Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

ELODIE

Everything ached. That was the first thing she realised. Everything, everywhere, all through her body.

‘Don't get up too fast,' said Maryn, her voice soft. ‘You channelled more power than you have in many years. More perhaps than anyone has if I'm honest. The Aurum has never been so alive. We all felt it. All the maidens. I thought we'd lose you.'

‘Did you?' Elodie's voice grated against the insides of her throat. She meant did they feel it, but did they think she'd been lost worked too. She hardly cared which answer she got. ‘And the others?'

‘They saw it. They saw everything.' Carefully, Maryn lifted her head and then brought a mug of water to her lips, helping her drink.

That hurt too. It burned as it went down her throat.

They were in the garden of the Sanctum, just beyond the doors of the chamber of the Aurum, safe within the retreat of the maidens. There were birds singing somewhere. Far off, Elodie could hear music. Someone was celebrating something. She hoped it was nothing to do with her. The other maidens had retreated, leaving her with Maryn, sitting at her side while she lay on one of the low divans they used for the infirm. Elodie forced herself to sit up and instantly regretted it.

‘What was the Ilanthian trying to do, Elodie?' Maryn asked. ‘Why would he do that to you?'

Elodie wanted to laugh, she really did. What was Leander trying to do? Perhaps he didn't really even know that. He wanted to expose Wren, and she couldn't allow that, so she had seized all the power of the Aurum to protect the girl. It had been a moment of madness. But she would do it again in an instant.

She had felt the surge of shadows around Wren as the summoning took hold. A moment later and it would have been too late. They all would have seen the truth, and they would have turned on her. They would have torn her little girl apart.

Or at least, they would have tried.

Elodie could not allow that to happen.

All she had wanted to do was to stop it. Even if it meant destroying everything. She had to protect Wren. That had been the whole purpose of her life for twenty years. She'd give anything, even herself.

‘I think I did that to me. Or the Aurum did. I'm not sure. Everything is…a bit blurred.'

An understatement. Roland had been there, she remembered that. He had called to her. He had brought her back.

His arms around her, cradling her. His eyes, so dark, reflecting the light that burned through her. Her Roland…

She couldn't think about that. Not now. She needed to focus. Oh, but her head ached, and all she wanted to do was ask if he was there, if he was all right. If she could see him, talk to him…

Explain.

How could she ever hope to explain?

‘It could have burned right through you,' Maryn said, a gentle admonishment when Elodie didn't elaborate.

‘If that was what had to happen, then yes, it would have.' She wasn't in the mood for an argument.

Maryn frowned. ‘You always were obstinate.'

‘So were you.'

‘And the girl?'

‘Almost as bad as me, wasn't that what you said? And she's a woman, not a girl. One who knows her own mind.' Maryn laughed then, a soft chuckle which drew a smile across Elodie's face. Relief bubbled up through her. ‘She's my daughter, Maryn. In every way that matters. Do you understand?'

Maryn embraced her, held her close. ‘Yes. More so than ever. Someone is trying to put her on the throne, El. Someone who doesn't care about the consequences of that. And they want you out of the way. Someone on the council.'

‘Ylena?'

Maryn froze, and then pulled back to look Elodie in the face. ‘I would put nothing past my mother. But I swear to you?—'

Elodie lifted a hand to stop her. ‘She was always the same. With my mother, and with you.'

‘She has power now. Power she never had with you here. I hate to say it, but perhaps she doesn't want you back.'

Elodie laughed softly. ‘I'm sure she doesn't. But what about you? You have a claim on the throne as well, don't you?'

Maryn recoiled, horrified. ‘No. Not I. My service is here, among the maidens, in Sanctum and Sacrum. I serve you. You know that, don't you? Elodie, I would never?—'

‘I know, I know.' She shushed her cousin, a wash of fondness making her tears well up in her eyes.

But then Maryn looked up, her blue eyes very bright and glistening, the same wave of emotions flooding her. She pushed them down ruthlessly and stared in the direction of the door to the Sanctum.

‘Someone's coming.' How she knew was anyone's guess. Elodie had long ago learned to trust in Maryn's instincts.

When the Aurum had called her, Elodie had thought she had lost her only friend. And then Roland had appeared, like a gift.

The banging sound echoed through the Sanctum. Someone was hammering on the door to the Sacrum.

Elodie steeled herself. They wanted her back in there already? They wanted to ask more questions, make more accusations. She would have thought that the Aurum igniting as it did would have been answer enough. Well, so be it, she thought. The sooner this was over the better. She struggled to her feet.

‘What are you doing?' asked Maryn sharply. ‘You're in no condition?—'

‘They're hardly here to discuss the weather, Maryn. They'll want answers more than ever. I have to deal with this quickly and protect Wren. Help me? Please?'

‘But you've been exonerated. The Aurum proved it.'

‘Judgement then. The council will want to have their say.'

She held out her hand and Maryn was beside her in an instant, supporting her as they made their way from the Sanctum to the door of the Sacrum. At least she would get to see Roland, she thought idly, and she smiled. Maybe she was still light-headed to think such thoughts.

But he had been there when she had almost lost herself to the Aurum. He had pulled her back. She'd wanted to tell him so, to tell him that he was all she needed and was all she would ever need in moments like that. But she had not had the strength to do it.

Neither physically nor emotionally. She was a coward, that was the problem. Especially when it came to him, and she had already hurt him far too much to bear.

But when the door opened, it wasn't Roland standing there.

The chamber beyond was dark, the flames of the Aurum were low now, as if it too was exhausted and sleeping as she wished she could be sleeping. Dust settled over everything in a thin, sparkling layer. There were stones and rock fall scattered around. Had she really done that? Well, not her alone. The Aurum within her. The Aurum enraged. Thanks to Leander. She wondered what had happened to him, what the other Ilanthians were doing. The priestess of the Nox who had knelt before her was furious as well as terrified. And the power in her was at least the equal to Elodie's own. Like knew like.

She felt so empty now. Wrung out. And that was a problem.

Armed guards spread out around the doorway. The instant she and Maryn opened the door into the Sacrum, they rushed forward and seized Elodie. Maryn cried out, furious at the imposition, but there was nothing she could do. She was dragged inside along with Elodie, mainly because she refused to let go.

They weren't knights. They weren't even palace guards. They wore the livery of House Tarryn.

The Earl of Sassone led them. Elodie had always thought him pompous and full of himself, but loyal to the crown. She had been sure he was loyal.

Perhaps too much so. Or perhaps not at all.

Where were the knights Roland had left manning the door? He would have done that, surely. What had they?—

Three figures in ceremonial armour sprawled on the white marble of the Sacrum, blood pooling darkly below them. They were young. Far too young.

‘What is the meaning of this?' Maryn shouted. Other maidens were hurrying towards the door but the soldiers slammed it shut and barred it, shutting the two of them in the Sacrum. Prisoners. ‘You can't do this. You are violating a sacred space.'

But they did not care.

Before Elodie knew what was happening, manacles snapped closed around her wrists, and with them came the icy touch of shadow-wrought steel.