Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-eight
Jacinth
After a few days with Fiala, I was almost loath to give her back. We’d had fun together, making it feel less like a challenge and more like a break from the competition than anything else.
Now it was time to find out who would be eliminated and who would go on to the next round.
I was anxious, hoping that what had happened between Azurill and me would outweigh whatever poison Zumra had certainly tried to spill.
Perhaps literally, if the way she handled an upset child was any indication.
Amatista and I made our way to the throne room, our guards following us dutifully.
Alfrikr hadn’t stopped laughing about my “fight” with Zumra, though he’d initially seemed quite upset that the only time I’d needed assistance so far was when he’d been called away to speak with Azurill.
Frankly, I thought it was probably for the better.
It prevented the situation from escalating any further, at least.
Aside from the fact that he was now practically glued to my side, ever watchful for any retaliation.
We lined up in front of Azurill’s throne and waited for the High King to make his appearance. I hadn’t seen him much since the night in my room. I knew he had to make time for the other competitors, but it left me with a sick feeling in my stomach I’d never experienced before.
When Azurill walked in, the eyes of the court followed him hungrily, several of my fellow competitors, most of all. My stomach sank as Sania watched him with the intensity of a woman who was willing to do whatever it took to win.
And maybe she would be the best choice for him, in the end. If he lived long enough…
I cut my thoughts off immediately. The confusion I’ve been living with since arriving here was always a steady presence in the background, but now was the time to don my veil of truth and pretend to be an insipid noble desperate to be queen.
“My Lords and Ladies, the Diamond Queen Competition is all about finding the best High Queen for Gemaria,” Azurill began with a smirk firmly in place and a twinkle in his teal eyes, “As such, our competitors face trials that test them on different challenges they would face as queen. Our fourth trial was a test of child rearing. A queen is, after all, expected to produce children one day, and raise them to be the next kings, princes, and princesses of the realm.”
A cheer rose from the crowd, all of them eager, or pretending to be, for the safety of a secured succession.
“Each of the ladies was assigned a child to take care of over the last few days, and each was measured according to how well they did,” he continued, his smirk falling as he looked out among us.
“Each lady revealed much about what type of wife, mother, and queen they would be during this challenge, and I look forward to the next trials to learn even more about our competitors. But sadly, one must be eliminated today.” Azurill said, and his eyes fell to my right.
“Lady Zumra Giada, I thank you for your participation in the Diamond Queen Competition. You’ve done Emerald Court proud, but it’s unfortunately your time for elimination,” he announced heavily, and the gasp that rang around the room at his words had me fighting a smirk.
Zumra’s jaw had actually dropped as she stared at Azurill with wide, emerald eyes. Her emerald and teal gown studded with diamonds showed her confidence in an alliance that she was now realizing had slipped through her fingers.
“Me?” she stuttered, unable to believe what was happening. “But—”
Lord Emrys stepped forward then, his opal-white hair gleaming in the light of the throne room, and he grabbed Zumra lightly by the shoulders to lead her out of the room.
His job handling inter-court relations had to be getting tested quite thoroughly during this competition. I didn’t envy him in the least.
I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing I was safe for another trial, and as a bonus, I’d no longer have to deal with Zumra’s cattiness.
Azurill’s eyes met mine briefly, and I knew the small smile that snuck onto his lips was all for me, making my heart pound within my chest, even as he hid it just as fast, turning to face the court at large.
“Our next challenge is one my own brother devised,” Azurill told the crowd, smiling proudly as he nodded to Prince Ruri, who was standing to the right of the throne. He bowed theatrically, making the crowd go crazy.
“Our realm is one based upon magic, and every ruler needs to be adept at that magic. For this trial, each lady will be assigned a type of potion to create. She will have the flexibility to decide the details and what goes into it, as long as it creates a result within the parameters we’ve set,” he explained, spreading his hands wide as he did so, his eyes focusing in on all of us who remained in the competition.
Our number was ever smaller, making me breathe a sigh of relief even as I straightened, realizing that the time to make a decision about how to move forward loomed ever closer.
“Each of you will need to acquire the right gems and carry out the alchemy to make the potion. You will then test the potion yourself, and the results will determine your competency with magic, as well as your place in this competition.” Azurill told us, his voice kind but stern.
“Your guards will bring each of you to the gem markets tomorrow morning to get started.” He instructed, before turning to the opal-haired lady standing off to the side. “Please see Lady Arianell to get your assigned task for this trial.”
With that, he was quick to leave, and I could hardly blame him when I spied the lord and lady of Emerald Court, looking fit to be tied as they struggled to make their way over to him.
I shook my head at their folly. Did they truly think they could change the result?
Or were they hoping to at least get something else out of their daughter’s failure?
I could easily see Azurill and his council offering discounted trade or more spots on said council as a way to shut them up.
I made my way to Lady Arianell when Amatista was done, looking quite pleased with whatever she’d been assigned.
I tried not to let my nerves show. I knew how to do alchemy to create a potion, having done some on the streets on rare occasions, but nothing of the caliber I was sure they were going to expect.
I was going to have to create something way out of my magical league.
My palms were sweating by the time I’d reached Arianell.
“Lady Jacinth.” She smiled kindly, her opal eyes swirling with color and looking like magic themselves.
“You’ve been assigned the task of creating a potion related to the values of Diamond Court.
Meaning it will need to relate to truth, power, or courage in some way,” she explained, and I breathed a sigh of relief at how open-ended that was.
I thanked her briefly before letting my mind wander. There were so many ways to mix gems together that would create an infinite number of reactions, and I was going to have to narrow in on what I could make before tomorrow. Perhaps something easy that not even I could fuck up.
“What did you get?” Amatista appeared at my side, linking our arms together as we left the throne room.
“What did you get?” I countered, matching her smile as best I could. She laughed, throwing her head back.
“I was assigned Pearl Court,” she explained, and my breath caught in my throat.
My hands went to my neck, where my mother’s necklace lay hidden beneath my dress.
“I think a boring love potion should suffice, or perhaps one to increase lust? Either way, it’ll be fine.
” She forced a smile now, making me curious about where her mind had gone.
“Now will you tell me what you got?” She nudged me, raising an amethyst brow. I explained what Arianell told me, and Amatista looked excited, her eyes and smile wide.
“You could create such wonderful magic for that!” she told me as we walked down the hall. “Perhaps a truth potion? Find out how Azurill really feels?” she teased, but I stilled, actually completely stilled, my feet not moving another step as it hit me in a dizzying rush.
A truth potion.
But for what I needed…if I wanted to know the truth…if I could find out what really happened to my family, why it happened…and how Azurill and Carnelian both played into it…
Diamond for truth. To reveal the unknown.
Pearl for love. For the family I’d lost. For the confusing feelings now consuming me for a key player in this tragedy.
Sapphire for prophecy. For seeing the unseen.
Emerald for the past. To direct the potion to the right time.
It would be a complex potion, layers upon layers woven together to spell out a story lost to history. But if it worked, each gem would play its part in revealing the truth to me.
I could know for sure what had happened. And while it would be traumatic as Tartarus to see it all play out, the sights my young eyes were spared once upon a time, it would set the path for my future—and I was beginning to think that was worth anything.
“Jacinth?” Amatista called, looking worried as she placed her hands on my shoulders. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I shook my head, though the hoarse tone of my voice didn’t go very far in convincing her. I laid my hands upon hers, squeezing lightly. “Truly, I just had an idea. I know what I’m going to make.”
“Oh,” Her eyes brightened, lighting up her purple orbs until they shone. “What’s your plan?”
“I’m going to see the past,” I whispered in her ear. When I pulled back, her eyes were now wide, and she cut a glance at the guards before nodding firmly and dragging me back to our rooms. When we were finally away from the scrutiny of Azurill’s men, she turned to face me.
“Okay, now explain,” she demanded, crossing her arms and looking like a stern teacher. I nearly giggled at her expression, but managed to contain myself.
“There’s something—” I bit my lip, suddenly realizing what I was doing. A heaviness settled in my chest, and I took a deep breath, bracing myself, and trying to find the right words that would offer truth without giving away a weapon that could turn around and stab me in turn.
“What is it?” Amatista asked, sobering, as her eyebrows creased in worry. She reached a hand out for mine, and I held onto her like a lifeline. I missed Ula so fiercely for a moment that I had to blink back tears.
“Something happened when I was young.” I whispered carefully, “Something I thought Azurill had been involved in. But now…” I trailed off and looked up through a curtain of pink hair at the woman before me.
She could clearly tell that this was quite serious, and her face was appropriately somber, but her eyes revealed that her thoughts were already spinning away. She was too smart, and I knew it would be too easy to put the pieces together if I said much more.
“I need to know the truth.” I finally said, feeling like the pressure on my chest had lifted some, allowing me to breathe. “This trial gives me the chance.”
“What happens if this potion shows you Azurill was involved?” she asked, equally as quiet.
My shoulders hunched slightly as I curled into myself on the sofa, but I managed to shrug them lightly. “Then everything is as it was.”
Her head cocked to the side curiously. “And if he wasn’t?”
I sucked in a sharp breath, unable to truly consider what that would mean—but unable to bear the alternative.
“I can’t really think of the outcome. Not yet.” I admitted, shame lacing every word as my head dropped onto her shoulder. Ula would berate me for showing such weakness, but I was…tired. So tired of having to navigate all of this.
“Once I know the truth,” I continued, barely a murmur at this point, “I’ll decide from there.”
Her fingers began running through my hair, letting me just be in a way I desperately needed. She shrugged her shoulders casually, and my head bobbed up and down with the movement.
“I’m with you, just let me know what you need,” she promised, making me blink quickly as I tried desperately to prevent the moisture welling in my eyes from escaping.
“Thanks, Tista,” I whispered, and let everything else slip away.