Chapter 28
Aurora
They’d lost Drakon.
Aurora cursed for the thousandth time. The moment they’d lost the light, tracking Drakon had been a losing proposition.
The Beast of Old was merely a dark smudge against the night sky.
Hyllus had done his best to keep his divine eyes locked on the beast, but after several hours, even the avatar was spent.
All he knew for certain was that the beast had passed over Altanus and kept going.
At least Theron’s fear that Batea would attack directly hadn’t come to pass.
It was well after dark when the eagles landed in the capital.
Exhausted, frustrated, and despairing, Aurora had nearly collapsed in tears.
But though it was close to midnight, the day wasn’t over yet.
In mere moments, Theron’s advisors had assembled in the throne room along with Epicasta, Hyllus, and Leukos.
For his part, Leukos did his best to keep his eyes off the Viridian princess. No doubt he remembered Hyllus’ curse.
Sitting on the throne by Theron’s side, Aurora did her best to keep her back straight. In the low light, she doubted they could discern her miserable expression. They’d been so close. Theron reached over, placing his hand atop hers.
Though losing Drakon had been a blow, they were in this together and their goal was in sight.
“Your Majesties, we expected you to remain in Cor for several days. What brought you back and with such…unexpected company?” Polydorus asked in a politic tone as his gaze slid to Epicasta.
“Princess Epicasta is now an honoured guest of the palace. See that she is accommodated accordingly,” Aurora replied.
“You are most gracious, Your Majesty.” Epicasta nodded.
“And we are back because we were chasing Drakon. Batea was a mere hour or two ahead of us. We lost them in the dark, but Hyllus believes he saw them flying past Altanus,” Theron added, tipping his head to the avatar.
“Canthus, assemble what soldiers you can and come dawn, set them to searching for traces of the beast near the city. Batea couldn’t have gone far. Even her monster needs to rest.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Canthus replied.
“As for the rest of you, before we take our own rest, we must plan for the day ahead. Avatar, if you would show them what you discovered at the site of the felled spire?”
Polydorus grabbed the nearest lamp and brought it over. Aurora’s gut sank as Hyllus stepped forward and unwrapped a black rock he’d split—one banded with white.
“Onyx!” Polydorus gasped.
Theron had told her on the way what Hyllus had found. It seemed the accusations of the dualists might have some merit to them after all. Most importantly, they had proof.
Hyllus swiftly covered the gemstone.
“While in Cor, we were invited to meet with a group of dualists—” Theron began.
“Your Majesty! What were you thinking?!” Polydorus interrupted.
“Why was I not informed of this? When did you meet with them? Which of my guards did you take with you?” Nireus asked, appalled.
Canthus merely pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
Theron held up his hand.
“And they relayed their suspicions to me about the high priestess. They believe her to be the High Priestess of Lies. Dia, who was staying with them, seems to have been cursed to speak nothing but lies, and I think we’re all aware of who it was who last used their divine magic against her.
But I’m as aware as you all that such things cannot be brought as proof against Orithyia.
The gemstone, though? That can. Finding it gave some credence to the dualists’ accusations.
My fear is that the high priestess is right now installing the wrong goddess in place of Knowledge in my capital. Polydorus.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Has Orithyia finished carving and consecrating the gemstone eyes for the statue?”
“I believe the eyes were delivered yesterday and that she plans to make a public spectacle of installing them at noon tomorrow.”
Aurora’s gut churned. If there had been even the slightest delay, they wouldn’t have returned in time to stop her.
“Then tomorrow, what I propose…”
As Theron laid out his plan, his voice grew more indistinct. An insistent tug pulled at her. But she was exhausted. She might not have the energy to relay what this vision told her once it had drained her.
“Theron, a vision…”
It was all the warning she could give. Dragged through the dark, Aurora slowly opened her eyes. She was dressed as a queen, the crown heavy atop her head. The light was rosy but weak, just after dawn.
The cool breeze announced her entry into the dark temple.
The black walls seemed to absorb the light, reflecting it only in the hint of a sparkle that mimicked starlight in a clear, midnight sky.
The temple of Knowledge had been like a home to her most of her life.
She would not allow Orithyia to debase it with Lies.
“Your Majesty, what brings you to the temple this early, and in such fearsome company?” Orithyia asked as she descended the steps of the second story, several paladins at her side.
More streamed out of the corridors on the ground floor while priestesses poked their heads out of their rooms.
“I’ve come to put an end to your desecration of this temple. Archers, if she so much as twitches her finger, shoot her. Myrina will undo whatever curse her goddess places on you.”
The archers obeyed without hesitation. The paladins rallied, racing to put themselves in the path of the arrows.
Aurora’s own guards created a route forward for her as she stepped towards the enormous gemstone eyes currently sitting in pride of place before the sightless statue. Leukos handed her the sledgehammer.
The paladins and priestesses started screaming, just then realising what she was about.
Aurora raised the hammer high and swung down with all her might.
Those screams ceased as soon as the stone crumbled instead of shattering.
After all, obsidian broke like glass. Onyx however…
That silence was soon replaced with horrified gasps as Aurora lifted a fragment of the broken gemstone eye, revealing it for all to see.
Black hiding the telltale white bands of onyx.
The mood inside the temple shifted. Paladins, priestesses, and clerics turned their fury on the high priestess. Triumph swelled inside her. They would all fight at her side now and depose the imposter.
Aurora’s gaze found Orithyia’s.
“Your reign is over, High Priestess of Lies.”
The vision ended, but Aurora was slow to return to the present. Her lids felt weighted down, her limbs heavy and sluggish. Theron’s warmth lulled her further, his heartbeat soothing in her ear.
“…let her sleep…exhausted…”
“…the vision…”
“…dangerous…we must…”
“…rest is more…”
“…plans….”
They were arguing, but in Theron’s arms she was safe. She might have fully drifted off, but his magic washed over her, gently urging her to surface from the realm of dreams and half-sleep. Aurora blinked her eyes open, her head feeling fuzzy. Everyone was staring at her with concern. But why?
She gasped.
The vision.
“Easy, that vision drained you,” Theron murmured.
Cradled in his lap, she gripped his tunic.
“I was in the temple of Knowledge at dawn, confronting Orithyia. I think…I had soldiers with me. The gemstone eyes were on a raised pedestal, and I took a sledgehammer to them. They were made of onyx, Theron! The whole temple turned on her when they saw. The dualists were right.”
“Then Her Majesty should be the one to expose Orithyia,” Polydorus said.
Theron turned a censorious glare on his cup bearer.
“I will not send her into that den of vipers alone! It should be me who confronts that wraith and Aurora who convenes court and brings the witnesses to the temple district.”
“Wait, what?” Aurora asked, confused. Since when had that been the plan?
Theron looked down at her, golden eyes swimming with concern.
“We were discussing the best way to trap Orithyia before your vision. We’d agreed that one of us should call court tomorrow morning while the other marches to the temple district. Then, once she is exposed, we bring witnesses. But I won’t risk sending you there,” Theron answered.
“Your Majesty,” Polydorus addressed her, “Have your visions ever proved wrong or changeable?”
“No,” Aurora said.
“Then it seems it will be Aurora who confronts the high priestess and reveals her true affiliation.” Polydorus raised his chin.
“I will go with her.” Hyllus stepped forward. “Of all those present, I’m the only one who can act against Orithyia without being cursed by a goddess. My mission has always been to defeat great evil in Trisia. I think it’s safe to say Orithyia is part of that.”
“As will I. If she and her clerics do put up a fight, my illusions will allow us to safely retreat.” Leukos pushed past the other advisors.
“Perhaps the soldiers should remain in Altanus until the high priestess is dealt with, Your Majesty,” Canthus offered. “We might be facing riots when they discover what Orithyia has done.”
Orithyia would be lucky if her own priestesses didn’t tear her apart.
As a cleric herself, Aurora felt moved to.
How dare she defile Knowledge’s temple—her home away from home?
How dare she accuse dualists of heresy when she worshipped a sinister goddess alone?
At least the dualists worshipped both aspects of the goddesses in tandem.
“Very well, but vision or not, I will accompany her. Polydorus can be the one to bring the noble witnesses to the temple,” Theron growled.
“Your Majesty, if I may?” Epicasta interjected.
“Of those here, you are the one with the ability and authority to rouse your nobles. Only you could command them to follow you. Not Polydorus. If you’re that worried for her safety, then merely ensure you’re not far behind her when she leaves to confront the high priestess. ”
A muscled worked in Theron’s jaw. Aurora placed her hand on his cheek, urging him to look at her. She understood his caution, but her vision had given her hope.