Page 90 of Scourged

“Your—Mariah.” She stumbled over her words, blushing again. “I … I also have a slight request.”

Mariah sat up with interest. “Which is?”

Liliane cast her eyes down. “I wished to see if I could resume the weekly services in Qhohena’s temple here in the palace. They can be run by any robed priestess, and I think it could be good for the people to get back to something normal. Especially after so many weeks of chaos.”

Mariah knew these services. She’d been once or twice, back in Andburgh, dragged along by her mother for some rare special occasion. Onita celebrated no holidays beyond the Solstice, but there were other events that sometimes demanded a trip to temple: a birth, a marriage, or a death.

“I will need to check with my Armature,” Mariah began slowly, “and I can’t promise I’ll ever attend. My relationship with Qhohena is … interesting, to put it lightly.” Flashes of a goldenmeadow peppered the backs of her eyes. “But I see no reason to say no. I agree it would be good for the people who want it.”

Liliane’s face lit up like a torch, her flames—the same ones that had gifted her those robes—lighting up her soft brown eyes.

“Thank you, Your—Mariah. I think this will be just what the city needs.” Her smile softened. “Even after everything you suffered … thank you for letting me stay. This city has been my home my entire life, and the temple since I was twelve. I’m grateful to be allowed to call it my home again.”

Mariah stood from the bench, taking a small step forward to stand before the priestess. She was taller than the girl, and after a moment’s hesitation rested a hand on Liliane’s shoulder. The girl started, lips parting in surprise as Mariah did something that shocked even her.

She smiled, full and genuine.

“You are always welcome here, priestess. Thank you for reminding me that just because one or two have been corrupted … most are just as lost as the rest of us.”

Liliane smiled. “You hardly seem lost, My Queen.”

Mariah dropped her hand and stepped back, smile falling. The light faded from Liliane’s eyes at the change.

“Don’t let the starlight fool you, Liliane. The darkness plays tricks with our eyes, but it wouldn’t exist without the light.”

Chapter 35

Sebastian blinked as theallumestreet lamps blazed to life, flooding the market district street with pale silver-gold light.

“What—is the magic back?”

“Oh, thank the goddess?—”

“What if it goes out again? Are the wards back, too?”

Chatter filled the air as Sebastian sagged slightly against his horse. When the magic had snuffed out and chaos had erupted in the city, he’d rushed down into the streets with Quentin, Matheo, Drystan, and Trefor. Feran stayed behind with Mariah, who’d worn a determined look on her face as she murmured something about knowing how to fix it.

It seems she’d been successful. At least, Sebastian hoped that was the case.

Night workers on the docks had started the screaming that had woken them all in the early hours of the morning. Their lanterns had flickered out, and the darkness drove them into a sudden panic. They’d raced through the streets, shouting the alarm, afraid that with the wards now down, the pirates would come storming back.

But even in the weak moonlight, no black sails dotted the horizon, and Sebastian and the Armature’s task had been to calm the hysteria raised by those workers. It would serve no one if the city descended into needless madness.

“Sir? What happened? Are we safe?”

Sebastian lifted his head. A young woman, flanked closely by a man near her age—her husband, he presumed—stood a few paces away, her brow pushed together with worry.

He forced a smile. “There was a shortallumeoutage, but there is nothing to worry about. The city is safe.”

The woman shared a glance with her husband. “Is it … is it fixed? Will it go out again?”

“The queen herself fixed it,” Sebastian answered. He didn’t know for sure, but he was confident in Mariah. When she said she could, he believed her.

“The queen?” The woman’s husband gripped his wife’s arm. “Queen Ryenne?”

Sebastian paused. “No,” he said slowly. “Queen Mariah.”

“I—Oh.” The husband’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I forgot?—”

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