Page 1 of The Oracle of Dusk

Chapter 1

Aurorahadneverbeenhappier in all her life, crouched as she was beside the skeletons of the ancient damned in a temple once lost to the sands of time. With only a few brush strokes more, achieving her lifelong dream and paying the ultimate reverence to her patron goddess was in sight. Years of gruelling study and fervent prayers had all led to this moment. It was, she would later learn, the last moment of blissful normality before her world turned upside down.

“You missed a spot,” the princess of the Viridian Empire whispered with an irreverent grin.

Aurora flicked her gaze back to her task, delicately brushing the last layers of debris off the globe-like relic before her, tucking errant blonde strands behind her pointed ear.

“You’re full of shit,” Aurora replied.

The greatest upheavals of history made for the most interesting of studies, but were the most wretched of times to be alive. A truth borne out by the bones of her forebearers, their final screams lost to the ages. Now, as their skeletal remains saw the waning light of dusk for the first time in millennia, the only sounds were the soft hush of brushes on sand and bone and the quiet grunts of her fellow clerics adjusting to the physical demands of their tasks.

“Careful, or High Priestess Orithyia will scold you for your unladylike language in the presence of my exalted self.”

Aurora scoffed.

“I’d tell her it’s your fault. That’s a valid legal defence in at least three provinces.”

“Iamterribly infamous.” The princess patted her brilliant russet hair as she reclined in the recently uncovered alcove, a smile quirking up the corners of her full lips, her warm brown eyes sparkling with humour. She brushed an errant grain of dirt from her green and pink peplum jacket and crossed her legs at the ankle where her green leather boots complimented the rich brown of her tight trousers. Always the epitome of current fashion, no matter that she sat amongst lowly scholars. “Probably more so because they’re always hoping your virtues will rub off on me.”

“Goddesses forbid. The perfect Princess Phaedra has led a faultless and quiet life.”

“Yes, quite the opposite of the wild, wicked life of my dearest friend. Why, I caught you dog-earring a page last year. Wars have been fought over less.”

Aurora bit back a snort as her colleagues politely coughed.

“Hush, Your Highness.”

“Bore.”

“Brat.”

Aurora fought back a rising tide of impatience. What she did today would mark the turning point in her life. She would graduate from acolyte of Knowledge to a fully-fledged initiate—a scholar of note. From the moment she’d walked the halls of the obsidian temple’s museum, she’d been enthralled by the ancient past. Her first steps into the temple library left her in awe at all there was to learn. Knowledge, the goddess to whom Aurora had pledged herself, expected her followers to uncover the mysteries of the world, and as Aurora carefully freed the small, globe-like artefact from its pedestal, she could confidently say she’d begun to fulfil the goddess’ divine mandate.

Aurora’s heart soared as the last of the relic was fully uncovered. Pride swelled in her chest as she placed the freed relic onto the hovering tray beside her shallow trench. The culmination of a lifetime of study, hard work, and the favour of her goddess infused every stroke of her pencil as she catalogued the details of her find in the pages of the dig’s journal at her side. Her first ancient relic. Aurora was a true scholar now. She couldn’t wait to discover its secrets and share it with the world.

“You did it,” Phaedra whispered.

“I did.” Aurora’s breath hitched.

She owed Phaedra much. The princess had come into her life like a tempest and had never seen fit to leave. It was thanks to Phaedra’s influence that Aurora’s department was flush with the funds for this dig. Some might treat her achievement as lesser for that friendship alone, but that would be simple jealousy.

Phaedra wrapped her arms around Aurora’s shoulders.

“Is my baby initiate crying?”

“N-no.”

“Liar.” Phaedra kissed her head.

“Pest.” Aurora touched Phaedra’s hand and squeezed.

There was no truer friend in all of Trisia than Phaedra.

Aurora wiped her eyes, squinting as the setting sun’s last light bled into the flickering torchlight in the inner chamber. Soon, the site would be too dim to safely work in. During the day, the light from the ancient temple’s entrance gave enough light to work by. Now, they all risked ruining their eyesight in the encroaching dark. Groaning as her back protested, Aurora stood fully, wincing as blood flow returned to her legs and feet. Dusting off the faded black fabric of her trousers and black and grey brocade peplum jacket, she stamped her leather boots, willing the pain of pins and needles away. Her fellow clerics were similarly attired in shades of deepest grey, though few were as sensitive to the whims of fashion as Aurora. A bell announced the end of the day, and her colleagues put their equipment aside, covering the site with thick fabric tarps. Phaedra hooked her arm through Aurora’s and led the way along the raised wooden platform to the exit.

There would be a celebration tonight. As the most junior member of the dig, and in honour of discovering her first relic, Aurora would be expected to drink and carouse all night long. She fairly skipped along the platform.

“Have you heard from your family?” one of the initiates asked another.

---