Page 24 of Pawns of Salistya

‘So, where were you last night if you weren’t with lover boy?’ she asked.

I spent the rest of my bath filling her in on the details I’d omitted last night: the contraceptive remedy, Eliasson wanting an heir, moving into his living quarters. By the time I’d finished she’d sunk down to the floor next to me. Her jaw had dropped open, and she gripped my hands tightly.

‘You’re reacting as if all of these expectations have been placed on you,’ I commented, highly amused.

She stared into space for another minute or two, processing the information before shaking herself out of her stupor. ‘So, you went to see Varqel.’

I nodded.

‘Lyz has got you?’

Another nod.

‘And you discussed things with him about –?’

‘Yes.’ I cut her off, wary about discussing details with Eliasson likely to appear in my room at any moment.

‘Good.’ She released a relieved breath. ‘That’s good. Okay, we’ve had some wins, it’s not all bleak.’

I laughed at her dramatic words, shaking my head as I stepped out of the bathtub, grabbing the nearest towel and drying myself. ‘I can confirm it’s not all bleak. Stressful and overwhelming, but not bleak.’

Before she could respond, a knock sounded through the room. ‘Valare?’

Mer and I looked at each other. I’d hoped to have a little more time.

What do you want to do?She mouthed to me.

I raised two fingers, letting her know I needed a couple of minutes before I’d come out.

Meredith nodded before heading into the bedroom. I heard the door open, and Mer tell Eliasson I’d be there soon.

I sighed before making my way to my wardrobe, changing into the first dress I saw. As much as I would like to stay in my rooms for the rest of the day dissecting the events of the last twenty-four hours, I couldn’t afford a day off. Not when the fun was just getting started.

I walked to the door joining my quarters to the dining area. Pulling my shoulders back, I took a big breath before putting a smile on my face and pushing open the door.

Just another damn day of playing the game.

Chapter 10

Icouldn’t help letting a groan out as I lay back on the shaded grass, hiding away in a secluded area of the palace gardens that no one, other than myself, visited. Goddess, I was tired.

The last ten days have been a blur, filled with Forum preparations, working with Mer to finalise the Royal Quarters, taste testing and approving menus. Meanwhile my nights were spent placating Eliasson, who’d become increasingly demanding of my time and affection, before rushing to Varqel’s until the early hours of the morning.

My time there was insightful as I worked my way through the book. The visions had shown me the lives of a young couple who wed and, soon after, became the leaders of Fyriane. I hadlearned that, apparently once upon a time our continent was united, the individual Doms seemingly non-existent. From what I had gathered, the King and the Queen were beloved by their people, almost as if they were a salvation their people were looking for. But, what did they need saving from?

The couple went on to have four children, two boys, Arlom and Marlyst, and, two girls, Nyarelle and Salistya – and I didn’t think it was a coincidence they were the four names of the Doms today. No, I was beginning to think that the royals today were their descendants, ruling over the respective lands of their ancestors.

As the children grew older, it was clear they’d inherited the magic of their parents, who I’d figured out were the Goddess Wystia and the God Merlot. Merlot was the God revered in Marlyst and Nyarelle. I had never learnt why they had a different God, having merely been taught – or more to the point ordered – from a young age to never acknowledge this faux God. But I knew that just as Salistya and Arlom don’t recognise Merlot, they don’t recognise our Goddess Wystia.

It was evident Wystia’s magic was physical in nature, much like my own, and the eldest child, Salistya, and the youngest, Arlom, exhibited these gifts as well. However, Merlot’s magic wasn’t obvious in either him, or the remaining two children. Maybe he didn’t have any? Or it hadn’t been passed on? But even as I considered this, I knew in my bones that Merlot was a mage and Marlyst and Nyarelle had inherited it. I just didn’t know what his affinities were or whether they appeared today like Wystia’s did. I had never heard of any magic outside of the magic gifted on the Solista Isles. But could whatever this magic is still be alive in their Doms today? What would it look like?

Knowledge finds those who are meant to see.The Nyarellean woman certainly hinted at knowing more. How else did she know Eliassonwas around the corner that day in the markets? I wonder what the Nyarelle Queendom is hiding, and what is it I am meant to see?

For the millionth time, I cursed Salistya’s lack of teaching of our continent’s history. The Queendom simply doesn’t place value on education that falls outside what is needed to sculpt us into weapons to be utilised as the leaders saw fit. Such a damn waste.

I rubbed my eyes, my frustration continuing to grow as I wondered whether there was any point trying to understand what this all meant, or if it even was anything more than a potentially fabricated story and a market woman playing games.

But there was no doubt there was deep magic embedded in the book itself for it to provide those visions. My magic felt it. After all, like called to like. The question was, how was the magic stored in the book?

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