Page 19 of The Garnet Daughter (The Viridian Priestess #3)

Chapter

Fifteen

I rest on the Viathan ship, napping off the drowsiness of the strong medicine.

This time Ferren helped administer the injection, and though it was less embarrassing, the pain was worse from using the same location, now sorely bruised.

She cautiously broke the news that she would be away for much of the day, speaking with Selene about the council meeting and making sure the order hasn’t asked anymore questions about my gifts.

When I emerge feeling more alive, I follow the narrow halls out to the spacious gathering room, but it’s empty. I check their adjoining private mess hall and find myself alone, only the soothing hum of the vessel and sound of commanders in the rest of the ship filling the space now.

“How are you feeling?” Commander Wesley stands in the threshold between the living quarters and the rest of the ship. “Lady Ferren mentioned you were not well. She will be returning shortly.”

“Fine.” I shift on my feet, not sure if I should fold back to August’s ship or stay. “Where is August?”

Commander Wesley takes a large exhale. “I imagine he is working on the electrical problem at the front lines.”

“And 99—the 99th Commander?”

“At the crash site.”

“Thank you. I’m going to stay for a while.” I turn on my heel and head back into the mess hall.

The idea I thought was fleeting as sleep overtook me comes rushing back now that I know 99 is alone, and breaching the topic without input from the others is ideal.

I press the large silver button on the food dispensers and wait for the Viathan breakfast to fall into a metal bowl below it. The squares are crunchy and flavorless, but I am too caught up in my scheme to notice beyond the first bite.

The elders of Frith said Omnesis had a temple in the birthlands, so that is where I intend to go. My own gift of folding the distance can no longer be solely relied on, so I must ask 99 for help traveling to my destination.

I finish my food and head back to the sleeping rooms. Ferren said she could see the crash site from her window.

I instinctually knock on the door I previously saw her come out of and peek my head in.

I hate invading their private space, so I locate the window and scan the dim outside.

In the distance, a massive object is nestled into the surrounding buildings, char and debris in its wake.

I don’t need confirmation to realize that it is the enemy ship.

The shape is menacing and nothing like the Viathan’s.

I press forward and fold the distance with some strain, moving across the city and landing close to its black, smooth surface.

“99th Commander!” I call out as I approach him, easily spotted over the other Viathan commanders.

He advances. “Calliape?”

“May I speak to you in private?”

He nods and gestures off to the side, where the large ship curves and then juts out, creating an area away from the others.

“I hope you understand when I say this, but are you tethered to Ferren at the moment?”

“We are always tethered.” He tilts his head.

“I mean—” I let out a frustrated exhale. “I would like to get your thoughts on something before hers if that is alright. I’m not asking you to keep anything from her, just give me a chance to explain . . . between us.”

He nods again.

I shuffle on my feet as he inspects me, his helmet fixed on my face, and even though I have grown used to it, right now I avoid looking back in case I catch a glimpse of my own frantic expression.

“What is it that you wish to speak of?”

“Selene and Ferren are not worried about Omnesis. But I am, and I believe if you heard the same things the Frithian elders said, you would be as well.”

“What did they say you have not already spoken?”

“It was also how they delivered the information. One of the elders mentioned its temple was located in the birthlands. Is that not part of First Son’s domain?”

“The structure he resides in is in the birthlands, the closer to it, the more the population follows him. Where is the temple?”

“They did not say exactly.”

“I see.”

“Omnesis pointed out the very thing it saw as an imbalance, something to be evened out. I don’t know how it does such things, but what if it is as simple as snapping its fingers or . . . what if First Son uses it to cull the number of priestesses like Ferren as an attack?”

He takes the largest breath I have ever seen from a human, his chest puffing out as if his armor will crack. “Continue.”

“I know Ferren and Selene feel responsible for the ward, in making sure it is erected by the conjunction, and August is helping with the frontline defense. But what can I do? The only help I can provide is my gifts, and one of them is being able to speak with the old god who has made it clear it believes Ferren should not exist.”

“You want clearance to travel to the birthlands with August?” His helmet tilts again as he speculates.

Of course he thinks I am asking that, to have August take me in his ship.

“Not with August. But I need a ship to take me. I cannot rely on folding there, and I will need help finding the temple.”

He places his hands on his hips, considering. “Ferren won’t like it.”

“No one will, but we both know I have to. I am the only one who can speak with it.”

“What were the elders’ instructions to stop it?”

They did not say it was possible, but if I tell him that, he may not let me go. “I think if I use the spell book, maybe I could bind it to its temple like it was bound to the dungeon below the Estate.”

“That book was never recovered from the temple.” He considers then looks down at me. “Which is sealed.”

I nod in understanding. “That part won’t be a problem.”

“I can spare two commanders. A small cruiser ship.” His tone is the same as it is when he is speaking to other Viathans.

I know not to take it personally. He is as concerned as I am.

We are not as close as the others, but we often concur on the same things.

“I do this only if you are certain you can stop this creature.”

I force a steady nod. “Just as Ferren outsmarted the Albright, I will stop Omnesis.”

99 is not an easy person to convince, but he would agree to anything that would halt any danger from coming to Ferren.

He killed the babbling elder priestess, I am certain, the one who could have given us more information on Omnesis, and now he is carrying that guilt.

I am happy to take it away. I have enough for both of us.

“I need my commanders back before the conjunction begins. Beyond that, I’m not sure if you will be able to reenter.”

“Thank you.”

“I will send word on the dock location. Be prepared before dawn. If you are hurt, Ferren will never forgive me.”

“I know, which is why I am asking you to wait to tell her where I have gone until after I leave. She will intervene.”

He reluctantly nods.

“And August,” I say firmer.

He nods slower that time, like he just now realizes how his friend will react.

August would travel with me to the birthlands, toward danger if I asked him. But I won’t. I won’t put him at risk when I am betting on myself to make this work. His place is here, helping the Viathans with their defenses, not fixing another problem I have made.

It’s hard avoiding August the rest of the day. I lock myself in my room on his ship, making sure to leave my third empty injection tube on the mess hall table so he knows I’ve used it and gone to sleep early.

I wait all the next morning to hear from 99 about where I should go for departure with the crew of two, until a message chimes directly to my room, directing me to go to the closest landing dock.

August has had clearance to land in it prior, when the stones were returned to the Estate, so the location is familiar.

Now, smaller Viathan ships occupy it, and so does the ship that will take me to the birthlands.

I open my door and peek out into the cold cockpit and notice an intentionally placed piece of paper lying in front of my room. I unfold the parchment and find a handwritten note in quick, scratchy letters.

“Fixing the perimeter to make sure we don’t die. Don’t fold to another world while I’m gone. -August”

My heart hurts in a way I cannot explain, the dull ache of it pounding in a steady rhythm but stuttering just slightly when I think of not saying goodbye to him.

It takes so much effort to convince myself this is for the best, but it is.

It would be selfish to tell him. He would not be able to stop himself from helping anyway he could.

I carefully crease the note again and place it in the small bag of belongings I will take with me.

I take a deep, resolving breath and push down the emotions threatening to outpour from within.

I have to do this, as hard as it may be.

The ship is waiting for me. But before I follow 99’s careful instructions, I have to retrieve the spell book.

I fold into the temple aisle in the same spot I did during the attack.

In some areas, the ceiling is cracked and missing, allowing the purple daylight of the conjunction to enter.

It paints the temple in an eerie light, the pews once in a wooden heap by the doors, now placed back into their places even though some are too damaged to use.

There are candles lit on the altar, the illumination dancing across the two stones left there. Someone cares for this room, ensuring the remaining stones are safe, even though the temple is sealed.

My feet crunch on the dust and rubble beneath them as I walk up the jagged aisle. I clench my hands into fists, not able to stop the tremble that spreads across them when I see the large black hole next to the altar.