Sapient Salvation 3: The Divining (Sapient Salvation Series)

by Jayne Faith

  I straightened, suddenly reenergized. “No, you can send him in. And you are free to leave for the night, Celestia.”

  The Lord’s brother entered and closed the door behind him. He looked gaunt, his cheekbones too prominent, but his eyes glowed with new vigor.

  I stood and went to him and took both his hands in mine. His brows rose, and I did not blame him—it wasn’t befitting of my office to make casual physical gestures, and it wasn’t really my personal tendency either. But I couldn’t help myself.

  “Jeric, you have literally pulled off a miracle,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I know I was vague with you about Maya’s importance to the Return, but know that you have done an immeasurable service to your nation’s destiny.”

  His lips parted and he sucked in a breath and then let it out slowly, a long sigh. His eyes, suddenly so similar to Lord Toric’s, misted. “It was my humble honor to do so.”

  I squeezed his hands and then let go and returned to my chair.

  His eyes darted around as he came to take a seat, reminding me that he’d never been inside my office before. “Are we completely safe from eavesdroppers?” he asked.

  I folded my hands on my desk and gave him a grave nod. “Safer than almost anywhere else on Calisto.”

  His shoulders lowered and he crossed an ankle over the other knee, visibly relaxing. “Is Maya doing well?”

  “She is. She’s under continuous care, but I don’t think she even needs it.”

  “I left a few bruises and bumps for effect—her idea, actually—but her major injuries were almost completely healed before she snuck into the fire pit.”

  I let out a quick breath, not quite a laugh. “I can only imagine her reaction. I do feel terrible that we had to subject her to such a trauma. The poor young woman has survived enough terror for two lifetimes.”

  “I feel the same way, but I believe it was necessary. She is extremely strong, and she will recover. How did she do when you and the others arrived?”

  “A thoroughly splendid performance,” I said. “She could not have been better. I expect her fragile grace will play extremely well in the media. But there are a few concerns. One of the priestesses, a high-ranking woman in the Temple, flat-out said she believes it was a hoax. She’s definitely in the minority, but she’s an intelligent and influential member of the community. And there’s one other person who causes me concern. Have you spoken to Akantha? She did not come to the fire pit when Maya was discovered, and Lord Toric has not heard from her. That worries me.”

  One corner of his mouth slanted down in a grimace, and his eyes shifted around. “I expect she will be waiting for me when I get home.”

  “She will not suspect that you . . .”

  “No,” he said quickly. “I don’t see how she possibly could. I know she has spies following me, but I passed through a couple of portals to lose them before I went to Maya.”

  “Good thinking,” I said. “It sounds like it will be difficult for her to cause us any real trouble, though Lord Toric and I are both concerned that she may try to angle for Maya returning to the Tournament. We do not know yet if she has any grounds for doing so. Very soon I plan on releasing some information that should help keep her exempt.”

  “Ah yes, the secret you’ve been hiding up your sleeve.” He gave me a sly, curious look.

  I’d kept the details vague, but Jeric knew there was something big coming from the Temple that would help ensure Maya’s safety.

  “Don’t worry, your suspense will end tomorrow.” I gave him a serene smile, meant to convey that I wouldn’t say anything more on the topic.

  “Very well, Your Holiness.” He grinned, and I realized he was very much enjoying our scheme. I could see why—it clearly gave him a great sense of purpose. He rose and gave me a jaunty bow. “Until we speak again.”

  “Soon, Sir Jeric. Get some rest. You’ve earned it.”

  *

  Even before I came fully awake the next morning, there was a tight ball of anticipation forming in my gut. I read over my prepared statement several times while I sat at my breakfast table in my quarters. I was unable to force down more than a bit of toast and tea, as the knot in my stomach seemed set on blocking any intake of sustenance.

  I’d already instructed Celestia to inform the press that I’d be making a statement about Maya mid-morning. The Temple actually had a press room, but I’d used it only a handful of times in my term as High Priestess. I made my way there an hour before press time so the Temple’s media team could finish their preparations. They had me stand at the podium while they adjusted the lighting and fiddled with the audio system.

  My statement would be broadcast live to the nation, and I did not intend to answer any questions afterward, so the attendance of reporters was primarily to add an air of importance and excitement. I could have just as easily pre-recorded my message, but what I planned to reveal was so profound it deserved a big splash. And, of course, I wanted it to fuel support for Maya.

  I disappeared into a side room and listened to the growing din as reporters filled the press room.

  A Temple initiate came for me. “We’re ready for Your Holiness.”

  I squared my shoulders and followed her. As I took the podium, I resisted the urge to squint into the bright lights. The entire room seemed to draw a breath of anticipation.

  I had my statement nearly memorized but glanced at the teleprompter just to make sure.

  “I come before you as a humble servant to the Temple and your reverently hopeful guide on the path of the Return to Earthenfell, if the stars see fit,” I began. “The past months have brought us many remarkable events that have advanced us ever closer to the homeland. Another remarkable event occurred just yesterday. The Earthen Offered named Maya Calderon survived the flame, apparently untouched by the fires. Never before has this happened. Only by the stars’ intervention could a mortal woman have lived through it.”

  I paused briefly, knowing I’d come dangerously close to calling it a miracle and could not push it further, but wanting the audience to draw that connection for themselves.

  “You may be asking yourselves: what does it mean? What could it mean for an Offered woman who was sentenced to death to have lived through her own execution?” I leveled my chin and looked around the room. “I do not claim to know what’s in the stars, but believe I can shed some light on the matter. A few months ago, in fact on the very day that Maya Calderon arrived here on Calisto, a heretofore unknown volume of the sacred texts was delivered to me.”

  For a fraction of a second, there was dead silence. And then the room exploded with voices, exclamations and shouted questions. I raised my gaze to the thirty or so high-ranking priestesses lining the wall at the back of the press room and found Novia. She stood stock-still, her head tilted and her eyes slitted, as if examining something she did not quite understand.

  I knew I’d taken a grave risk by revealing this news publicly when it had not yet been revealed internally. Some of the priestesses would no doubt be outraged, but I was willing to risk their ire to maximize the shock of the revelation.

  I held up both palms, silently beseeching the audience to quiet. When the wave of voices died down, I continued.

  “I cannot reveal the contents of the secret volume at this time, but there is one thing I want to share with you. In it there is mention of a harbinger, a foreigner who heralds a turning point in our quest for Earthenfell. I believe Maya Calderon may be that harbinger. However, that remains to be investigated, as does her remarkable survival. The Temple’s miracle commission has already begun their inquiry.”

  One of the Temple’s media liaisons stepped forward, and I moved aside so she could take my place.

  “There will be no question and answer segment today. The Temple thanks you for your attendance.”

  The two of us turned and went swiftly backstage amid thunderous protesting voices.

  I left through a rear exit and went straight to the large gathering
room in the Temple, where general meetings and ceremonies were held. Some of the priestesses had already begun to gather there. I expected there would be backlash for what I’d just done, and I hoped to try to assuage feelings of betrayal or anger within the Temple community. But it had actually been my intent to create a stir within the Temple as well as the general population.

  I went to the cluster of women and reassured them that I intended to answer all their questions. With my dramatic announcement, I would no longer be able to keep the tenth volume secret, but I realized the thought of sharing it did not make me uneasy. It was time. We were marching ever closer to the possibility of the Return, and I needed the entire Temple engaged in unraveling the mysteries of the tenth volume.

  More priestesses streamed in, as did teal-robed Temple initiates.

  Novia arrived, and a chill seemed to emanate from her unblinking gaze straight into my bones. She moved to the front of the room, standing on the edge of the group that had gathered around me.

  When Celestia hurried up to me, I welcomed the excuse to turn away from the crowd. I spoke to her in a low voice, instructing her to moderate the questions and help me keep order, and we climbed the short staircase to the stage.

  I faced the growing audience of Temple women. “Please, everyone sit down. Once you’re settled, I’ll begin answering your questions. Raise your hand and wait for Celestia to call on you and then stand and speak loudly so everyone can hear.”

  The acoustics of the space were superb, and I doubted we’d need the audio and amplification system turned on. I preferred it that way, as I wanted the session to feel like an informal gathering, a tightening of our community, rather than an official proceeding.

  Every seat was occupied, and the back wall was lined with initiates. There had to be nearly four hundred Temple women in the room.

  When the women were settled, I nodded at Celestia.

  She looked out at the audience. “First question?”

  Dozens of hands shot up. She pointed at the one farthest to the left, and the woman stood. “When and how will we have access to the new volume, Your Holiness?”

  “It will be available in the same way that the other volumes are available. By tomorrow morning there will be an electronic duplicate of the entire volume that fully ordained priestesses may access at any time. The original physical volume will be kept in my office. As with the other volumes, any priestess may submit a request to check it out for a period of time.”

  Several hands went down, indicating that many of the women had intended to ask about access.

  Celestia turned to the raised hand on the farthest right. “Your question?”

  “Your Holiness, where did the new volume come from, and did you know of it before it came into your possession?”

  I drew a breath. It was one of the questions I’d least looked forward to. “To the first part of your question: I do not know. It came to me in a delivery of inconsequential items, and there was no note or indication of who sent it or where it has been all this time. That is something I’ve been investigating.” I was certainly not ready to reveal that the volume may have been under the care of the Pirros. In my peripheral vision I could see Novia in the front row, and I could almost feel her gaze boring into me. I trusted she would not reveal what we suspected about the Pirros. It was not her call to release that information without my approval, and she wouldn’t do such a brash thing anyway. The information was much too controversial. “And no, I did not have any knowledge of the tenth volume before I received it.”

  The next query was about how long the volume was, and whether it was written in the same style and encoding as the others.

  Celestia pointed to Novia, who lowered her arm and stood. “Your Holiness, it seems presumptuous to announce that the Earthen Obligate girl is a harbinger of the Return, as you so shockingly announced to all of Calisto. I doubt the tenth volume is so literal on the matter. And without a full analysis and investigation to support the claim, it seemed your announcement was for the purpose of advancing an agenda.” She stopped speaking but remained standing, giving me that steady penetrating look of hers.

  The silence seemed to pressurize the room as our eyes locked for a long moment.

  “And what is your question?” I took care to keep my tone neutral, my face relaxed. I would not allow Novia to provoke me in front of the entire Temple.

  “For what agenda was your announcement made?”

  There was a soft rustling as the entire room seemed to shift a little. Many priestesses looked distinctly uncomfortable with Novia’s accusation, and several even murmured their disapproval. But some were nodding or casting hard, evaluating looks my way.

  I forced my face to relax into a serene smile that I aimed at Novia and then out at the audience. “My highest aim in life—I suppose you could call it an agenda if you prefer that term—is to guide the Return of Calistans to the homeland, if the stars see fit for this to happen while I serve as High Priestess. Everything I’ve done since I entered the Temple has been with this in mind. Reclaiming Earthenfell is my singular goal and prayer and the purpose of my every action. It is the agenda in my heart, and it is also the oath I swore when I took office. To suggest I have some other agenda suggests I am violating my sworn oath and should not occupy the office of High Priestess.” I turned my gaze down to Novia. “Is that what you are suggesting, my child?”

  Novia and I were of about the same age, but it was my right as High Priestess to address her as a subordinate. She regarded me silently for a moment, unruffled by how I’d turned the entire room’s attention back on her.

  “No, that is not what I’m suggesting,” she said finally.

  She took her seat, but the implied not yet at the end of her statement seemed to linger in the air.

  I fielded questions for another thirty minutes before I wrapped up the session. Novia was the only one who challenged me outright, but as the priestesses began talking with one another I expected a faction of disapproval to emerge. It was a normal part of Temple politics even under mundane circumstances, and considering the momentous events of the past months and especially recent days, opposition and heated discussions were inevitable.

  The solitude of my office was a welcome relief from the busy, dramatic day. But it would not last long. I would have to face Novia again later that afternoon when I met with her and her research team.

  *

  My appointment with Novia had been scheduled many days before, but it seemed a lifetime ago. Before the people called for Maya’s blood, before Jeric and I had hatched our scheme to save her, before I’d revealed the secret volume of the sacred texts to all of Calisto.

  When the time came for my meeting with the Temple’s top researchers, I was surprised when only Novia came through the door to my office.

  A prickle passed over my skin as my defenses came up. Was she planning some sort of ambush, a confrontation about Maya or the way I’d revealed the existence of the tenth volume?

  “I wasn’t expecting you to come alone,” I said as she dropped a quick curtsy. I tipped my head at the four chairs that had been arranged in front of my desk. “Please, join me.”

  “Your Holiness, I wanted to present my team’s findings in private because what they suggest is very controversial,” Novia said.

  She was her usual cool self but seemed set on keeping to the topic at hand. For the moment, anyway.

  “Controversial?” I peered down at the tablet she’d set on my desk, but it wasn’t powered on.

  “You’d asked me to look into the women who are candidates to become Lord Toric’s wife and the next Queen, to see if there were any commonalities between them and Queen Stella,” she said. “There are, it turns out. But the commonalities are not at all what we were expecting to find.”

  I pressed my palms on the desktop and leaned forward, giving a short laugh. “You’ve got me on pins and needles. Please, end the suspense.”

  “We think—” Her brow wrinkled as she pa
used. Both her expression and hesitation were uncharacteristic and sent my pulse tripping. “We think they all may have Pirro ties.”

  I squinted at her. “What do you mean by ties?”

  “Genetic ties.”

  “Genetic . . .” I blinked rapidly, my mind momentarily refusing to absorb what she’d said. “You’re saying some of the women, and Queen Stella herself, are part Pirro?”

  “We don’t have medical proof, of course. But yes, we think it’s possible.”

  “But that would mean—” I gasped and looked at her sharply. “That would mean Lord Toric is part Pirro as well.”

  “If it’s true, some of the women may not even know that they are of Pirro blood,” Novia said hurriedly. She pushed the fingers of one hand into her wavy hair and shook her head. “Maybe none of them know.”

  I looked down at my folded hands, my eyes unfocused. “Once again, I have the distinct sense that there is someone out there pulling strings,” I said quietly. I looked up at her. “Do we need to try to obtain proof of this?”

  Novia drew a long breath, her face grim, and I suspected we were having the same thought.

  “Of course we can’t compel anyone to give DNA unless there has been a crime committed,” she said. “And it doesn’t seem wise to accuse them of being part Pirro. The accusation would be public, and it would open up, well, an enormous mess. We wouldn’t want to do it without serious consideration and clear necessity.”

  “There is one person I could ask for a biological sample,” I said. “But I would have to give him some sort of explanation.”

  “I’m sure Lord Toric will keep it to himself. If he is willing, I think we should. It would at least prove one aspect of our hypothesis. The part about Queen Stella.”

  “Agreed.” I shook my head slowly. “I just don’t see the purpose of raising Pirro-Calistans to the throne, especially if the women don’t even know they’re part Pirro.”

  “Well, it could be that the women are relics of a plan set in motion long ago, but now there’s no one left to see it through. Perhaps the Pirros began infiltrating Calisto with the intent of claiming rights to the throne at some point. After we all but wiped them out, perhaps there was no one left to come forward to make the claim, but the Pirro bloodlines remained as the hybrid citizens continued to propagate.” Novia’s mouth tightened to a thin line. “But I do not believe this was an experiment that is now left unattended. I have no proof, but I suspect someone is still behind it all. As you said, the one—or ones—who sent you the tenth volume.”