XLIV | REVELATIONS
Celvene drew in an unsteady breath. Could Aleksandr be working with Zelphar?
Could he be working with the enemy? It would make sense—too much sense.
He didn't prepare the armies, he refused to supply the kingdom with anything, and he was too comfortable hosting grand balls with fresh blood on his hands.
Of course, it could all be a sign of him simply being a bad leader, but Celvene had a feeling it was something more.
"Think about it, Oriel," she said, to which she earned a cross glare.
"Aleksandr rises to power in no time. Fast enough to become Virion's right hand man, right before he died.
How could he have done so without help? You've seen him.
He's not an idiot, but he's not some genius either, and while he's notable in battle, he's nothing new.
"How had an assassin of Noriya breached our defenses and snuck into the most guarded place in the hold without a single guard noticing, right after Aleksandr gained the power to take the throne by force should Virion die?
And Zelphar acted like he didn't know Aleksandr existed, but how would he not know by now?
He's been standing in as king since Virion died.
Word's probably gotten around all of Fellstride since he took over.
I doubt a king would be clueless on the matter.
He's either stupider than I thought, or he was lying. "
Oriel's head tilted to the side, and their eyebrows drew near, eyes growing interested. With the intensity in the way they looked at Celvene, she wondered if they were seeing her in a new light. "You may be onto something. But to accuse him of this, you would need more proof than your word."
"If only the citizens here witnessed what Zelphar is like.
Somehow, I think he's worse than Aleksandr. He controls all his soldiers' minds!
When he's spoken back to, he insults you, and uses his corruption magic to manipulate your body.
And he's a vampire? I don't know where I thought they came from, but it wasn't him.
The only thing I'd call nice in that kingdom is the decor.
Zelphar has a nice sense of style, if anything. "
Oriel's lips parted, and they stared at Celvene in stunned silence. Their hand twitched on their cane. "What?"
"What?"
"I just..." Oriel blinked, pinching the bridge of their nose.
"That was a lot. And none of it was surprising.
I'd imagine Zelphar hasn't gone past the city's walls because he's scared of me.
My magic would wipe out his spawn, assuming he turned anyone.
Would we be able to stop him, even without an army? I'm unsure."
"Oh, he's turned people. I'm sure of it."
"As your advisor, I think it would do you well to focus on getting Aleksandr out of the kingdom before pivoting your attention to Zelphar and Noriya.
Without the power of a queen, you're not going to be able to defend Aizasea, unless you think you can slice and dice everyone you see with a touch of corruption magic. "
"Okay. What else do they keep in that library?"
"It's restricted for a reason. Everything the castle doesn't want the outside world seeing: forbidden magic, documents that would get certain royal officials in deep water, all that. If you're somehow able to sneak in, then you'd find more than Virion's will to use against Aleksandr."
Celvene opened her mouth to reply, but a few rapid knocks at the door had her clamping it shut. She rushed to hide; the door flew open before she got a chance to. Her heart leapt into her throat, but when she looked down, she was invisible. Oriel had cloaked her.
"Scholar Veylor," the woman said, bowing. A paper flew out of her hands and onto the floor, but she didn't seem to notice.
Oriel was silent. One of their eyes twitched.
"Apologies for barely knocking, but I have rather urgent news to share." The woman paused, raising an eyebrow. "I thought I heard someone speaking in here. Were you talking to yourself?"
Oriel was quiet for a moment before nodding. For the first time ever, they looked sheepish, and Celvene was impressed with their acting. Assuming it was acting, at least. "You know scholars. Too eccentric at times. I was engrossed in my studies."
The woman smiled. She looked slightly older than Celvene, with smooth umber skin and black braided hair knotted in a neat bun.
Her large eyes reminded Celvene of the forest, bright green depths.
She wore a dark blue tunic with brown accents—she must have been in the messaging department of the castle.
Celvene held her breath, not daring to move.
Though she was invisible, movement could do anything: rustle a piece of paper, kick up a gust of wind, anything that would alert this woman to her presence.
She would recognize Celvene—if there was anywhere in the kingdom she was well-known, it was the palace.
"We have a new batch of prisoners arriving from Noriya.
They were caught on the outskirts of the battle.
Your presence was requested from the jailer as the king's remaining royal advisor," she said.
She placed the papers down on a spare stool, and another fluttered to the ground, which she picked up.
"Not for long," Oriel murmured under their breath, though the woman didn't seem to hear them.
Celvene knew they were right if Aleksandr got his way—and she had to ensure he didn't. They raised their voice to a normal level and said, "Thank you, Jezebel.
I'm preoccupied, but as soon as I get a moment to myself, I'll make sure to make my way to the prison. "
Jezebel nodded, her plaited hair following her movements. She bowed again before exiting the room, the door shutting behind her.
"Melantha," Celvene said as the invisibility was lifted, and she hadn't even realized the name had slipped off her tongue until she saw Oriel blink. Her knees shook. Could she be alive?
"You think she's in the prison," they said. She had a feeling Oriel didn't know who she was talking about, but with the desperation ringing in Celvene's voice, it must have been obvious what Melantha meant to her. Whether in the present or in the past.
"Maybe. She's... an old friend. She helped me escape Noriya. I never saw what happened to her. She, uh, threw me out of the room with a scroll. And then I escaped with her dragon. I kind of thought she was dead, to be honest."
Celvene was expecting a snide comment about how riveting her adventures had been, but Oriel withheld. "Go," they said, and their voice was strangely wistful. "See if she's there. Then enact your plan. If anyone can do it, it's you."
"Wow," Celvene said. "I'm touched, Oriel. That is the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
"Don't get used to it. I'm here to help you think things through, not heighten your ego."
"Do you have any suggestions for my plan?" she asked. She was sure they did—they were far smarter than her, and that was a fact proven with how they were able to help her escape the prison with ease while not being present.
"Firstly, you're going to need a new disguise.
" Oriel cast another spell without a rune, and Celvene shivered at the feeling.
When she looked at her hands this time, they were blue.
"You're now Elas. You're visiting the prison on my behalf because I'm tied up with more important matters.
Get Melantha and escape. Use me as an excuse.
Say I want to speak with Melantha personally. "
"Isn't Elas in the castle?"
"You know, he came in here babbling about leaving the city after he helped you escape.
He wouldn't step foot near the castle until I teleported to his house and dragged him here.
It took me hours to convince him he'd be safe.
He kept telling me he had to go to Khezzintis.
" Oops. "I'm sure you had some hand in that, but honestly, I don't care much.
He has too much potential to be wasting it in the castle, so if he wants to spread his wings, then I won't stop him.
I gave him the week off to think it over before making a decision. "
"Isn't someone else his superior now? Are you allowed to do that?"
They shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. I don't think they're going to throw a fit if a demigod tells their pupil to take the day off, especially when he's not exactly a star guard. And if they refuse, well," they shrugged again, and a flame lit to life in their hand, "they may not leave with hair."
"Anything else?" she asked, and wasn't sure she wanted them to continue, as helpful as their plans were.
But their mind worked so much faster than Celvene's that she felt foolish for not coming up with what Oriel thought of before they did.
She was honestly surprised they didn't seem to have thought of Aleksandr sabotaging the kingdom—but she wouldn't be surprised if they had, and they played nice to make Celvene feel smarter.
That, or it was simply too obvious a thought to be taken seriously until you truly thought about it.
"Might I suggest seeking out someone who will help cement your theory?
You have ideas, and while they're connected, people will want a grand revelation.
I can't point you in any useful direction, but if you were able to figure out a potential connection between Noriya and Aleksandr, I don't think you'll have much trouble piecing together the rest of this.
You won't be able to use Elas to get to the rest of the royal guard.
He's all but left it. But the warden has connections to them.
If you can convince him, he could be a valuable ally. "
Celvene bit the inside of her cheek. While this was all daunting, and she was overwhelmed, she wouldn't let her nerves get to her. She needed to be brave, now more than ever. She headed for the door, straightening out her tie.
"Oh, and Celvene?"
Celvene glanced over her shoulder.
"Good luck," said Oriel.