Page 27 of Iris of the Crowned Flame

“How do we know this prophecy is true? What makes it more right than any other religious sect?”

“Do you mean besides the fact that Spencer has a magical gift?” Juniper replied with a half smile, and I blushed. Of course, that helped to confirm it.

“Lyla, how else would you describe what happened to Frederick?”

With Spencer’s words, realization hit. That would have been magic, too. This prophecy could be real. This history could be true.Does this mean that something magical killed Mother?

Juniper frowned. “What happened?”

I recounted the details from our dinner to her, and as I did, her face drained of color. “Who did you tell? Who all knows? Where is Egan now?”

“We didn’t tell anyone else, and neither did Frederick. Only those in the room know–so that would include my ladies. Oh, and Ethan. He wasn’t there, but he has been helping us plan for how to deal with it since then.”

“Egan should be training with his team for the third challenge right now, out in the field.” Spencer added.

Juniper stood up and moved with a swiftness that I have never seen before. She instructed us to stay put as she reached a door and went through. A few moments later, four of her courtiers rushed through the room from that door, and she followed, closing it tightly. The courtiers all left the room without a word of acknowledgement for us. Juniper went to the windows and looked toward the military’s training field, even though she couldn’t possibly see it from here.

“Which Councilor sponsored that man?” She asked, irritation seeping into her tone.

“Uh, Lord Denenbaum. Can you fill me in? What’s happening?”

“Denenbaum? Isn’t that the father of Ethan’s girlfriend?” In her urgency, Juniper completely ignored my question.

The fear gripping hold of me was turning my stomach. Spencer reached over and grabbed my hand to offer soothing support. “Ye- yes…” I stuttered.

“Gods damnit. Where is he?”

“I’m not sure at this moment, but I planned to meet with him this evening.”

“I’ll find him.”

She went back through that door, and a moment later, two more people came through and scurried out through the castle.

“Spencer, tell me everything about his haze before, during, and after this incident. How did he act yesterday and today?”

Spencer recounted the details while Juniper wrote notes furiously. As soon as she finished writing, she blew furiously on the ink to make it dry faster before folding the paper shut and sealing it with her wax imprint. She mumbled over the sealed letter and waved her hands through the air. I watched as the letter disappeared, and both Spencer and I gasped.

“That went to the Oracles, didn’t it? Is that how you got your response, too?”

It was probably an easy guess, but I needed to confirm.

Juniper nodded. “There has been an entire generation of people born with magic. We have been coming into it for the last ten years. We are the first in many generations to access magic like people used to.”

“What was in the letter? What’s going on?” I asked.

Juniper stood up, looked out at the training field again. After a moment, she took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

“There is a lot to teach you before you can understand the extent of what’s happening. To put it shortly, Egan’s lightning strike shouldn’t be possible. There is only one history book that mentions this type of power, and it was inside of such an intense story of a battle that it came across as fiction even withwhat we understand to be true. The Oracles saved it for centuries. So many assumed that it was reality, but we do not know where that kind of power comes from. All we can guess is that it’s not from the same source of power that we have. I sent out people who can secure him if he shows other signs of that power, and without understanding how Denenbaum’s connection to it, I sent for Ethan to join us here. I don’t think it’s wise for him to be around such a danger for now, not while he’s next in line for the throne, after you.”

“We need to tell Father, and the Guards.”

“When Ethan gets here, we will get him caught up and decide if you should present to your father. He has been one that insisted the stories about magic were little more than fairy tales and has shut down discussions with me about this topic.”

“Could you send for Amyra and Ivy? They are my ladies and will be my closest advisors once I take the throne, and I’d like for them to be caught up as well. They’re both likely in my room.”

Juniper nodded and then disappeared into the other room to send for them. Two more people headed out, and Juniper returned.

A letter shimmered onto Juniper’s desk. She opened it and read the reply. “The Oracles are sending several higher priestesses to assess the situation. They will be here in two days’ time.”

---