Azalea glanced at Vinara, who was sitting next to her, then spoke simply. “Yesterday, there was an attempt to kill Kitania, as well as Princess Niadra Sellis. Kitania was accompanying the princess back from Mist when the attack occurred, and all the guards were slain in the attack. According to the portmaster, they’ve been told to be on the lookout for angels, particularly one with a golden whip. Based on that, it sounds like angels were the ones to attack them.”
Rose swore, but before she or Isalla could speak, Vinara did. “I take it that the attempt to kill Kitania didn’t work. That doesn’t surprise me, but I suspect it surprised the attackers.”
“Quite. I was told that she rescued the princess, but nothing more. The portmaster wasn’t told everything, just enough to convey our need to speed our journey to the palace,” Azalea said and frowned as she looked at Isalla and added, “I was also told to tell Isalla that she once trusted the angel.”
“Tears of Heaven!” Isalla swore, her eyes darkening suddenly, and Rose blinked at the oath, then stiffened as Isalla continued, her anger abruptly surging. “Haral, that traitorous… it has to be her. How Kitania knew, I’ve no idea, but that’s the only person Kitania could be referring to.”
“Ah, so the conspiracy thickens,” Vinara said, her gaze thoughtful. “She was the one who attempted to kill Isalla, as I recall. Not the direct superior of Eziel, however, so her information is of limited use.”
“True, but if we can capture her, we might be able to learn what’s going on in the heavens,” Rose said, her gaze hardening.
“Yes, but… is Kitania okay?” Isalla asked, looking at Azalea in concern. “I know she can recover from almost anything, but that doesn’t mean she can’t be injured.”
“I’m afraid I wasn’t told much more than I’ve told you,” Azalea replied, shrugging helplessly. “I know she’s alive and well, but nothing beyond that. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more, but… I’m concerned as well. I’d dearly love to know what happened while I was away.”
“Drat,” Isalla said, and Rose reached over to squeeze Isalla’s knee, trying to reassure her.
“Do you have any idea what kind of impact this will have on our arrival?” Rose asked, concerned about what might be coming, as well as what Kitania’s attitude would be, since they hadn’t parted on the best of terms. “I don’t have any idea how common things like this are.”
“An attack on a princess is liable to bring down Alserah’s wrath on whoever was responsible,” Azalea said bluntly, shaking her head. “Things like this are rare, but they happen, and every time the response is so thorough that it usually warns everyone off for a few centuries. Unfortunately, there are always fools who think they can get away with it, and they try again eventually. Even if they succeed in killing someone, their fates are never good.”
“Truly unfortunate… but how might it affect us?” Vinara asked, frowning heavily.
“It shouldn’t affect you at all, unless you want to help hunt down this… Haral,” Azalea said, sounding uncertain. “I don’t know anything about her, after all.”
“True. But she’s going to face a reckoning soon,” Isalla said, her voice hardening as she bared her teeth, one of her hands squeezing Rose’s. “I refuse to let her continue to get away with this.”
“As you say,” Azalea said, looking a bit disconcerted. Rose couldn’t help smiling slightly, even as she wondered what Haral was thinking at the moment. She hoped that the angel was panicking, but there was no way to know for certain. It was nice to imagine, though.
“What’s wrong?” Haral asked, frowning as she looked at Adrian, a little more concerned than she had been when the others hadn’t arrived. She’d sent Adrian into Eldsyr to gather information, but he’d returned far too quickly for her comfort, and her unease was only growing.
“My apologies, Lady Haral, but the city is in a furor,” Adrian replied, shaking his head in bewilderment. “Not much is known at the moment, it’s all rumor and hearsay, but I heard that the princess was rescued from at least a half dozen people, none of whom were talking to me. It sounds like the priesthood of Alserah has locked down the palace and done everything they can to restrict information, but even so, what I heard was worrying. I wouldn’t have returned so quickly, but the city guard was out in force, and they were starting to question newcomers to the city.”
“Those fools! I told them to be careful!” Haral hissed, anger flaring within her, along with a little self-loathing. If she hadn’t been so focused on making the princess regret her decisions, there was pretty much no chance that the others would have died. Adrian flinched, but she quickly shook her head and tried to reassure him. “No, no… the elves must have come across the carriage sooner than we thought they would. How they found the hideout so quickly is another question, but it was likely just dumb luck. Maybe some scouts came close before they finished and heard her.”
“If you say so, milady,” Adrian said, visibly relaxing as he nodded. “What should I do?”
“I want you to let the others know we need to stay hidden,” Haral said, glancing over at a set of twenty stones sitting on the table. All of them were glowing, but most were blue, while six were glowing a dull red. She considered for a moment before adding softly, “It’s going to be two to three days before we can act, and we don’t want to be interrupted early.”
“Yes, milady,” Adrian said, bowing his head again, then quickly moved to find the others.
Haral watched him go, then resisted the urge to kick the nearby chair, her voice seething as she spoke with soft self-loathing. “I’m such an idiot. I should’ve just killed her and been done with it, like I did the demon. Once I’m back in the heavens, she’s going to pay for this.”
She glanced at the sword that held the demon’s soul, then shook her head and began to pace. Haral wasn’t happy with what had happened, but there was nothing she could do about it now.
Chapter 36
Ignoring the guards and servants that were covertly staring at her and Alserah, Kitania waited patiently in front of the palace, trying to suppress her nervousness. The true courtyard of the palace was much nicer than the broad killing zone she’d originally appeared in, with a fountain with a statue in the shape of Alserah holding a vase in the middle of the courtyard and numerous outbuildings. It wasn’t as sterile-looking as the other had been, and it appeared far more lived in, especially with the palace entrance dominating the courtyard.
“I take it that Niadra isn’t joining us?” Alserah asked at last, the goddess’s tone surprisingly conversational.
“She refused to wake up, so likely not,” Kitania said, her tension easing slightly as she smiled at the memory of the princess grabbing a pillow and hiding under it. “I thought she’d want to, but it appears she wanted sleep more.”
“I’m surprised. From what you said, she’d originally intended to be here to meet your friends,” Alserah said, clicking her tongue softly. “It’s a touch disappointing.”
“It’s always possible that I’m wrong and that she’ll drag herself out of bed in time to get here,” Kitania replied, smiling a little more at the goddess’s reaction. “I mean, it has been the better part of an hour, and I don’t know when Cecilia usually gets her up.”
“True, I suppose. It isn’t as though many visitors arrive as early as these ones are,” Alserah said, nodding graciously as she glanced at the guards around her. “True, it’s at my command, but it’s still unusual, and most of the nobility are used to having late nights and equally late mornings.”
“Ah, much is explained. I always wondered why I rarely saw any nobles when I went out for my morning exercises,” Kitania murmured, enjoying the distraction as she shifted in place, looking down at her lavender dress again. It hadn’t gotten wrinkled or torn in the last twenty minutes, which reassured her, and she continued. “I’ve always been the type to get up early. It does help that I only need two or three hours of sleep, though I prefer five or six.”
“That would ex
plain the hours that the guards said you kept,” Alserah said, nodding as she glanced at Kitania thoughtfully. “I don’t need quite that little sleep, but I’m fortunate enough to not need as much as most others. It helps on occasion, particularly when I had frequent nightmares.”
“Ah, yes… that would be useful,” Kitania agreed, wincing slightly at the thought. With how dream spiders prompted nightmares, she could understand Alserah trying not to sleep much.
For a few moments, they were both quiet, and Kitania noted that the sky was brightening a little more quickly than before. Soon the sun would ascend over the horizon, and the others were expected to arrive soon. The idea of meeting Isalla and Rose like this made Kitania nervous, so she distracted herself by admiring the sky as it brightened, looking so very different than dawn in the hells. The sun there was closer to orange or red, not the bright yellow of the mortal world, and the sky was different as well.
“I’m not too late, am I?” Niadra’s voice almost startled Kitania, and she turned to see the princess rushing out to meet them, wearing a simpler gown than normal, a deep green dress that accentuated her curves while covering her body fully. Niadra’s hair also wasn’t quite up to her normal standards, which almost prompted Kitania to grin.
“No, our guests haven’t arrived yet,” Alserah replied, looking at the princess skeptically as she added, “I’d begun to think you weren’t going to join us.”
“Kitania didn’t wake me!” Niadra protested, quickly approaching, her cheeks rosy. Kitania wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or physical exertion, but she also wasn’t going to let the princess make false claims. That annoyed her a bit, though only slightly.
“Oh really? Who was it who mumbled something about it being dark out, then grabbed a pillow and hid under it?” Kitania asked, pinning Niadra in place with a mock glare. “I tried to wake you up, but you refused to get out of bed.”
“I don’t remember anything like that!” Niadra said, looking a little taken aback, though she was also blushing simultaneously.
“Just because you don’t remember it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen,” Kitania replied, shaking her head at the princess, having to work to keep from smirking. “It isn’t my fault if you’re not used to waking up early.”
“I… I didn’t think I was that bad, and—” Niadra began, only to be interrupted by Alserah.
“Whether or not you’re used to it, you made it here, and just in time to meet our guests,” Alserah said, her gaze sharpening as she looked toward the gatehouse, and Kitania noticed the doors opening slowly. “Now, compose yourself, Niadra. While some of the visitors may be acquaintances of Kitania, they are still representatives of Estalia. I do not wish for you to offend them.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” Niadra said, stopping and bowing her head deeply to Alserah, then taking a moment to compose herself.
The princess stood next to Kitania, folding her hands as a pair of carriages proceeded through the gatehouse, accompanied by several elven guards on horseback. Kitania watched them approach, sardonically amused by the amount of security which accompanied the carriages, as it was much heavier than had accompanied her and Niadra the other day, so it appeared Alserah wasn’t taking any chances with the safety of Kitania’s friends.
Both carriages circled around the fountain and came to a stop, the horses almost prancing in place as they did so. Kitania tensed, waiting for the carriage doors to open, though she wasn’t sure what she was expecting. When the first carriage door opened, Kitania braced herself, only to blink in surprise as an elven woman she didn’t know stepped out. The momentary disappointment and distraction put her off-balance, though. A moment later, Isalla emerged and Kitania froze, stunned by the surge of happiness and forlorn disappointment that rushed through her at the sight of the angel.
Isalla looked different than Kitania remembered, as she was wearing a nice blue dress rather than the simple clothing Kitania had purchased for her. She was wearing a silver bracelet and necklace, and at her side hung the sword that Kitania had found in the forest what seemed like an eternity ago. She looked so very different… yet at the same time Isalla hadn’t changed at all. Her doll-like face showed the same eagerness, and her hair had grown a bit longer, but it was still the beautiful blonde that Kitania remembered.
The angel quickly scanned the surroundings, and an instant later her gaze settled on Kitania, and when it did, Isalla smiled. Her smile was bright and warm, and her happiness was almost infectious, like the sun dawning. Kitania froze, startled by the strength of Isalla’s reaction, and a tiny part of her tried to panic before she suppressed it. Isalla must have been truly worried about her, Kitania reasoned, grasping at straws. Isalla and Rose had been together for so long that Isalla couldn’t still be interested in Kitania.
Rose stepped out as Kitania was distracted, and the beautiful redhead looked toward Kitania and smiled, then took a few steps forward and bowed deeply in Alserah’s direction, a hand on her chest. Another elf was leaving the carriage as well, while additional servants left the other carriage, but Kitania focused on the two she knew.
“Greetings, Lady Alserah of the Forest of Sighs. It is our honor to be received by the Divine Archer herself,” Rose said, her voice ringing out surprisingly loudly through the courtyard. Isalla did a double take, then quickly bowed as well, and was quickly followed by most of the others.
“Please rise,” Alserah said, smiling gently as she nodded to them. “I apologize for how abrupt your journey was, but there was little choice in the matter. Please, come inside and we’ll make introductions. I would do so here, but the events of the last few days require a modicum of caution.”
“We understand your reasons, Your Highness,” Isalla said quickly, barely able to tear her gaze away from Kitania, yet she managed after a moment. “Just based on what we heard, it makes perfect sense to us. I do hope to explore your kingdom properly one day, but it doesn’t have to be today.”
“I’m glad to hear that. However, I should stress that I’m not the queen of the Forest of Sighs. King Rayvan is the current monarch, and he does an excellent job of taking care of the people,” Alserah said, turning and gesturing for the others to follow. “This way, I have a room set aside for our introductions. Rest assured, it’s been properly warded so we’ll have privacy there.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” the green-haired elf behind Rose said, her voice faintly familiar to Kitania. Looking at her, Kitania considered for a moment, wondering if she knew the woman, but she couldn’t quite place her, despite the magic she sensed from the woman. Kitania was about to say something when she realized that she was about to be left behind, so she quickly turned to chase after Alserah and Niadra, relieved to have a few more moments to get her thoughts in order.
Kitania opened her mouth to say something to Isalla and Rose, but even as she did, she wondered what she should say, or what she could say. The time they’d spent apart made her even more uncertain, and she took long enough trying to decide that Alserah managed to lead them to one of the side rooms just inside the front doors. The room had been heavily warded, based on the tingling sensation Kitania got when she entered, and there were several stern, watchful guards outside.
The room had six plush chairs inside, along with two sofas, each of which could comfortably hold two people. Kitania hesitated as she considered which seat to take, and that moment was just a bit too long.
“Kitty!” Isalla said, just an instant before the angel hit Kitania, almost knocking her to the floor.
“Ack!” Kitania exclaimed, her eyes going wide as she tried to catch herself, flailing at the impact against her back, then spoke without thinking. “Isalla, careful! I’m easier to knock over than I was.”
Embarrassment washed through Kitania a moment later, as she looked up to see that Niadra had stopped, halfway onto a sofa, as she stared at the two of them, her mouth slightly open. Alserah finished sitting and smiled as she murmured in amusement, “That’s an unexpected nickna
me.”
“I’m guessing that someone has spent too much time with my mother,” Kitania said weakly, her cheeks flushing as she prompted a soft laugh from Rose, and a giggle from Isalla.
“No, I just like the nickname. It’s adorable, and I haven’t seen you in ages,” Isalla said firmly, pulling away after a moment, grinning as she continued. “I saw portraits of you like this, but I didn’t realize just how much smaller you’d be! You lost a fair bit of breadth to your shoulders, and you’re definitely shorter, too.”
“It isn’t like I had much of a choice in the matter,” Kitania replied, sighing heavily as she started to regain her mental balance, a little relieved that the two women had initiated the conversation. She wasn’t sure what she’d have said otherwise, but this was an easier subject. “I took quite a bit of damage in my arrival, and the guards understandably overreacted when I started regenerating.”
“Be that as it may, might we have some introductions?” Alserah asked calmly, tilting her head as she added, “I, of course, am Alserah, commonly called the Divine Archer. This is my distant descendant, Princess Niadra Sellis the Fourth, and all of you save for Kitania know Lady Azalea Ikara, who I sent to meet with Estalia after Kitania’s unanticipated arrival.”
“Oh, of course. My apologies, Lady Alserah, I just got… ahead of myself,” Isalla said, flushing slightly, then bowed deeply as she introduced herself. “I’m Isalla, formerly of the Order of the Phoenix.”
“As for myself, I’m Roselynn Emberborn, also formerly of the Order of the Phoenix,” Rose said, smiling as she added, “I prefer to go by Rose, these days. I must also add, you have my deepest thanks for taking care of Kitania. Isalla and I owe her a debt that I can’t begin to repay.”
“You are welcome, though I should say that it was a pleasure, on the whole,” Alserah said, then focused on the green-haired elf as she asked, “Now, might I ask who this is? I know she’s not of my realm.”
Mortal Gods (Mantles of Power Book 2) Page 31
