Page 171 of The Curse of the Goddess

“That’s the problem, Valda. You think that they will not rebel against you, but gods, you have a rebellion unfolding right beneath your nose, and nothing has been done about it. You keep on trusting Arwin—”

“I don’t—”

“But you do!” Maris sighed and let out a frustrated groan before touching the center of her chest. “You are angry.”

“You are not letting me speak,” Valda huffed.

“Speak then.”

“Not if you will not listen.” Valda watched Maris squeeze her jaw shut. Taking a deep breath, Valda closed her eyes and let out a soft prayer to Ouranos before speaking again. “What is it that you need from me? I will do it.”

“I want Arwin out.”

“Out?”

“I don’t want him near us. I don’t want him in the castle. I don’t want him going back to New Agenor. I don’t want him.”

Valda chewed on the inside of her cheek. Getting rid of Arwin wouldn’t be easy. Maris had her opinions and theories about him. He might be behind many things that have been going array in the kingdom. Knowing he worshipped Eris, her sudden blindness likely due to a curse, his ongoing dismissiveness regarding anything related to the Sealian did raise some eyebrows. But could Valda make the right decision? Could she follow through with what Maris was asking?

“You asked me what I want, that’s what I want. I want Arwin out of the castle. Retire him, send him to rest, but I don’t want him overlooking everything we do and every decision we make regarding my people or yours. You have the power to do it.”

“That I do.”

“Then what’s stopping you? Are you afraid of him?”

“I’m not afraid of him! I almost choked that man to death because he insulted you. Did you forget already?” Maris shook her head at Valda’s question. “He was my father figure after my father’s death. My mentor.”

Maris scoffed. “That man knew what the surviving Sealians were going through, he oversaw all those reports, and yet he did nothing. If we continue keeping him reporting everything nothing will get done.”

Valda nodded apprehensively. “If that will make you feel more comfortable. I will do as you say, Seashell.”

The tension between both women diluted, yet a small string was still tense, pulling at their hearts as they galloped next to each other. Valda cleared her throat, unable to shake the feeling and the question lingering in her throat.

“Do you think I don’t have the power to stop a coup from happening?”

“I have no doubt you can stop anything from happening.”

“But?”

“I am petrified to find out how much power does Arwin hold withing the kingdom.”

Valda swallowed hard. “Not more than me.”

“I hope so.”

***

Silence fell on them again, and although Valda continuously offered Maris her waterskin and more food, the Sealian kept to herself for the rest of the ride back. The tension grew as the minutes went by.

The Skylian guards broke the silence when they announced that they were approaching the city of Ophelia. Not wanting to draw attention to Maris, Valda decided it was best to enter the castle from the back. As they approached, the air around them grew dense, as a chilling and nightmarish view revealed itself as they passed the sandy entryway.

Bodies.

Piles upon piles of decomposing carcasses welcomed them. The stench of decay and death filled Valda’s nostrils. Her stomach turned, and she grabbed her cloth, wrapping it around her face to stop the offensive smell from taking over.

The guards behind them drew out their swords and before they could utter a word of warning, their bodies fell on the ground with an arrow sticking out of their throats. Maris gasped, pulling at her horse, and bumping against Valda’s.

Valda jumped off her horse, pulled the beast away from the bodies, and grabbed Maris’s horse by the noseband. She looked up at the tallest part of the castle. In plain sight, she saw guards, HER guards, pointing arrows at her. Yet, they didn’t shoot. They stood there, staring as if awaiting orders.

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