Surprised and slightly daunted, I hedge toward the center of the pack and walk an arm’s length from the empress. Her hand reaches out and she takes me by the arm, pulling me closer to he
r side. I’ve never been this close to her—never touched her—and I’m worried that with her insight, she’ll see right through me; past my skin cells and into my blood, where the mercury swirls and the gears spin.
I’m prepared for rejection from the others if it comes to that, but I’m unsure if I could bear the empress’s revulsion. She’s the closest thing to a living deity in this world, and it may break my heart.
I peek over at her. She walks with her head held high, gliding as if she’s the goddess Farrah personified.
White stone colonnades mark the entrance to the temple, reaching toward the top of the open palace ceiling. Statues and wall carvings line the front, and colorful wall-hangings drape toward the floor between the columns.
As I prepare to stand guard in front of the high stone doors, Empress Iana steps before me. “I have much to seek from the goddess today,” she says. “I’d like for you to join me in prayer, Kaliope. We leaders must never stop praying.”
Bowing my head quickly, I say, “Of course, empress.” Then I follow her into the incense-filled temple, the sweet, perfumed scents mingling together to tickle my nose.
Rows of stone benches make up the seating area of the temple, and stained glass windows depicting the goddesses from stories I’ve heard growing up run floor-to-ceiling at their end caps. The empress leads me toward the dais, where a bronze carafe sets near a burner emitting the aroma of amber powder, white sage, and sandalwood—scents to purify, heal, and bring spiritual awareness.
Empress Iana kneels before the dais. A massive statue of the goddess Farrah looks down on us. I follow suit, kneeling beside her. I close my eyes and pray to Alyah for strength and the continued healing of my body. Then I pray to Farrah to protect the convoy, and to send word from Perinya soon.
After a long moment of silence, where I lose count of the minutes, Empress Iana lifts her head. “I chose you as head of my Nactue because I see much of myself in you, Kaliope.” She looks over at me. “Goddess Alyah has made me aware of your condition—your struggle with mercury and cybernetic parts—and I want you to realize that it is not a weakness.” Her amethyst eyes bore into me, and my mouth opens, dry.
There’s no time for the shock to fully register as she continues. “This is your strength, your power—what the goddess has blessed you with. And I hope that you will embrace this gift one day instead of hiding it.”
I have no words. My mouth is parched, like it’s been scrubbed raw with sandpaper. My eyes tear up against my will, and I glance at the floor, unable to keep looking into her knowing, violet eyes.
She places her hand on my shoulder. “Do not be alarmed. Your secret is safe with me. I only wanted to tell you this now, as I fear I won’t have the chance later.”
Finally, I meet her gaze. “Empress, thank you for these kind words, but I’m here to ensure you will have all the time needed to rule your queendom for many years to come.”
Her full, pink lips spread into a beautiful, heartbreaking smile. “I trust the will of the goddess, and she has sent me you. You have been chosen to fulfill a duty where I cannot. Trust your instincts, Kaliope. And always, above all, live well in Her na—”
A loud bang echoes off the stone walls as the doors are flung open. Shouting erupts, disturbing the tranquility of the temple. Before I even jerk my head toward the source, I cross my arms, grasping both the hilt of my sword and the dagger in my chest harness, and jump to my feet. Extending them before me, I turn to meet the disturbance.
A group of protectors march toward us, and a man with straight dark hair dressed in fine blue silk and a black cloak pushes his way past them.
“Forgive us, empress,” one of the protectors says as he comes to an abrupt stop. “We tried to hold His Highness back until your ritual was complete, but his barbaric ways—”
“I can speak for myself,” says the man I’ve never laid eyes on before. He then glances at me briefly before advancing toward the empress.
I raise the tip of my sword to his throat, halting his steps, as the protectors draw their swords and latch on to his arms. His eyes zero in on me, and I match his hard gaze. The deep blue of his irises are like a river at sunset as they catch the flicking candlelight.
“I’m not going to harm her—” He shrugs off their hold, turns his gaze on Empress Iana. “Empress, this is uncalled for. You have no right to abduct me while my kingdom is under attack.”
Empress Iana rises slowly, turning to meet the man’s sour face. “We’ll discuss this with the aid of the Council,” she says patiently, then looks at me. “Protector Kaliope, meet your new charge, Prince Caben Paynebridge. The last living heir to Perinya.”
Seated in the Council’s chamber, only a round, oak table between us, I study the man announced to be my charge with blatant contempt.
When the empress declared my new duty in the temple, my eyes nearly popped out of my skull, and I fought back the urge to argue and dispute her claim right in front of everyone. It was all I could to do to swallow down my words and follow them to the chamber. The whole way, Prince Paynebridge fought and quarreled with the protectors, while the empress only ignored his insults.
Now, his tirade still fresh in my mind, his disdain toward my empress and queendom written smugly on his face, it’s damn near impossible to keep myself from leaping across this table and running him through with my sword.
“I have yet to be crowned!” the surly prince says. “I can’t abandon my kingdom at this time. I must go back.” He rakes a hand through his dark wisps of hair. “This could be considered treason in my country.”
Councilor Herna laces her fingers together and rests her elbows on the table. “Yes, but you’re no longer in your country.” She cranes an eyebrow, then continues before the prince can retort. “The empress brought you here to ensure that you will be crowned. The Otherworlders are determined to claim our resources for their own.” She looses a heavy breath. “Perinya, having just lost its king, is the most vulnerable right now.”
Prince Paynebridge jumps to his feet, knocking his chair to the floor. “We’re not vulnerable,” he shouts. “At least Perinya wasn’t until you forcefully removed its ruler. My country needs to see a strong, determined king ready to retaliate against this attack.”
“Sit down, Prince Caben.” It’s Empress Iana who speaks, and all eyes shift toward her. Now covered in a white robe, she rises from her seat and paces the chamber. The prince rights his seat and plunks down in it. The empress turns toward him. “Your father bestowed me with the power to intervene on his behalf,” she says. “And until we fully understand why the Otherworlders have resurfaced after all this time, no one is going to—”
“They’re running out of mercury,” he interrupts. “It’s the logical explanation, and they’re attacking Perinya because it’s closest to their realm. I need to be back in my kingdom, preparing for retaliation.” He balls his hands into fits, his knuckles white. A silver ring on his right hand glints, catching the sunlight seeping into the room.