Chapter 4
When we entered the city center the next day, it was like we’d entered another battle arena.
There were screams. An endless sea of people in frenzied chaos. Men falling to their knees.
They didn’t wield weapons, but they offered gifts—breads, fabrics, children, coins—all thrust toward us by desperate hands. And then there was me, right in the center of it all, where I absolutely did not belong.
The only time I’d experienced this type of welcome was when Harthon had first taken me to his city center, but then, I’d been blindfolded to hide my eyes.
Today, I was doing the opposite: sitting proud atop the horse, my oiled hair woven into a tight braid, my unnatural eyes on full display.
Most voices addressed Harthon, who rode by my side, though some praised the magvis, extending offerings toward me.
I would meet their eyes with what I hoped was gentle acknowledgment and look away before they felt encouraged to engage any further.
I should have been a panicked mess, overwhelmed by the attention and the eager horde that could easily crush us. But I simply didn’t have the energy.
The moment I’d closed my eyes last night, I was haunted by my time with Koerlyn.
In my dreams, he slaughtered children as he questioned me about the path.
I’d woken up gasping, drenched in sweat, and stared at the starless sky, trying and failing to chase the images from my mind until the camp woke.
No doubt the circles beneath my eyes were as purple as my irises.
The mayhem ended when the gates to the Citadel opened, welcoming us into the heart of the city—Harthon’s home.
There was no dramatic greeting there. Only Ana, who appeared when we entered the small stables.
She was impeccably dressed in a regal emerald dress that highlighted her eyes, the curls of her dark hair gleaming, despite the low light.
It’d been cloudy ever since the partial sun during the battle, yet Ana glowed as she always did.
From the way she carried herself to her impeccable appearance, she looked every bit the Princeps’ minister that she was.
As I stiffly dropped from the saddle, she strode toward me, skirts rippling. Concern twisted her lovely features as she said, “It’s so good to see you back here.”
There was no bite beneath the statement, no sign she was upset with my choice to leave in the first place. Perhaps she shared Callen’s opinion that my actions were justified.
She scanned me from head to foot. “And I’m so glad you’re alright.” Her gaze landed on the area beneath my eyes, and she faltered. “I should ask, actually. Are you alright?”
Was I?
I wasn’t physically injured, and I’d accessed the magvis’ knowledge. So as far as she and Harthon and everyone else were concerned, yes, I was. I relayed that with a slight nod, adding, “I can lead us into the Domus.”
“That’s wonderful news,” she replied, though her eyes lingered on my face with a hint of concern.
“It’s news we’re going to unpack in a moment,” Harthon interjected, drawing her attention. She hadn’t even acknowledged him yet. “We’re heading to the library to discuss.”
“Of course it needs to be discussed. But don’t you want a moment to eat first? Bathe?” She looked at me. “Breathe?”
Harthon watched me, silent. When he didn’t answer for me like I expected, I said what needed to be said. “I don’t need a moment.”
“An hour wouldn’t hurt,” she argued.
I’d had no choice in going to Koerlyn, but people had suffered because of my actions. I wasn’t in any position to ask for selfish luxuries.
With a firm shake of my head, I said, “We have things to discuss.”
My legs were lead weights as I trailed behind Harthon and Ana, who spoke in low tones as they navigated hallways and stairs. What they discussed, I didn’t know. I was too focused on stopping my chin from sinking as we passed guards who bowed their heads at us.
Until now, my body hadn’t reacted to the horrors of the past several days. I was tired. Bone-weary. But that had been all until the library’s double doors swung open and the smell of paper and leather assaulted me with the force of a solid wall. A tremble shook my knees.
The scent was a bold announcement that I was no longer running through the wilderness, attempting to survive, but back within the Citadel. I fought a wave of lightheadedness.
The reaction was so visceral that Callen, who was seated beside North at the long table, asked, “You good, Fish Eyes?”
North rolled his eyes, and Harthon and Ana spun toward me.
I lingered just inside the doorway. Apparently, I’d stopped moving.
“I’m fine.” Clearing my throat, I tried to appear steadier than I was as I made my way to an empty chair across from Callen.
Harthon’s presence shadowed me until I dropped into the wooden seat. Then he sat to my left, at the head of the table, while Ana placed herself to my right.
Harthon took the time to pour a full cup of water from a waiting pitcher.
He wordlessly slid it to me before clasping his hands and beginning.
“We currently have two paths forward. Whether Koerlyn is dead or not, the time is ripe to overtake the rest of his Territory before other leadership surfaces, or Theo attempts a move.”
Theo, the Princeps of Second Territory, my home, wasn’t terribly militaristic. But then again, I only knew him as a tax collector.
Harthon continued, “But we know that’s a process that takes time. Our second option is to make for the Domus and claim its resources as soon as possible. We can’t safely or effectively do both at the same time, so we need to determine our priority.”
I eyed the water, mouth drier than flour. But I didn’t move to take it.
I didn’t want Harthon’s handouts.
“The blight affecting our potatoes is only getting worse, and I received reports this past week that it’s spreading to Fifth,” Ana shared, her tone grave. “It’ll take months to restore the farms we’ve had to burn. It’s another reminder that every day the Domus stands, our land and people suffer.”
A severe line appeared between North’s bushy brows.
“Accessing the Domus doesn’t mean giving up Koerlyn’s Territory, either.
The resources in Centralis give us power, both over the people and other leaders.
” His attention turned to me, his gravelly voice dripping with derision.
“But of course, that venture could also be time-consuming, depending on how long it takes this one to lead us into those walls.” He cocked his head, sneering.
“Do you actually know the path, or are you simply saying that to make up for how you betrayed our Territory and walked yourself into our enemy’s hands? ”
“North,” Ana chided.
The shaking in my knees shot straight to my hands, which clenched. How I despised this man. “I told you, I know the path.”
He dropped two beefy arms on the table and leaned forward. “Then tell us where it is.”
“The magvis took an oath of secrecy. She wasn’t able to tell anyone the path.
I can’t either. We’ve already determined that.
” Back when they’d first taken me, I’d tried to draw the images the magvis had sent into my mind when she gave me the knowledge.
Considering my body hadn’t allowed the quill to move, it was clear the magvis’ oath of secrecy had transferred to me.
“You can’t give us exact directions, but you should be able to give us a general idea of where it is. Or, at the very least, which Territory it’s in,” he challenged.
“It’s south of us,” I said, hoping that was enough to appease him.
It wasn’t, because he flung his calloused hands in the air. “South,” he repeated, scoffing. “South as in, within our Territory? Or in Sixth, or First? Are we to just aimlessly wander south from this very room and see what happens?”
While I knew the heated seed within me would guide us to the path, a vague direction was all the information I could articulate for now.
If I knew what the rest of our world looked like, I might be able to name a Territory, maybe even put more specific words to where we needed to go.
But I’d never seen a map. The only borders and lands I was familiar with were those I’d lived in and recently crossed.
I tried to explain. “The knowledge lives within me. I know it’s there, and it’ll take us where we need to go.
But it isn’t a drawn-out course in my head.
It’s more of an instinct, and it’s up to me to draw that course out myself and share whatever parts of it I can with you.
It would help me to see maps of the Territories. ”
At that, North full-out laughed, booming guffaws echoing off the bookshelves, bombarding me with mockery. “So you don’t even have directions yet? You have got to be fucking kidding—”
“North.” One word from Harthon, unforgiving in its severity, speared through the room.
North stopped mid-sentence, angry eyes swinging to Harthon.
“Deny it all you want, but you were bloody near frantic when you learned what happened. Skies, you nearly invaded Koerlyn’s Territory without any plan to get her back—because of her own reckless decision—and now, she cannot even do the one thing she’s here to do. ”
Harthon had been that worried, that hasty in trying to save me? He was always strategic, always prepared.
It’s only because of the knowledge within you.
Harthon arched a brow. “You’re allowing your anger to twist her words. She is going to fulfill her purpose here. She needs resources, and we will get her those.”
North opened his mouth, but thinking better of it, he sat back and drilled me with an expression of absolute loathing.
Harthon turned to me. “Besides maps, what do you need?”
“That’s all, I think.”
He gave a sharp nod. “We’ll give you a few days to study them. Once we have a better idea of where the path is, we’ll decide if we pursue it immediately. And if you can’t get more specific within those few days, we’ll reconvene and consider our options.”