughed in reply, passing the hip flask to Elara, who took two large gulps beneath her veil, before passing it to Enzo.
‘We need something to get us through this hell,’ Enzo muttered, taking a large swig himself. He passed it to Merissa, who debated a second before she knocked the flask back.
‘What?’ she asked sheepishly as everyone looked at her in amusement.
Before they knew it, the carriage had come to a halt down a narrow backstreet that led to the grand piazza where Leyon’s temple stood. Emerging from the carriage, they could hear the roar of a crowd already, music and shouts drifting towards them. Elara fiddled with her veil, checking over Merissa’s too before they descended into the busy streets. Members of the King’s Guard, who had followed in a carriage behind, immediately formed a circle around the party as they began to meet the crowd.
It was bedlam. Crowds snaked through the alleys leading into the square, pressing in together in the sweltering heat. Enzo gripped Elara’s hand, pulling her through the crowd as the people around them screamed and cried to the prince, paying homage to his light. They begged for his blessing, for a touch, and Enzo played his part well. He nodded and smiled, grasping the hands of all who reached out to him through the shield of the Guard, as he continued to drag a bewildered Elara into the main square.
The square was even worse, the masses cramming the space to enter the temple, desperate for a glimpse of Leyon, heads peering over each other, jostling and shoving. Enzo kept looking straight ahead as their group ploughed onwards, Leo charging ahead of the King’s Guard. As he moved, it was like a sea parting as bodies moved aside, clearing the way for the prince. The four walked to the entrance as shouts and blessings followed them.
‘May the Light bless you!’ an old woman near the entrance cried out to Enzo.
‘And you.’ He smiled, raising the three-fingered symbol of worship out to her. The crowd went wild, clapping and swooning as they reached the steps of the temple, passing through a barrier of armed city guards.
‘Enzo!’ a voice shouted, and they spun to see Isra waiting on the steps, a golden veil over her.
‘I nearly got trampled amongst those fanatics,’ she seethed, coming towards them as she cast a withering look at the crowd. ‘Whatever compels them to worship a Star that does nothing but look at his own reflection is beyond me.’
‘Isra,’ Merissa admonished. ‘Keep your voice down. We’re literally outside his temple.’
‘What’s he going to do? Smite me in front of all his devotees?’
Enzo snickered as he led them all into the cool entryway, the clamour of the crowd dulling behind them. ‘Is my father already here?’ he asked Isra.
‘Yes, he’s just taken his seat.’
Enzo nodded grimly, releasing Elara’s hand. ‘This won’t take long,’ he said to her. ‘Stay with Isra and Merissa. After the service, we will be heading straight to Aphrodea.’
He nodded once before making his way to the inner temple doors, Leo behind him. Elara saw Enzo reach out to a small dish filled with light, adding his own wisp to the offerings, and then he was gone.
‘Come,’ Merissa said, ushering them in after. The service had already started, organ music resounding through the cavernous temple. There were benches lined with nobles and aristocrats—the more important they were, the nearer to Leyon’s altar they sat. Elara sidled into a corner pew at the back of the temple, by a large window made of stained glass, while Merissa and Isra shuffled in beside her. The temple was stifling, the stone building doing nothing to keep out the heat. Her eyes scanned the crowd, falling on where Enzo had taken his seat beside the king. In front of them was the altar and Leo, who was leading the King’s Guard close by.
There, sat on the raised dais, facing the adoring crowd, was Leyon. He lounged on a throne, the back of which splayed out into light rays that stretched out from all sides. He wore only a robe, spun from pure gold, shirtless underneath. Elara saw a peek of leanly muscled stomach as he adjusted himself, looking out smugly to the crowd.
The service commenced, the music trailing off as a priest started to drone, reciting the many wonderful things that Leyon had done for Helios and the sacred nature of the Light. Elara stifled a yawn, tuning out the blatant lies and hypocrisy.
Skies, it was hot. Her veil was stifling, she felt like she could barely breathe beneath it.
The service continued, revera about to be taken as a show of respect to Leyon. She watched idly as devotees queued for a sip from Leyon’s ambrosia-filled chalice, as the priest blessed them with his light. It was no good, she could not stand the veil any longer. Noticing how preoccupied everyone was, she looked around quickly, before folding it back. She subtly drew a thin illusion around herself to remain unnoticeable as she took a deep breath.
Merissa looked at her sharply. ‘You had better put that back on this instant.’
Elara shot her a look, sighing. She closed her eyes for a second, revelling in the rays that played across her face. A small smile came to her lips as she felt the warmth of the light, then she raised her arms to pull her veil back down. She looked back to the altar, where Enzo was staring at her, the cup of ambrosia to his lips.
She hurriedly pulled the veil back over her face before anyone turned to see what he was looking at.
‘Drink,’ the priest was saying in a monotone, ‘and be blessed.’ Enzo’s eyes, which looked so warm and honeyed, did not leave her as he took a deep drink.
‘Do you hold the Light close to you?’
‘Yes,’ Enzo breathed, still not looking away from her. Elara felt her cheeks heat and was suddenly glad for the disguise.
‘Do you promise to honour beauty and art, the things that Leyon holds dear, every day?’
She felt the fire held within his eyes upon her skin. ‘Yes.’
‘Do you renounce the Dark?’
Enzo grinned, still looking across the crowd to her. She bit her lip, smiling. There was a silence as they held each other’s gaze.
‘Your Highness, I asked, do you renounce the Dark?’
There were murmurs through the crowd as Enzo took his time. His lip quirked.
‘Yes,’ he finally responded, not taking his eyes off Elara.
‘Then be blessed, the Light washes away your sins.’
The priest held his fingers to Enzo’s temple before Enzo bowed his head, heading back to his seat.
Isra leaned over to Elara. ‘He definitely does not renounce “the Dark”.’ Merissa chuckled next to her.
Finally, Leyon stood, his palms raised in supplication. Though nothing spun from them—no fire or light. Elara frowned, leaning in to Merissa.
‘Does Leyon ever show his light?’
Merissa tensed, before leaning in. ‘Not that we’ve ever seen.’
Elara went to ask why, but the organ began again as the temple doors opened. The attendees began to stand and file out of the place of worship back into the blaring crowd who screamed, ‘Hail Leyon!’
They waited for the temple-goers to dissipate until finally, Enzo appeared with the king and guard in tow.
‘The carriages await,’ Enzo said, and Idris nodded.
‘To Aphrodea we go.’