Page 72 of Queen of Legends and Lies
“Do not look so stricken, mortal. It’s the way of things. The gods see all, know all.” Seeming to sense my unease, Hallr’s tone softens a fraction. “But we do not judge. We merely…observe.”
Observe.
As if the intimate details of my life are no more than a mildly diverting play put on for their amusement. I feel a suddenkinship with the insects I’ve seen pinned in glass cases, helpless beneath the magnifying lens.
How many times have the gods’ unseen gazes spied on me in my supposed privacy?
The thought leaves me cold.
I shake off the disturbing image and square my shoulders. Whatever the gods may witness, I refuse to let my mind go there. Not when there’s so much at stake.
“I understand.” I hope the tremor in my voice doesn’t betray me. “And I am…honored by your presence.”
“Remember what I have told you. The caves of Aclaris hold the key to your quest. Seek them out within the sand-colored stones. And trust in the path that unfolds before you.”
With that, he’s gone, leaving only a faint whiff of petrichor and the echo of his parting words. My mind whirls as I crawl back onto our bed and sink against the headboard.
The caves. The key. At last, a direction.
But even as a flicker of hope takes root in my chest, I can’t shake the cold prickle of discontent at the base of my skull. The weight of divine eyes, forever fixed upon me.
It’s unsettling.
The game has changed, the stakes risen beyond my wildest imagination. This is not just one goddess wishing for her son’s return or a bereaved sister attempting to purify her brother’s legacy.
And like a fly caught in the gods’ glittery web, I can only struggle forward, praying I don’t become hopelessly entangled in the threads of fate they weave around me.
I turn to Sterling, his face soft with sleep, and my resolve hardens into a keen-edged blade.
With a deep breath, I slip from the bed, my bare feet silent on the cool stone floor. I’m no longer simply Lark Axton. Or even merely a dragoncaller.
I am Queen Lark of Tirene, with all the resources of the kingdom to draw upon.
It’s time to call the council and set in motion the gears of destiny.
As I approach the dresser, my nightgown swishes around my legs. Unease continues to swirl in my gut. This is it. The moment I’ve been preparing for all my life. Yet, as I place my hand on the ornately carved handle, doubt clouds my mind.
Can I really do this? Can I rule a kingdom and fulfill my other callings?
Dragoncaller. Lover. Ash Queen. Phoenix reborn. Woman of prophecy.
The enormity of the responsibility weighs heavily on my shoulders.
But I can’t turn back now.
With a deep breath, I begin to dress, my movements quick and purposeful.
The velvety darkness of predawn envelops me as I sit on the edge of the mattress, tugging on my boots. Despite the pressure, excitement builds within me while I prepare for what lies ahead.
Behind me, Sterling stirs in our shared bed, his motions muffled by the rustle of sheets. “Lark?” His voice is thick with sleep, but I can sense the underlying concern.
When I face him, my heart swells at the sight of his tousled hair and bleary eyes. Even now, with the world in turmoil around us, he takes my breath away. “I had a visitor. Hallr, the God of Stone and Mountains. He showed me a path forward, a way to fulfill my destiny.”
Sterling sits up, the sheets pooling around his waist. His bare chest gleams beneath the ever-lights, and I have to resist the urge to reach out and trace the lines of his taut muscles.
“What’d he say?”
I recount the gist of the conversation. “I don’t know what all this means. But the gods wouldn’t have shown me this path if it wasn’t important. Maybe this is about more than just a mother’s love. Or a sister’s devotion to family. Wherever this clue leads, I have to follow it.”
