Page 22

There was only one floor in the House of High, making the layout vast with large open corridors and hallways weaving in all directions.

Cai walked us down a hallway directly across from the main entrance and we passed by multiple wooden archways leading into beautifully cultivated gardens and spaces that seemed built for meditation.

I wasn’t sure if Landers would ever be able to get me to leave this place.

“We have arrived.” Cai’s voice cut through my thoughts as we finally reached the two large doors at the very far end of the hall.

I felt my skin blanch at her words.

The last time she had led me down a hall, led me to a realms leader—I was collared.

I swallowed back the memory, forcing myself to stay calm as she pushed open the doors and bowed.

I watched as the High Priest stood, throwing his arms out to the side as a wide grin spread across his face. “Landers, welcome back.”

“Rilius,” Landers greeted, placing a hand over his chest, his other gripping the pommel of his sword as he bent at the waist in respect. Andrues mirrored his movements.

I’d been pouring over The Stories and texts in Locdragoon’s archives, learning every ounce of information I could—studying for moments like these.

The room fell silent as all eyes fell to me.

They were gathered around a large oval table that came only a foot from the ground, with intricate patterns carved into the wooden surface.

There were three zabutons left open for us at the curve of the table’s edge closest to us, each their own shade of purple.

I smiled at the color, the sign of respect they were showing to the three of us.

Everything in their culture held meaning and traditions that had been upheld for millennia.

“And you, Takaris, need no introduction at all.” The High Priestess to Rilius’s right said as she uncoiled herself from the ground.

I willed myself not to glance toward Landers at the name she had called me.

I knew it was in Ithia’s ancient tongue, but I still had so much to learn about the dead languages of each realm.

“High Priestess,” I responded, my tone full of reverence and respect as I mimicked Landers’s movements.

“Please, call me Sashi,” she said, lowering herself back onto her pillow and gesturing for us to sit.

Landers and Andrues stepped toward the cushions and my eyes shot to Landers, panic flaring behind them as he held his hand out to the one at the head of the table.

Landers gave me a small smile of assurance, his eyes staying locked on mine as he lowered himself to the ground.

I struggled to hide the nerves that were building as I took my seat.

With every day that passed I became glaringly aware that what I was— who I was —held a responsibility I was not sure I was ready for.

I let my eyes fall around the table, placing my hand over my chest and nodding to each of the seven elders that sat watching me.

I had tried to learn as much about their culture as I could before coming here.

They were the only realm that had held on so tightly to every tradition after the Great War and I knew how important it would be to show that I respected it.

Though, if I am being honest, I had hoped my knowledge of their culture and traditions would gain me favor to help sway their decision.

The High Priestess that sat to the left of Rilius eyed me with more caution than the rest of them. Lifting an arched brow as I bowed my head to her. She dipped her chin only slightly back to me and I knew then, she was going to be the one to make this difficult.

I had read about her. She had become a High Priestess around the same time Landers became King after the war.

She was the daughter of the previous High Priestess that had been killed beside the King and Queen of Ithia.

Gimara was her name, but I would not openly call her that until she gave me permission.

“Friends,” Rilius started, his voice smooth and cunning as he flicked his fingers toward the small saucers placed in front of each of us.

I watched them fill with a clear liquid as he continued.

“It is customary to start all political meetings by calling upon our ancestors to guide us with a drink from the Well of Life.”

He placed two hands around the bronze bowl, cupping it in his palms and lifting it in the air toward the center of the table, waiting as we all followed his lead. As I lifted my hands into the air, his voice flowed through the silent room.

“Ancestors, spirits of my bloodline, we call upon you in reverence and humility. May your blessings fill our spirits, and your guidance light our way. In your memory, we seek strength. In your wisdom, we find truth.” His words were like a soothing lullaby as they saturated the room, but I could feel the sharp current that ran underneath them, the edge in his voice that seemed to be testing me.

He smiled at me from across the table, lifting his bowl a little higher before bringing it to his lips. I let the liquid slide down my throat, leaving a floral aftertaste on the surface of my tongue as I set the bowl down gently in front of me.

“We have been waiting quite some time to meet with you, Takaris,” Sashi started as she set her bowl on the table.

“May I speak frankly?” she asked and I nodded once, forcing my spine to stay straight.

“We were not expecting you to be so meek, so . . . unsure of your position.” Out of the corner of my eyes I could see both Andrues’s and Landers’s backs stiffen at her veiled insult.

Sucking in a sharp breath, I let a soft smile grace my lips as my gaze locked on hers. I would not let them see a single ounce of the insecurity that plagued me.

“May I speak frankly as well?” I asked in response, locking my fingers together and setting them on the table in front of me.

“Please,” Sashi said, amusement in her tone as she gestured for me to continue.

“Your expectations of me are not my burden, and I don’t care what it is you hoped I would be.

All that matters is what I am, and what I am, your Grace, is a God .

” I could hear the sharpness in my words and I watched as Gimara smirked, lifting an almost impressed brow in my direction as I continued.

“So please, spare me the implication that I am not capable of doing what is necessary to protect the people of these realms from the war that is coming. Because, I assure you, I will become whatever I must to keep Nimbria from crumbling to dust.”

Silence slipped over the room as the last of the words fell from my mouth. Despite the race my heart was surely winning, I did not let the nerves seep into my features as I steeled them.

Rilius’s deep chuckle broke the silence as he leaned forward onto the table.

“I am glad to see our opinion of you was misinformed, but what do you know of war, child? What makes you so sure that the people of the realms will follow you—someone with such little knowledge—into battle?” he asked, condescension dripping from every word.

“I know little of war, I can admit that.” I sighed, pausing to let him revel in his false victory for only a moment before continuing.

“Probably the same amount as you did before your first battle, but look at you now.” I smiled, laying on the flattery before the insult that was about to come.

“But, given the fact that you did not actually fight in the last war, and instead fled to your mountains, hiding behind your traditions while I was raised by the most feared war general these realms have ever seen, one could argue that the people would be more willing to fight for a leader that would die for them, no?” I raised a brow as if to tell him your move.

Sashi slammed her hands on the table, rattling the bowls as blood reddened her face. “How dare you speak to our High Priest with such disrespect in our—”

“Don’t lecture me about respect when you have shown me none,” I cut in, silencing her as shadows began to flow from my back.

“You have done nothing but insult me since I sat down. If it’s flaws you are looking for, you will find them.

I have many and I do not deny that. But I did not come here to be tested, I came here to offer aid, to come together and find a path through this war that protects the most lives possible. ”

A proud smile broke onto Landers’s face as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table before speaking.

“One thing you will learn quickly is to never underestimate her,” Landers said, a threat layered into the calmness of his voice. “You will find, it will not be pleasant if you do.”

“I see, Lord of Death, you have found a woman just as lustful for blood,” Rilius scoffed, trying to cover the fear I could sense on him as he watched my shadows writhe behind me. Landers flinched at the name as I locked my gaze back on Rilius.

“No,” I scolded, my voice sharp. “I am offering you life—a way to spare your people from bloodshed.”

“We are healers, we do not fight. Our traditions—”

“Traditions can be changed,” Gimara snapped, cutting Sashi off as her eyes locked onto mine. “What is it that you need from us?” she questioned, folding her arms over her chest.

So, not the difficult one , I thought to myself as a small smile pulled at the corners of my lips and looked to Andrues.

“We need to evacuate your realm, move everyone to Locdragoon and those who are capable, need to start combat training,” Andrues responded, pausing to gauge their reactions before continuing.

“For the least loss of life, the brunt of our armies need to be on Ithia’s border with the rest hidden within your mountains.

Healing camps will be set up in Locdragoon, with the remainder of our army on the border between Locdragoon and Ithia for any Hanth or Marzog that make it through our forces.

For those that are too young to fight or heal, they will be taken underground into the Mines of Nethkar for added protection. ”

“The Yaldrin have never left these lands.” Sashi’s voice sounded frantic as her eyes darted between the three of us across the table.

“You expect us to willingly hand over our realm to you simply because you asked?” Rilius spat, and I could see the anger that was beginning to boil beneath the surface of his skin.

“I am not asking,” Landers growled.

“Takaris,” a frail voice sounded to the right of me and the room fell into utter silence as an Elder placed his palm on the table.

Shock rippled across the faces of the High Priest and Priestesses at the sound.

From what I had read about their traditions, the Elders never spoke in front of anyone outside of the other Elders.

They only listened and spoke with each other in private to make their decision, then wrote it down for a messenger to relay.

The Elder took in a shaky breath as he looked at me.

“Do you have faith in this plan, child? Do you believe that it is the only way to protect our people?” he asked, his voice thin and raspy.

“I do,” I responded, bowing my head in respect.

“Then what is it that ails you? I can feel the heaviness that weighs on your soul.” The tips of my ears began to heat as a lump formed in my throat and I forced myself to swallow it down.

Landers’s eyes burned into the side of my face as my eyes flickered to Andrues for only a second before saying, “I want to wake the Fallen Ones.”