Page 5 of The Oracle of Dusk

Her relief was short-lived.

“But yours has been woven into the very centre of it.”

Chapter 2

Aurora’sscreamsofdenialwere trapped in her throat. She froze, paralysed by terror. But as her voice failed her, Phaedra roared in her stead. The princess marched over to the high priestess and smacked her hands away from Aurora’s.

“No! This is unacceptable. I will not allow it. You have clearly erred in the reading of the signs,” Phaedra accused her.

“There is no mistake,” Orithyia replied, her voice grave as she returned Phaedra’s glare.

Orithyia’s authoritative tone only goaded Phaedra on. Like grease and fire.

“Get out! All of you! Andyou!” Phaedra all but hissed at the avatar of Justice. She gathered her wild magic and shoved him away. He recovered quickly, glaring, yet saying nothing in his defence. “Stop touching her! You will never have her. The world will burn before I let you take her!”

“If you don’t, it may very well come to that. The goddesses have given us the means to end this cycle of calamity,” the high priestess replied, standing to her full height and adjusting her robes and veil, entirely unfazed by Phaedra’s outburst.

“Fuck the cycle! And fuck the goddesses! We’ll go to the lands where their power is weakest!” Phaedra screamed, slipping back into a commoner’s affectation.

Beyond the lands protected by the divine Triad, there were many other realms, but the goddesses’ power and influence were weakened away from Their temples, leaving Their adherents at the mercies of rival, foreign gods and the caprices of fate. Even worse were areas entirely unprotected by any deities—the between, where monstrosities thrived. If Phaedra took Aurora and fled Trisia, there was no guarantee for their safety.

“Hold your tongue! Blasphemy is a crime, even for a princess,” Orithyia retorted.

“Thecrimehere is demanding an academic stand on the front lines of a damned cycle of calamity! She has no martial training, no magic, and you plan to what—throw her at The Beast of Old? Use her as bait? Fuck you! Fuck this! I won’t let it happen!”

One of the paladins, a lean woman of uncommon height, sighed in irritation.

“Permission to remove the princess? Her tantrum is delaying our mission.”

The high priestess nodded.

“You have no authority over me! This ismyempire!” Phaedra turned an outraged glare on the paladin in question.

“Why do you think the paladins are wearing the imperial colours? Empress Neverita has already given us leave to do what we must,” Orithyia said.

“Her Majesty would never stand for this!” Phaedra hissed.

Distracted by the high priestess, the paladin picked up Phaedra, tossed the shocked princess over her shoulder, and strode outside. Phaedra’s screeches of indignation were barely muted by the thick felt of the tent. Aurora was alone, her protector dismissed as if she were a mere servant rather than a Viridian princess. Nausea threatened anew.

“Give us some space, please. Ready the lopers for the journey,” the high priestess commanded the paladins, gesturing to the flap of the tent.

“We don’t take orders from Knowledge’s hags,” the tallest warrior huffed.

“And we’re not thrice-damned servants,” the brawniest added.

“I, for one, would like to see how the little temple mouse responds, now that she can’t hide behind the princess’ skirts,” the last warrior said, her dark eyes raking Aurora with disdain. “Best to figure out just how much of a burden she’ll be on this quest.”

The avatar of Justice put himself between the paladins and Aurora, his back to her. He was not the brawniest of warriors, nor the tallest, but his very presence demanded attention. As he spoke, his voice was soft but no less commanding.

“But youdoanswer to me, and to Justice. Do as the high priestess has asked.”

“Swinging a holy sword won’t earn you my respect,” the tallest warrior hissed. “Bloody Nivean swine. I was earning accolades while you were suckling at some barnyard teat in your backwater province!”

“I don’t require your respect, only your compliance. Now go,” the avatar replied, unfazed by their hostility, his head held high.

In the battle of wills, the avatar was the winner. The paladins took their leave, grumbling the whole while.

“Thank you, Silvanus. Justice chose wisely when She made you Her avatar,” Orithyia sighed.

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