Councilor Herna pushes her chair back and stands. “Protector Carina. Thank you for joining us.” Her brow furrows, and something unsaid passes between them. I glance back and forth, then study Carina’s pursed lips.
“We still have the matter of your retirement papers to process,” Councilor Herna continues. “I trust you’ve filled them out?”
Carina nods. “I have them.”
“Good.” The councilor looks down and presses her palms to the table before she walks around it to stand in front of us. “Then let’s get your successor ready for her duties.” She looks at me, and I hold her intense gaze. “Protector Kaliope, you’ve been promoted head of the Nactue, and will be trained by the retired, former leader herself over the next two weeks.”
“Yes, ma’am.” My eyes shift to Carina. She’s leaning against the wall, her hands propped on the pommel of her sword.
“Of course,” Carina says. “I’ll have her ready to take over soon enough.”
They stare at each other for another, awkward moment. The room presses in on me, and I look back to Councilor Herna. “Thank you for your confidence in my abilities, councilor,” I say. “I’ll not fail the empress.”
Her gaze travels to me and her eyebrows arch. “Of that, protector, I am certain.” Her lips quirk into a puckered smile, then she turns and walks to her seat. My eyes follow after her, and I quickly scan the faces of the other four councilors. All stoic, fixed, and intimidating. I’ve never been this close to them or before them for this long. I can almost feel the mercury rising, surfacing along my skin under their scrutiny.
“Welcome to the most prestigious faction, ladies,” Councilor Herna says, her eyes looking over us one by one. “Each of you has been chosen for this duty, this immense honor, because the empress and deities deemed you worthy. It was by Empress Iana’s hand you were chosen, and it is to her that you vow your life.” She pauses, and the weight of the room—the gazes of the Council; the humid, stifling air—intensifies. “I know you’ll all do you utmost to serve and protect during these hectic times. Until further notice, you’re dismissed.” Councilor Herna sweeps her hand toward the entryway. “Protector Carina will lead you to your training facility and guide you from here.”
We bow, then exit the room. As soon as I enter the hallway, relief floods me. I didn’t know what to expect from the empress’s council, but that wasn’t quite it.
I lean toward Lilly. “What the hell was that?” I whisper.
She shrugs. “I was hoping our welcoming would be by the empress herself, but maybe we have to get through procedures first.”
It makes sense, though I thought they’d at least provide details as to what’s happening across our border, of the attack by the Otherworlders. Maybe I was foolish to think we’d be entered into their circle of trust so quickly, and that we’d take over official watch of Empress Iana immediately.
“You’re right, Lills. I’m just nervous and ready to be settled already.”
“Me, too.” She smiles.
As we follow Carina through the corridors, I note the statues and art along the walls, trying to memorize my way. The Goddess Farrah appears most throughout the palace. She is the eldest of her deity sisters, and the goddess of wisdom, creation, and order. We look to her above all to guide and protect Cavan.
The Goddess Monique is depicted in a painting with swirling purples and reds, suggestive of the colors of passion. She’s the goddess of love, beauty, desire. Though I respect her as much as the other deities, I’ve yet to have a reason to pray to her.
We turn a corner and enter into a large, open hall. Burgundy and gold tapestries cover the walls, and a statue of the Goddess Rae—the goddess of war—holding a crossbow with a long cloak pooling around her bare feet towers in one corner. Swords, battleaxes, spears, and other weapons decorate one wal
l from floor-to-ceiling. Earth-toned mats scatter the floor.
Lilly stands beside me and crosses her arms. “I thought we were done with training,” she whispers. “That our promotion meant we were ready.”
“True, but I don’t want to take on the leadership role until I understand all my duties.”
Her forehead creases. “You’re not excited? It’s the greatest honor of the protectors to be head of the Nactue.” She studies my face. “You will be the closest to the empress.”
And with that, I feel even more overwhelmed.
“Ladies.” Carina interrupts our chatter and crosses her arms over her chest. “As the Nactue, you’re expected above all protectors to keep the empress safe. I know you feel you’ve trained for this already, but”—her gray eyes settle on me—“you’re only partially prepared for this honor.”
My chest constricts. Did she overhear us?
I’d heard rumors that Carina was rushed into early retirement. Normally the Nactue serves a ten-year term of service. From the age of twenty to thirty; the years of a woman’s youth, when she’s at her strongest. Then she’s promoted to the Signaught, when her years of wisdom begin. The Signaught help strategize for war and oversee tasks with the Cavan Council. Yet Carina is only twenty-five. Although it’s also speculated the drop in age for recruits has disrupted the normal order, as Carina’s whole Nactue unit is advancing to the Signaught early. Though Carina is not.
As though she’s reading my mind, Carina says, “I know you’re curious as to why I’m retiring.” She unlaces her arms, places them behind her back, and paces the room. “I was found wanting in my leadership role. I won’t bore you with the details. Only be warned that even though you, Protector Kaliope”—she looks dead at me—“have been advanced to a leader, you will still take orders from the Council. You are not, under any circumstances, to act without gaining permission from them first.”
The air freezes around me, and I struggle to keep from glancing around at the other Nactue. I feel the weight of their eyes on me as I hold Carina’s glare. “Yes, ma’am. That’s understood.”
Her face relaxes and she laughs. “Please. Don’t call me that. I’m simply Carina. There are no formalities between sisters.”
“Then it’s understood, Carina.” I lift my chin, attempting to show her that even though I’m young, she’s not but six years my elder. I won’t be intimidated by her.