Page 36

CHAPTER 36

Innes spent the afternoon packing up her room, fighting the urge to seek out Remi and throw herself on the warrior, beseeching her to come to Telorne.

Or she could stay.

Or.

.

.

Her insides were being torn apart and she had to keep bending over to breathe through the waves of nausea.

She’d never known a feeling like this; indecision so paralysing it felt like poison.

When her mother had died she’d fallen into melancholy.

Had spent months in bed, praying for the Ellarch to strike the Seacht down as revenge.

It was only Briony, and the gentle shoots of her garden, that had brought her back to the living.

She didn’t know if either would be enough to mend the heartache of a missing twinsoul.

When everything was finally packed, she sat at the table weaving wreaths.

It gave her something to focus on outside of Briony, and the babe, and what was happening between her and Remi and the choice they needed to make.

Absconding from her duties to follow a woman she’d known for less than a month was madness.

And yet.

Her fingers plaited automatically, and she spooled small amounts of Ever between the folds, concentrating on the effort rather than the knots in her stomach.

But the Ever was sluggish, and it made weaving near impossible.

She dropped her head and tried to calm her racing mind.

For weeks she’d forced herself not to think about what would happen after the summoning.

The stakes were too high: for herself and also her family.

But the summoning was upon her, and she was staring down the possibility of extinction if she failed.

She didn’t need Tabita’s stern lectures to tell her the border would not survive without the witches.

Losing the danann had caused cataclysmic damage to the balance of the world the first time round, a balance the witches held onto with tired, grasping fingers.

It was only a matter of time before the gods ruined what little they had saved.

She closed her eyes and tapped three fingers to her chest, hoping the familiar movement would ground her.

‘May the Ever keep us whole, and the Ellarch keep us safe.’ Her words reverberated around the room, and the story of Tassos floated back into her mind.

He had fought until his last breath to save his race.

Fought against Caius when everything and everyone around him had fallen.

He was the hero the world needed at this moment, and here she was, scared to leave but also scared to return home a failure – if she could even return home.

Her Passage was not yet completed.

A knock sounded, and she froze.

It took seconds before she could force herself to move.

And seconds more before she opened the door.

‘It’s time,’ Kella said.

The captain wore her battle armour, helmet tucked under her arm.

She looked stern; a genderless harbinger of death who, for the first time, Innes was glad to see.

She looked behind the captain, at the two warriors flanking her, and swallowed disappointment.

It was a good thing Remi wasn’t here.

It gave her more time to think.

She grabbed her pack without saying a word, tied two of the smaller wreaths to her wrists, and closed the door behind her.

The warriors led her out of the keep, but rather than head into the city they took a right, walking until the terrace houses ended and they strode along the bluff, rugged with untamed nature.

Limestone shone in the twilight, and the balmy, pleasant evening was at odds with the tension radiating in the group.

She wondered how much information the queen had told the warriors, then wondered if it mattered.

They were here, and in so many regards, that was what truly counted.

It was only when they approached a cave nestled in the cliff face that Innes realised where the ceremony would take place.

Vincentia had repurposed all the Ellarch’s places of worship, she just hadn’t considered Aurelia’s temple would be so spectacular.

And so familiar.

Carved out of the cliff was an enormous stone dome, its ceiling arching high over her head.

The mouth of the cave opened to the ocean, a full moon rising over the waves below.

Rays from the setting sun bounced off the walls, cocooning them in soft, golden light.

Paintings of natural beauty adorned the walls in meticulous detail: butterflies and birds, calves weaning from their mothers, new life beginning.

Etched rosebuds ran up three pillars which sat in the centre of the space, delicate petals falling from the buds, so lifelike Innes wanted to run her hands over them.

She knew these carvings, and had resisted the same urge when attending a similar temple as a child – this was an old Ellarch place of worship, a sanctuary for the Old Ways.

‘Innes, just in time,’ Queen Una said, stepping out from behind one of the pillars.

She turned to the queen and tried not to throw up when Remi appeared behind her.

‘Unlike the King of Clochain, we do not have a permanent Voice of the Seacht on staff. As such, we beseech Aurelia through the mouths of the Seacht’s priests.

Innes, you will need to wait outside while this occurs so the priests do not see you,’ Queen Una said.

Innes nodded, unable to keep her eyes from flicking to Remi.

Remi’s lips quirked up, but she remained behind the queen, a warrior on duty.

‘Kella will stand guard with you. I will alert you when we are ready.’

She tore her gaze from Remi and looked at the queen.

There were so many things she wanted to say, but words suddenly failed her.

Her grandmother complained a lot about humans absconding from the Ellarch, but here was the Queen of Vettona, willingly helping the witches.

She had no idea how to thank her.

Instead, she tapped three fingers over her heart and met the queen’s gaze, hoping she would understand.

‘May the Ever keep you whole, and the Ellarch keep you safe.’

A quiet descended upon them, and Innes could have sworn the temple sighed in relief, words of the old spoken once more.

She rifled through her pack and withdrew an elaborate wreath.

She’d been working on it for weeks – it would amplify the summoning without alerting the priests.

She placed it in the queen’s outstretched hand.

The warriors stared at her, and Queen Una’s expression flickered before she slowly dipped her head in return.

‘I hope you find what you seek, Innes.’

She glanced at Remi again, but Kella pushed her forwards before she could speak, marching her out of the temple to wait on the edge of the cliff face, only a small sliver of the cave visible from their hidden vantage point.

As soon as the sun dipped beyond the horizon, footsteps approached from the other side of the cave.

A moment later a group of seven purple-robed priests entered the temple.

The hush that followed them was tense, unnatural.

Murmured voices sounded, and she tried to reposition herself so she could see better, but Kella shook her head, the captain’s expression unyielding under her helmet.

It was excruciating not knowing what was happening.

All she could catch were glimpses of robes as the priests moved around the pillars, their conversation whisked away in the breeze.

She closed her eyes and dived into her Ever, wrapping it around her being in thin, gossamer strands.

She made sure not to activate the magic, instead she threaded the pathways between the inked constellations and the wreaths she wore as bracelets.

She hoped she wouldn’t need to use them, but was glad for the protection the magic offered her.

The queen stepped into view, her back to Innes as she faced the priests.

One removed the hood of his robe, and stood in the centre of the pillars, face blank as the queen tipped her head back in supplication.

As one, the men began chanting.

The hairs on the back of her neck shivered, and a chill wrapped around her.

Their voices rose in pitch and tempo.

‘Blessed by the glory of the Seacht, in the shadow of Caius we follow. We call to thee, Aurelia, God of Beginnings, Champion of Vettona.’ The priest in the middle jerked, his body stiffening as his head lolled to one side.

Innes shrank back, unease trickling down her spine.

‘We beseech thee, God of Beginnings. Heed our call, in Caius’ name we pray.

’

A pulse disturbed the evening air and Innes bit her tongue to stop herself from cursing.

The middle priest’s body jerked again, and his features became watery, blurring with strands of Ever, as slowly.

.

.

agonisingly slowly.

.

.

his body was transformed into a vessel for the Seacht.

‘Blessed Aurelia, God of Beginnings. We ask thee to help Vettona during our time of need. A blight is rampaging the lands, causing new beginnings to falter. What is the cause of this horror? How might we atone?’

The priest’s body jerked again, his face shimmering with warped animation.

Innes crept closer to the fissure in the rock, and she felt the captain move with her as they both tried to get a better view.

Tension hung in the air, broken only when the priest’s eyes shot open and a voice that most definitely was not a woman erupted from his mouth.

‘You summoned, Queen Una?’

A bolt of fear shot through Innes, and she wrapped the Ever around her tighter, its heat throbbing under her skin.

‘Who are you?’ Queen Una asked, stepping forwards, her shoulders tense as she approached the figure.

The priest’s lips tutted, the milky projection moving out of sync with the man beneath.

‘I’m terribly disappointed I made such a lowly impression if you don’t recognise me.

As Voice of the Seacht I hoped my standing was greater.

’

The Queen paused.

‘Advisor Gudren, why have you intercepted this summoning?’

‘Aurelia is otherwise occupied. She sent me in her stead.’

‘I did not realise Clochain’s advisor was tasked with matters concerning Vettona.

’

Advisor Gudren smiled, the priest’s lips moving slowly underneath to match.

‘How might I be of assistance?’

The queen murmured something that was caught by the wind, and Innes wriggled into the stone further, craning her neck to try and catch Gudren’s response.

‘The blight is caused by the unholy among us: the witches and Ever Blessed who abuse the magic of this land. The God of Beginnings has no control over their exploitation, and it would be unwise for you to continue questioning her blessings. Is it not enough for you to have the wife of Caius as the patron of Vettona?’ Advisor Gudren asked.

Innes wanted to strangle him for the lies spewing out of his mouth, but she held her tongue.

Again, the queen murmured something Innes couldn’t hear, and again, Advisor Gudren’s arrogant tone cut through.

‘The Seacht appreciates your concern and will take action accordingly. The blight is a symptom of the traitors among us, which I believe you may be able to assist with.’

Innes could feel Kella tense behind her as the queen nodded.

‘There is a witch by the name of Innes. I believe she is currently under your watch.’

Gravity seemed to warp, her stomach rising as she sank into the rock.

She didn’t know how much time passed before Queen Una spoke, voice steady.

‘Indeed. I was planning on offering her to Aurelia as thanks for heeding my call.’

Innes couldn’t move.

She was frozen in terror and couldn’t tear her eyes away from the scene unfolding below.

Advisor Gudren smiled through the priest, the hazy features of his double expression heightening the horror that gripped Innes.

‘Bring her to me.’