XLIII | HOLLOWBORN
"ORIEL?" she said, belatedly realizing her voice was still cloaked. But she wasn't controlling the spell, and unless she wanted to lose her disguise as well, she wasn't going to be able to sever it.
They raised their head from their book, and their hawkish gaze tore through Celvene, who forced an awkward grin onto her face.
She tried leaning against the wall, which felt too unnatural. So she opted to place her elbow on a stack of books sitting on a velvet stool, which definitely looked forced.
She stifled a sigh and let her hands dangle at her sides. Nothing ever felt right standing in front of Oriel.
"Yes? Can I help you?" Oriel asked, studying Celvene's face. They leaned forward, shutting their book.
Her face burned. "It's, uh, me. Celvene. I'm cloaked right now. With illusion magic."
Something in their eyes shifted. Whether it was them softening or hardening, she didn't know. "You don't say."
"I'm not the one controlling it. My friend is, so unless he's caught, you don't have to worry about it being disconnected."
They tilted themselves back, their chair groaning. "Well, tell your friend to visit a teacher. His work is sloppy around the edges. I could tell you were cloaked the minute I laid eyes on you. I'd be happy to teach him."
"I thought you'd have a more... affectionate reaction to finding out I was still alive. It's been a while, hasn't it?" said Celvene. She'd be lying if she said their reaction didn't sting a bit, but what did she expect? When had Oriel ever shown emotion?
They sighed, dipping their glasses down and pinching the bridge of their nose. "Do you know how many times you convinced me you died? After a certain point, I stopped believing you'd die because of sheer will."
"It was only twice!" she said.
They clapped their book shut, placed it on their desk, and stood, grabbing their cane.
"Twice is far too much if you're to be queen.
We don't need a repeat of Virion. First, you get yourself captured by Noriya, and by some miracle you escape.
Aleksandr heightens security because he knew you'd be able to make it back here.
You're captured again and thrown in jail, which you're also able to walk out of.
You're either incredibly smart, incredibly lucky, or both. "
"It's determination, Oriel. That, and my head isn't as thick as Aleksandr's."
"Is it?"
"Yes, it is."
"I pulled a lot of strings for you to walk out of this palace alive and feeling righteous," Oriel said, tipping their spectacles back. They leaned against the wall while tapping a gloved finger against the smooth black of their cane's head. "A lot of strings."
Though Celvene knew exactly what they meant, she couldn't help herself from saying, "What do you mean?"
"How do you think Elas was lucky enough to escort you to your cell alone?
By the gods, how do you think someone as unqualified as Elas was put into the royal guard in the first place?
Our—well, my plan was to send him to the guard, and survive, preferably in one piece.
I would force Aleksandr to withdraw him from the guard due to poor performance, but not before he'd proven himself as an eager young boy who wanted to serve his city.
"All I needed you to do was plant that seed of wonder in him.
Of whether he should stand with you, or stand with Aleksandr. I don't know what he told you.
But I set you up for escape, and you were the one able to make it happen.
" They sighed, dipping their gaze. Their long, graceful eyelashes fluttered, and they peered at Celvene through their spectacles.
"I've been busy, Celvene. While you were gone, I've done my best to garner support for you, both with the townspeople and the city guard.
It didn't go as smoothly with the townspeople. They need to hear it from you."
Celvene's shock must have been palpable, because Oriel's nose scrunched. She ignored it, however, as her mouth slipped open and she exclaimed, "You? Oriel Veylor? You helped me?"
"Why is that so hard to believe?"
"You know why. I thought you hated me!"
Oriel's shoulders dipped in a shrug, though the edges of their mouth quirked up. They ran a hand against the seam of their jacket. "I tolerate you. I believe you're a better fit for ruler than Aleksandr. And you're not nearly as much of a headache."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should," they replied before pushing themselves off the wall. "What's your plan to take that crown back?"
"That's the funny thing. That's partially why I'm here. I have no idea. All I know is that I have to confront Aleksandr with the guard by my side"
"I can't hold your hand the entire way to your crowning ceremony, Celvene.
The people want to see their ruler is strong.
That they're capable. Someone who isn't able to think for themselves will not win the favor of the townspeople.
" They turned their attention to a figurine on their desk, moving it so it was straight.
Celvene fought the urge to sigh. "Pick a plan and stick to it. "
"Aleksandr doesn't deserve that crown. Why can't people see that?"
"Why can't they stay away from gambling halls and brothels?
Why can't they save their coin instead of blowing it on a particularly nice rug?
Why can't they see the errors of their way?
" said Oriel. "It's the nature of mortals.
I've studied it for far too long, and I still can't completely understand your kind.
But I know one thing: they live for everything, because in the grand scheme of things, they've got nothing to lose.
Their lives will be over within a few hundred years, anyway.
They see a man who they think will benefit them, and they refuse to see if there's a possibility he's not as truthful as he promises.
Giving your hope to someone else means you can't pin the blame on yourself when everything goes wrong.
It's why you're all so invested in the deities. "
"Because they're natural scapegoats. And they probably wouldn't care if a mortal called them stupid."
Oriel nodded.
"Well, how did your... recruitment go? Did you change anyone's minds?" she asked.
"That's for you to find out."
Nothing was ever straightforward with Oriel, and that was a fact Celvene was becoming well aware of. "Is Elas okay? After he helped me escape?"
"He's fine. Aleksandr doesn't know it was him that helped you because he appointed someone else to organize the palace's guard.
" They paused, sharp gaze meeting Celvene's for a second.
Celvene knew that somehow, they'd gotten the head of guards on their side as well.
But they didn't confirm that as they said, "Gods, that disguise is awful. "
Their lips thinned, and the same uncomfortable feeling that pricked at Celvene's skin when Khamisi had cloaked her washed over her in a surge of energy once again. When she looked down, her hands were her own again. They'd uncloaked her.
She breathed a sigh of relief. While the disguise did provide her with an odd sense of comfort, she preferred her real skin. "Thanks, but now I'm not going to be able to walk out of here."
"Do you think I'd leave you defenseless and looking like yourself when half the palace is against you?" When Celvene opened her mouth to respond, Oriel held a hand up. "Don't answer that."
Celvene crossed her arms. It was nice to give Khamisi a break—and a chance to leave, since skulking around the castle's grounds after the sun set would be seen as suspicious—but now she couldn't leave unless Oriel cloaked her again.
It was like Oriel knew what she was thinking, because they said, "Don't look so cross. I wouldn't have uncloaked you if I couldn't redo the spell. It would be far less tiring on me than your friend, and it will look better."
"Did Virion ever write his wishes onto parchment? Or his will? Anything that confirms that whoever that sword chose would be the next ruler?"
Oriel was quiet. Their eyebrows drew near like they'd plunged into a deep concentration.
The silence felt like it stretched on for eternity.
Then they said, "As a matter of fact, he did.
He spoke of it to me once and said he'd buried it deep within the library's restricted archives so no one could access it.
And no one needed to, because we believed his simple word would be enough to govern the city after his death.
With no one in his family available to take over the crown, it would be whoever was most worthy, according to his sword's will. "
Realization crept up on Celvene, a frigid, stifling prickling that made her shiver. She'd forgotten to tell Oriel when she'd walked in—but what could she say that would make them believe her?
She hesitated before drawing herself to her full height.
"I'm... actually Virion's daughter. At least, I think I am.
Zelphar had an exact match to a necklace my mother owned, saying it was Virion's.
A rare pendant. Something he wouldn't have been able to track back to me.
Zelphar kept calling me 'bloodkin,' too. "
For the first time Celvene could recall, genuine emotion flashed on Oriel's face—and it lingered. "And you're sure of this?"
"No. None of it makes sense, yet it all comes together like it's the truth."
Oriel was silent for a moment before they breathed out.
"Well, Virion told me he had a daughter once.
A daughter estranged from him, sent to another kingdom.
He'd seen her when she was born before she was whisked away, nameless and detached.
In all honesty, I think he made that ritual for you.
He crafted his sword to find you because he couldn't find you himself.
And I suppose he was telling the truth, in a way, with his story. You aren't from Aizasea, correct?"
"Yes. I arrived in Aizasea a few years ago after my parents sent me away."
"I don't know what Zelphar told you, but I imagine your parents kept in touch with Virion.
He may not have been a good king, but he cared for those close to him.
I do hope he wasn't unfaithful to his wife, though.
Regardless, I doubt he completely cut contact.
" They paused. "You have his eyes. That was the first thing I noticed about you at the ceremony. "
"Is that why you picked me?" she asked.
"For the most part, yes. I could see Virion in you. In your face, of course, but in your spirit, as well. The man I was once fond of. The king who would fight for his kingdom to prosper. I could feel the same flame burning in his hungry soul in you."
Celvene's cheeks warmed. "My parents told me they always lived in Vosalon before I was born. It's why they raised me with the culture. I... don't know when my mother would have met Virion."
"They likely strayed from the truth to avoid raising any suspicions, assuming they pretended like your adoptive father was your true father.
It would have been unstable for you to be thrust into different lives in different kingdoms, even if Virion wasn't going to treat you like a royal in Aizasea.
But with this coming to light, you're provided a clear path to the throne.
No one can deny true blood to the throne like they can a silly ceremony. And we can come out of hiding."
Celvene almost mentioned that she didn't consider Virion her true father—all they shared was blood—but she figured it wasn't the time. Her thoughts on Virion's rule spoke for themselves. And though she called Aizasea her home now, she would always consider the culture of Vosalon to be her own.
If Virion had told Oriel he had a lost daughter... chances were, Zelphar wasn't lying. She was Virion's daughter, whether she wanted to admit it or not. But what she really wanted to do at the moment was scream at the top of her lungs.
"We?" she said instead.
"The ruler's Royal Council. Everyone believes Virion disbanded us, but we simply laid low and helped him from the side.
I'm the one who has any semblance of a public reputation, solely because I am also one of the kingdom's scholars.
The others are... Well, they're hermits.
You met them; you know that. And now, they're irrelevant; the rumors hold some truth in the sense that we've all but disbanded since Virion's death and no clear heir to the throne.
We have no power to overthrow Aleksandr.
"The military outpowers the board, because Virion naively believed he'd live forever, and wanted to give what little power the kingdom could afford to the military as a way of raising their spirits and improving the outlook of the war.
And we have no power to enter the library's restricted section, either.
One person in the entire hold is allowed inside, so attempting to get in would be a fool's errand. "
"Sounds like that's where I need to go, then.
" If she could somehow get into the library, steal Virion's parchment, and use it to show everyone the law, then Aleksandr would be proven to be going against the law.
Or she could find something that incriminated Aleksandr directly.
Though most in the city already knew of the law, Celvene had a feeling the castle had been twisting the truth when communicating with the city since Virion's death.
"Easier said than done. There are several guards patrolling the library at all times, and there's a forcefield that severs any kind of magic surrounding it. No illusion spells, no invisibility, and no teleportation unless you want to sneak your way out," said Oriel.
"I can sneak in and out. I'm small and stealthy."
"Against an entire squadron of elite guards? They don't position half-baked guards like Elas to protect forbidden knowledge."
"Insulting your own student?" she asked, not sure whether to laugh or frown. Oriel was right, but it wasn't like Elas had much of a choice.
"He brought it upon himself when he almost burned my eyebrows off with a faulty fire spell. Regardless, you're not going to be able to simply 'sneak inside.'"
"I have to get it by tomorrow evening, Oriel. If I announce it during the ball, it will be broadcast to hundreds, and word spreads fast. The entire kingdom would hear of it by the time the moon sets."
"Why not confront him earlier? He'll have far too much security at the ball.
If you're not successful, he'll undoubtedly throw you in prison again, and I won't be able to get you out a second time.
It's unfortunate, but I doubt that the people will care about him disobeying a meaningless law enacted by a dead king. You'd need something bigger."
"Who will be there to hear about what he's done if I do it without an audience?
" If she had a small gaggle of guards, who weren't even guaranteed to take Celvene's side, then that was going to get her next to nowhere.
She either needed the entire royal guard to be present, or she needed to go grand.
"Again, I think you're overestimating how much people care about laws. If they did care, you would already be queen," Oriel said, tapping their cane against the ground.
Speaking of queen...
"I had a question," said Celvene, and Oriel raised a brow.
"In Noriya, I did something rash. Zelphar was going to cast a rune—I think it was a blood rune—and I stopped it before it was finished.
It hit me, and ever since then, I've been having these.
.. urges. Weird visions. Some... odd physical effects.
It's only happened a few times. But it..
. it led to me ripping a dryad's throat out. "
Both of Oriel's eyebrows raised now, and they let out a low whistle. "A dryad?"
"With nothing but my bare hands. I burned her skin, too, with no spells."
"Remind me not to get on your bad side." They walked to their desk and readjusted their glasses.
"It sounds like the magic altered your psyche.
And if you're truly Virion's daughter, that makes you a hollowborn.
Their powers are only rumored, given we haven't seen Virion's children.
I don't believe any exist... aside from you, apparently.
But his powers wilted and burned living things with his mere presence.
It would make sense for a similar power to awaken in you if it lay dormant until it was forcefully awoken. "
"That's what I was thinking, but it was so.
.. violent. I was in control one moment, and I'd lost it the next.
I felt like a ghost watching myself become a monster.
It was worrying. The burning didn't help me calm down, either.
" When Celvene looked down at her hands, the light in Oriel's study stained them red. She curled them into fists.
"Corruption magic is far more powerful than typical magic, like your elemental tricks.
If it changed you, it changed everything, mental state included.
You're powerless to stop its power. It will control you like a puppet.
Your body will not be your own. You will be at the mercy of your tainted magic.
You may do things you don't agree with, and your mind may know spells you do not want to cast."
"So I'm not going to be able to stop myself from casting corruption magic. My magic, one of the things that I'm supposed to be able to control, isn't mine anymore?"
"Essentially, yes. No one knows why corruption magic acts the way it does, and it is so rare that we may never find out why. I'd imagine Zelphar is always in control of his own body because he's a god. "
"Is there any way to fix it?"
"If there is, I haven't come across it," Oriel said. Their artificial leg waned a tad, and they winced.
"Does that hurt?" As soon as the question left her lips, Celvene realized it was a stupid question, but she knew nothing of the magic Oriel had used. It was something she'd never seen before.
"Usually, yes. Sometimes more, sometimes less. It's something I've learned to live with. If I want to keep my balance, then I need it," said Oriel.
Celvene frowned. "The cane doesn't help?"
"If I want to be able to move, then no. I'd fall over with only the support of my cane." Their hand tightened around the head of their cane, and Celvene noticed they weren't wearing gloves. She had caught them at an odd time. "Odd question to ask."
"I don't find it odd."
"You'd better not go asking Aleksandr ridiculous questions when you confront him. He won't entertain them," said Oriel. "Thankfully, that question wasn't half as ridiculous as the fake crown he's decided to start wearing everywhere."
So the crown was fake.
"I wouldn't waste my breath on him. If he can't lead Aizasea, I doubt he can answer ridiculous questions with much confidence," Celvene said.
Outside the door, she could hear footsteps, and she inched her way further into Oriel's study.
Her voice was no longer cloaked, and while she doubted anyone would recognize her by voice alone, she didn't want to take any chances.
"To Aleksandr's credit, Virion didn't leave Aizasea with a flourishing kingdom. The economy was declining, citizens were losing their morale, and you've seen how successful the army is in its battles."
"Well, you'd think with how ruthless Aleksandr is, we'd be drawing battles more.
And he's been pulling more people into the army than ever before, despite not having the resources to support more soldiers.
I know Noriya is strong, and they have a lot of weapons, but Aizasea's economy isn't struggling that much.
Aleksandr could afford to budget more into the military's spending. It's odd how he doesn't."
Celvene's eyes widened, and realization struck her. A horrible, horrible feeling. "Unless he doesn't want us to win."