CHAPTER NINETEEN
Walking into the audience chamber a short while later, I kept my expression neutral. As usual, I was a little edgy. But, having recently had plenty of practice at hiding feelings of such restlessness, I did an exceptionally good job of appearing relaxed.
The only people there were the Sovereigns and Ariadne. Generally, she never paid me much attention. Today, though, she eyed me strangely.
Most people did these days.
Here and now, Eacus’ expression gave nothing away.
Rhad, however, made no attempt to hide his feelings—his suspicion came across in his steady narrow-eyed gaze.
Minos also didn’t bother concealing what he felt; there was no jovial smile this time.
Pure displeasure was etched into the lines of his face.
I was not in the least bit surprised by their reception.
My power was no longer a buzz under my skin. It filled my entire being, warm and thick. But as I advanced toward the Sovereigns, the force inside me slinked backwards. Retreated. Like a predator intending to remain unseen by fellow predators for now. It still made no sense to me.
I didn’t dare ask if it was a universal reaction, because it would be to reveal something that might be better kept quiet.
From the platform of thrones, Minos gave Talon a respectful nod before switching his attention to me. “Anara,” he drawled in a greeting that wasn’t necessarily welcoming. “I had hoped that you would be here sooner.” It was a reprimand, plain and simple.
“As did I,” I told him as Talon and I halted several feet away. “Unfortunately, the lines for the bathhouses were rather long.” I had the feeling that the Sovereigns forgot that not everyone had the luxury of a private bathing area. “I apologize for the delay.”
Minos’ gaze dropped to the healing wound on my cheek. I hadn’t applied salve to it, or to my other injuries.
Talon had done it.
Something he’d silently insisted on, glaring at me when I tried protesting. He had applied it quickly and efficiently, all business. Then he had watched, arms folded, while I dressed … all the while frowning. He could be seriously weird sometimes.
“So,” began Minos, idly tapping his fingers on the armrest of his throne, “your power surfaced.”
“Yes,” I confirmed.
“And you survived it,” Rhad added.
I nodded.
“I must say, it came as a surprise.” Eacus slid his gaze to the raven-haired female. “Ariadne, leave us.”
She gave a graceful nod and elegantly padded out of the chamber.
I switched my attention back to the Sovereigns … and something caught my eye. There was a crack in the platform on which the three thrones were placed. I searched my memories, almost sure that it hadn’t been there on any of the last occasions I’d come here.
Minos left his throne, pulling me out of my contemplations; my pulse hiccupped when he came too close for comfort. “Your power isn’t very intense,” he commented, somewhat haughty. “Quite weak, in fact.”
I wasn’t so sure it was weak at all, but I had no intention of letting him know that. Instead, I let out a sad sigh of agreement. “I think that’s why it didn’t kill me when it surfaced.”
A thoughtful look fell over his face. “I would wager that is the case.”
Rhad absently scratched his cheek, ruffling his beard. “Give us a demonstration,” he demanded, every inch the royal.
I lifted my palm. Flickers of moonlight arced along my fingers moments before I conjured an orb of ashes—one that I ensured was weak and unstable.
“Strange.” Minos hovered a hand over the orb that I held. “The heat is bearable. The ashes are not tightly clustered together.”
“I’m hoping I improve, but that might be wishful thinking.
” I half-expected Talon to snort or something.
He’d seen me in battle; he’d surely seen the orbs that I’d conjured earlier—they were much hotter and more harmful than this.
But nothing in his expression must have given that away, because the Sovereigns would have noticed.
Maybe he hadn’t seen the orbs that I’d tossed around during the battle—after all, he had been rather preoccupied.
“How fast do you heal?” Minos asked me.
“Pretty fast,” I replied, letting my orb disintegrate, “but not so much that I don’t have to use salve.”
“Yes, I smell it on you.” Seeming somewhat appeased by that ‘weakness,’ Minos slid his attention to the Cardinal. “What do you think of all this?”
Talon gave a lazy I don’t see what the big deal is shrug.
Minos twisted his mouth. “Hmm, I suppose it all matters little. It is not as if the gods will use her. They cannot since, as I’d suspected all along, being mortal makes the power she carries weak.” He refocused on me. “And yet, you have not pulled out of Xalbia.”
“As I confessed last time, we mortals always have something to prove to ourselves.” I gave a sheepish shrug.
Minos stared at me, his expression pensive. “I had considered not granting you a place in the Order irrespective of whether you passed Xalbia or not.”
I stilled. He freaking what?
“But at the moment, while attacks are forever imminent, every officiate counts,” he continued. “So if you pass, you will become part of the Black Tapestry.”
I subtly let out a relieved breath.
“I cannot say I am confident that you will pass, however. Then again, you have repeatedly surprised me thus far,” Minos tacked on, sounding unsure how to feel about it. “Perhaps you will do so once more.” He turned his back on us. “You are both excused.”
I personally wasted no time in pivoting on my heel to make my way out of the audience chamber. The moment I vacated it, my power seeped back to the forefront. It was too weird for words.
On exiting the tower, I gave Talon a sideways glance. “Did you notice the crack in the platform?”
He only spared me a brief look as we walked, seeming not one bit concerned.
“It was right under Minos’ throne, and I’ll bet my life that it wasn’t there before.”
Still no reaction.
“Nobody thinks it’s weird that cracks are appearing in places they shouldn’t?”
Again, nothing.
“Fine, don’t tell me.” Really, I wasn’t sure why I’d thought that he would. I was a candidate, not a Marshall. Hell, not even an officiate. If the cracks were a real issue, it would be a need-to-know thing.
As we strolled back into the garrison, I noticed Khalida stood a few feet away. Ajax called out to Talon from a whole other direction. The Cardinal and I exchanged a brief look before each going our own way.
“I heard that the Sovereigns summoned you,” said Khalida. “I was worried. A little. Don’t read anything into it.”
I snorted. “You were worried I might not come back. Admit it.”
“Never.”
Shaking my head in amusement, I noted, “There’s no one hanging around the apothecary, so I’m guessing that all wounds have been tended to.”
“Most were quick to wash and change so they could scoff down their dinner. There weren’t as many injured as I’d thought there would be, or as many deaths.
” She looked to where seven bodies were laid out covered in blankets just beyond the building that housed the wagons.
“I think maybe it’s because we had the advantage—we could attack from all angles, including from above.
We’re also used to fighting in the fog; used to relying on more than our vision. Our enemies weren’t.”
I gave a nod of agreement, swallowing hard. “Did you hear about Glory?”
Khalida grimaced. “Yeah. Harbin is pretty upset. Jelani is with him—they went for a walk along the battlements.”
That would be good for them both, since … “He knows how Harbin will be feeling.”
“To a degree, yes.” Linking arms with me, she started to lead me toward the food hall. “You can see now why we might avoid heavy relationships.”
“I can see it. Just as I see why Nakoa swears that she and Soule aren’t exclusive—if she tells herself that they’re not serious, she’s not too invested in him and so it’ll hurt a lot less if she loses him.”
“That won’t protect her heart, though. She only thinks it will.
” Khalida sighed. “I know it probably seems cold that shortly after losing some of our fellow officiates we can all go eat dinner, but we can’t afford to miss meals when another attack could come any moment. We can’t ever afford to be weak.”
“I don’t think any of you are cold. You all might be used to loss, but you always give each officiate a respectful burial. You always honor their contribution to the Order. It’s more than the Sovereigns do,” I mumbled. They never attended any burials.
“On the subject of the Sovereigns, why did they summon you? What did they want?”
“To chat about how my power surfaced. And while I was there, I clocked something.”
Her brow creased. “What?”
“There’s a crack in the platform of thrones in the audience chamber. The crack is directly beneath Minos’ throne.”
Her brows flew up. “I didn’t hear anything about that.”
“I asked Talon about it, but he ignored my questions. Either nobody finds it a need for concern, or they’re acting as though they aren’t worried so that others won’t be concerned.”
Khalida hummed, considering it. “It could be either scenario.” She pushed open the door to the food hall.
Though it was filled with people, the atmosphere was very different from usual.
The chatter was quiet. The mood was grim.
Several people were picking at their food, and some others were staring into space.
“On a whole other note,” Khalida began, her voice very low, “Soule said that he saw Talon take you to the private barracks earlier.”
Strolling toward the spot where our friends sat, I inwardly sighed.
I knew that Khalida was latching on to a light subject to distract her from thinking of recent deaths.
I felt for her, but I didn’t really want to discuss this particular matter with anyone until I knew for certain that Talon wasn’t going to repeat his past behavior.
If I was to mention what happened only to have him act as though it never occurred, it would be seriously embarrassing.