29. Chapter 28
Chapter 28
T he cold of the next morning seeped into my bones as soon as I stepped outside. Wrapped in furs, hood pulled low, the wind still slapped my face with a breathtaking ferocity. Streets lay quiet under dawn’s glow, people sheltering indoors as a Howl brewed. Sunlight struggled to break through the thick cloud cover, casting a dreary gray over the snow-covered ground. I clutched Sainte’s arm as another gust slammed into us. My cloak snapped behind me, exposing me to the frigid elements. The weather seemed intent on thwarting our journey.
That, or the gods.
Sainte forged ahead, head bent low. Thick flakes spilled from the dark clouds, swirling in the fierce wind. We could have taken a carriage to the temple district, but I wanted to avoid drawing attention. The last thing I needed was Adastrus appearing and goading me into our duel. Though now, with my fingers numb and body aching, regret gnawed at my resolve.
My thoughts drifted to the note from the Dire Wolf. Did she know anything about the Rite of Favor? It was a warning… Could she prove my brother cheated somehow? Perhaps there was something to Leihim’s cryptic words. I had to at least try to figure it out.
I braved Winter’s Bite for this—it had to be worth it.
My knees buckled, and Sainte caught me before I collapsed. I gripped him tight, shielding my eyes from the blinding flurry. Heavy snowfall obscured my view, structures vanishing from sight. Even the distinct statues in front of each temple were indistinguishable.
Still, he led me with unwavering confidence, his firm grip guiding me through the accumulating drifts. He never faltered, never stumbled. Eventually, we passed through an iron gate. Snowflakes clung to my lashes as I strained to see Togamar’s statue in the courtyard, but the world dissolved into a swirling white haze.
As Sainte tugged me up snow-smothered steps, eerie silence enveloped us, the snow’s relentless howl drowning out all life. When we reached the immense entrance, I heaved a sigh of relief at the sight of Togamar’s portrait. At least we arrived at the correct temple.
He pounded on the door with his left hand, as I still clutched his right arm, fearing I’d blow away at any moment. It had nothing whatsoever to do with how I enjoyed the sensation of his muscles flexing beneath my hold.
The door creaked open, revealing a young girl’s face. Her eyes widened in surprise before the wind yanked the handle from her grasp. She shrieked as it slammed against the wall, echoing through the temple. The priests inside scrambled, breaking out in chaos.
“Oi, shut the–”
“We have patrons!”
“Get them out of the cold!”
“Is that Princess Elspeth?”
Sainte dragged me into the warm sanctuary, a stark contrast to the biting chill outside. The transition from freezing winds to the stifling heat inside was like stepping from winter’s grasp into a cozy hearth. Priests scurried around us, their movements a blur in the rush. Two of them hurried to shut the door, the icy draft vanishing as it closed with a thud.
The sudden warmth pricked my skin, thawing the chill that had seeped into my bones. As I stood there, my breath steaming in the heated air, two priests approached, removing my cloak with practiced hands.
Amidst the flurry of activity, a hunched figure caught my eye. She limped toward us, her steps heavy with the weight of years, her cane tapping out a steady rhythm on the stone floor.
“Princess.”
My jaw trembled with my shiver as I dipped my chin in greeting. “Priestess Edne.”
Sainte discarded his cloak, handing it to a priest before shaking his head like a dog, scattering water and snow. A chuckle escaped me as I watched the droplets fly, and I raked my fingers through my own damp, freezing hair.
A twinkle sparked in her eyes. “She told me you would come, though I did not expect you to brave a Howl.”
“I’m pressed for time.” I offered a casual shrug. My red, aching hands burned with cold, and I cupped them over my mouth, seeking warmth from my breath.
“A fortnight is enough time to wait out a Howl, dear.” She smirked with a shake of her head. “Come, she has told me what to do. ”
I glanced at Sainte, uneasy with her belief in prophetic dreams. These people placed immense faith in intangible, unproven things. But then, my reasons for being here were unclear. Perhaps Leihim sent word?
That was a plausible explanation.
My Valahant arched a brow at my doubtful expression and motioned for me to follow Edne. She hobbled off, and a young girl left the comfort of the roaring hearth, where our cloaks dried, to assist her. It relieved me to see she had support this time.
Conversations buzzed through the space as people resumed their tasks, barely casting us a second glance. We trailed Edne down the stairs. The girl clutched her arm with a worried frown, underscoring the strain of navigating the steep, dark stairwell. When we reached level ground, the breath I held in my chest finally loosed. If the old priestess fell now, at least the risk would be minimal.
The cavern felt desolate, with only our small group breaking the stillness. Priests didn’t gather here, nor did children scurry about. Silence hung in the air, the muted noises from the upper level barely audible.
The girl hastened to retrieve white clothes from a shelf. I stifled a groan in my throat as Edne hobbled off to grab a capped bottle and cup, then rushed to her side to steady her, preventing her cane from slipping.
She smiled up at me, eyes twinkling as she uncorked the top. “You seek answers.”
“I seek solutions,” I corrected.
She chuckled, clearly amused by my response. “The gods do not always act on our behalf.”
“And the God Stones do?”
“They are but an answer…” she murmured, her focus intent as her trembling hands lifted the bottle to the cup, tipping it with care.
Dread filled me as a luminescent blue liquid spilled out. When it reached the brim, Edne secured the cork and flashed me a wide, toothless grin.
“Tell me that’s for you,” I whined, lip curled.
“Oh no, dear.”
“My insides will light up like the northern sky.”
“You are not ready to seek the divine without help. This prepares your mind and body.”
I squinted at the old woman, recalling the hallucinogenic mushrooms sold in the slums.
Sure, I would see the gods.
With a glance at Sainte for assurance, I watched as he removed his armor, handing it to the little girl, who placed it in a neat stack on the shelf. He tugged his tunic loose and drew it over his head, revealing his scars .
After an airy sigh, I peered into the glowing cup, then at Edne’s expectant grin, and tossed the liquid back, downing it in one long gulp. My features pulled into a grimace. It had no flavor, but the thick consistency made my mind balk as it slid down my throat. It was just wrong.
Edne looked me over, leaning heavily on her cane. “Change. You wouldn’t want to ruin your fine clothes.”
I squinted as a light, airy sensation flitted through my head. “Couldn’t I sit against the wall or something?” I asked, gesturing vaguely around the cavern, my wrist drooping weakly. “Anywhere?”
“Into the pool, Princess.”
I hummed my reluctant agreement, swaying as I fumbled with the laces. Everything felt thick and fuzzy, a sense of wrongness I couldn’t quite grasp. It took too much effort.
When I tugged my dress off, I stumbled, warm balmy air kissing my skin. My eyes pressed shut in a long blink as I staggered to the side, and when they opened again, I found the girl standing before me, offering a thin white gown, her smile bright. I tried to return the grin, but I swayed again on unsteady feet. Whatever was in that drink surpassed anything from the slums.
After shrugging into the shift, I tugged at the neckline riding high against my throat, wondering why the back dipped so low.
“She put it on backwards. Should I fix it, Priestess?”
The little girl’s words reached my ears as I turned and staggered toward Sainte.
“No, child,” Edne’s raspy voice replied. “Valahant!”
He faced me and, as he did, my knees buckled.
He was so handsome.
Clad in naught but thin white trousers, his chest bore a light dusting of hair that thickened as it trailed downward. A flush tickled across my skin as my stomach melted. He hurried over, lifting me from the ground. I gaped up at him, lashes fluttering as I gave him my dreamiest smile.
He chuckled, his smirk crooked, then hoisted me against his chest, heading toward the pool. My head lulled back, catching Edne’s grin upside-down. Her expression beamed with pride and mirth, as if I were her favorite child.
When he stepped into the glowing water, its eerie glow brightened with each stride.
“I hate this,” I whined, features set into a stern pout.
“You’ve faced tougher situations,” he murmured.
He loosened his hold, and my body floated, legs drifting away from him as he cradled my head, hands supporting me beneath my shoulder blades. Water soaked into my bones like a warm embrace. It wasn’t unpleasant—the novelty of the strange hue just took some getting used to .
He glanced down at me, and I met his gaze, careful not to strain my neck as he snorted a laugh. I smiled, content, and wriggled, causing small waves to lap against the stone.
“Close your eyes, Princess.”
I sighed and did as he said. “You’re supposed to… call me Ellie…” I mumbled, fading into sleep, my mind disconnecting from my body.
“Drift, Ellie,” Sainte’s voice beckoned me. “Drift.”
A gentle, feminine hum tugged me toward consciousness. I resisted, shifting in my cozy bed to find a better position.
I tumbled into a pond, warm water flooding my senses. Arms flailing, I struggled to stay afloat. My eyes squeezed shut against the rush of liquid, hands groping in the dark for a branch, a tree, anything to grab onto.
A strong grip seized my arm, and I clutched onto it for dear life. When I broke the surface, I gasped and sputtered, fingers clenching into warm flesh.
“Put your feet under you!”
I kicked, thrashing, as I struggled for breath.
“Stand, girl!”
I thrust my legs downward until I found solid ground. With a determined push, I raised my chest above the waterline and released my hold on the arm. My lungs burned as I coughed, sputtering as I swept my hair aside and wiped the fluid from my eyes.
A light laugh drew my attention to the woman before me.
She glowed.
“There was something in that blue stuff…” I breathed.
Her luminance rivaled a candle’s flame, emanating from every pore in a subtle yet discernible glow. Golden strands cascaded like warm sunshine on a summer afternoon, framing eyes that shimmered in a green hue reminiscent of evergreens, simultaneously deep and vibrant—akin to new spring growth. Her complexion was fair, adorned with a rosy blush on her cheeks. A smile graced her lips, adding radiance to her features.
“I did not know you feared water,” she teased with a playful tilt of her head.
The cavern lay empty, devoid of shelves or people. Sainte’s absence only affirmed it was a dream.
I huffed, dragging myself from the pool to perch on its dark ledge. “I can’t swim.”
“You don’t need to swim in but a few paces of water. ”
“Great. Even the gods poke fun at me.” I sniffed, pinching my nose against the water’s sting.
With a laugh, she nestled beside me, her fingers dancing over the surface, sending droplets flying into the pool. I observed as they landed, each splash creating delicate ripples of azure waves.
“Why do you seek me, child?” she asked
I shuddered. Even her teeth glowed.
“You were expecting me.” My head tilted with curiosity. “Edne mentioned you told her to prepare for my visit.”
“I might have anticipated your arrival,” she remarked, her emerald eyes lighting up as her smile brightened. “Yet, I would still have you ask. I don’t dispense knowledge you do not seek.”
Her words heightened my frustration. If I forgot to mention something crucial, would she withhold that information?
I drew in a deep breath, reminding myself that this was a dream. Trust was essential. “Did my brother cheat?”
She laughed with a raised brow. “No one can cheat the gods.”
My hopes shattered, and I glared at the rippling pool.
“Deception is impossible with the divine,” she affirmed, extending her hand towards me, just a whisper away from my cheek. “Should one seek our favor, we shall provide an answer.”
“He asked. You answered.”
Togamar withdrew her touch, the warmth of her smile fading from her gentle face. Her patchwork gown might have appeared worn on someone else, but on her, it resembled miniature fields of green under a sunlit sky. She extended her bare foot to dangle in the water, her eyes fixed into the distance.
“We hear him as we would hear all our children.” Her features softened with contemplation. “Some we acknowledge, while others are so distant, beyond our reach.” Her gaze met mine, anger flaring in her vibrant green depths. “We did not answer his call.”
“The God Stones, they glowed in response to our prayers. Did you answer me?”
A sad smile crossed her lips as she shook her head. “You sought favor from your father, Nothar. I would not respond to a prayer for him.”
Exasperation coursed through me, and I tilted my face toward the ceiling, frustrated. I came to the wrong place.
Her palm settled against my thigh. The heat of her touch seeped through the thin, soaked fabric of my shift—almost uncomfortably warm.
“I can offer you this,” she said. “Your answer resides within my temple, but with Nothar. ”
“Then why did Edne make me drink that foul concoction?” I asked, my irritation palpable.
“Because I told her to.” Togamar snickered another laugh, ignoring my scowl. “Nellie divulged many details about you. She mentioned you were to bring syrup the next time you visit her?”
My teeth clenched tight. My dream gods spoke to each other now?
“It has been too long since the rulers of men sought us out,” she sighed. “Having a queen who worships us would be a refreshing change.”
“You’re a figment of my imagination.”
Her head whipped my way, all traces of good humor gone from her features. She wrenched my arm, and I hissed as her too-warm fingers encircled my wrist.
“Am I?” Her glare sharpened. “Your lack of faith is troubling. We listen to your prayers, answer where we can, and yet you mock us. One would wonder why we bother.”
With a cry, I tugged at my arm, but her grip remained unyielding, like iron.
“I would favor you over Adastrus, but we gods are not in agreement. You are weak, needing our aid every other day. You are careless with your words and tone, forgetting you speak to the divine themselves. Not all are as forgiving as I.”
She spoke with a sternness that cut through me, her accusations like sharp icicles in a winter storm. I winced as her grip tightened, feeling the searing heat against my skin as I struggled to free myself, my wrist throbbing with each heartbeat.
The pain felt too real for a mere dream.
“You’ve never given me reason to believe you’re anything more than a myth,” I spat. “Where were you when I was a child? When my brother tried to kill me in my own home?”
“It was Nothar who sent Sainte to your aid,” she countered, voice laced with authority as she released my hand. “It was he who intervened when you were in peril. I ask you this: when have you last sought our guidance?”
“The Rite of Favor.”
“And before then? You blame the divine for your lack of faith, but when have you ever pursued us? You simply doubt our existence. It is your blood that saves you now, offering you a tangible link when a mortal would not be offered one.”
Her words cut through the air, sharp and direct, leaving a trail of icy realization in their wake. I lowered my gaze to the pool, cradling my wrist where her grip seared my skin. Did I dare believe in the gods now? Was this encounter more than a dream or mere coincidence?
“You are weak because of your disbelief,” she continued, tone gentle but firm. Her eyes shifted back to that soft, ethereal spring hue. “Yet, I have blessed you with a Valahant whose faith is unwavering. ”
I frowned, teeth clenched, not liking how she pulled Sainte into this mix. Would she demand something of him, too? Would she punish him for my incredulity?
“Do you not realize you are one?” Her features lit with mischief. “He is yours as much as you are his. Perhaps it is time to observe his lead. Tell him to seek your father, Nothar.”
“Another temple?” I barely held back a groan.
My vision blurred, and my head felt light as the room swayed.
“You fade, child,” she said with a sigh. “Follow your Valahant’s lead. Keep him close. Cherish him. It is not often we bless them so freely.”
My arms flung out to steady myself, trying to focus on her face one last time. Her expression, both mournful and angry, settled along the pool’s rippling surface.
“To cast him aside will not be taken lightly.”