Page 33 of Rift
“What’s happened?”
Oestera sorted through notes and a letter with a broken seal, Pluto’s navy blue wax cracked across the opening. Oestera dropped her notes and looked at her daughter.
“Sit, Astra. We’ll wait for the rest of the courts.”
Astra sank into her seat at the council table, watching Lunelle’s face.
I don’t know either, she beamed.
Nayson patted Astra on the shoulder, seeing the tension rise in her spine.
He whispered, “All will be well, darling. Try to block them out.”
Oestera waited as the room filled with Venusian, Earthen, and Martian rulers and advisors. When the buzzing in the hall slowed, Oestera rose and stepped to the center.
“Pluto has been removed from the Outer Courts.”
Hundreds of whispers ran around the room, rising in plumes of teal and orange.
“Solan has moved his armies into the Jovian Court’s rings according to the intel Pluto’s prince, Arcas, shared with me this morning.” Oestera waved the parchment in the air as Astra realized Mirquios, Kahlia, Mother Nature, and Omnir held similar missives. “We’ve been invited as the leaders of the Inner Courts to a summit to discuss Pluto’s plea to join our alliance against Solan. If they’re sincere in their description of events, Solan is moving quickly and furiously.”
“Why would they remove Pluto? Wouldn’t they want to keep Arcas and his court?” Astra asked.
“No,” Mirquios said, stepping toward the table. “Pluto has been a weight on the Outer Courts’ resources for some time. They’ve struggled to stamp out rebel activity and their prince is in debt beyond calculations.”
“If you have spies in the Jovian Court, you’d best call them home,” Oestera said to the crowds gathered. “If you’re departing to Pluto from the Lunar Court, please don’t hesitate to let us know what you need. We will leave tomorrow morning, but tonight,” Oestera turned toward her daughters. “We have great news to celebrate. The Mercurian Court will have our very own Astra as their queen.”
Astra’s stomach flipped once again, a feeling she probably needed to get used to. She glanced at Mirquios, grinning as nearby dignitaries congratulated him.
“Make whatever arrangements necessary. The Lunar Court is here to help. But, move swiftly. We will see you this evening.”
The room tilted, spinning in a flurry of anxious oranges as Astra tried to get her head about her. Oestera stopped between her daughters.
“Lunelle, you will leave with me in the morning for Pluto. War is never a good time for the transfer of power. It makes the courts nervous. The more we can get your face in front of them, the better.”
“And who will lead Lunaria?” Astra asked, her fingers clenched as the tenor of the room reached a fever pitch. Eyes watched her curiously, concerned.
“Tula will,” Oestera said as if it were obvious. “She is the High Priestess. We’ve been preparing for this possibility for years, Astra.”
“I could help?—”
“This is not personal, Astra. The brink of war is no time for make-believe,” Oestera snapped, her eyes falling toward Astra’s fingertips.
Ah, but it was personal.
She didn’t trust the Fire Queen.
The flames within her sprang to life, bubbling against her skin, pressure mounting within the valleys of her fingerprints. She battled it back, absorbing the sting, but the way her mother looked at her only stoked the flames.
“Your fear is written all over your face. You’ve hardly been home a fortnight, Astra. Tula is far more prepared than you are to lead this court. I cannot leave the Fate of our people in your burning hands.”
“I need some air,” Astra gasped, rising from her seat. Of course, her mother saw the flames, but not the ocean’s tide of restraint she employed to keep them at bay. And she was only proving her point as she cut a path through the hall.
Ameera moved in tandem, trailing her into the courtyard. Astra let a few sparks escape, just enough to take the pressure off, but it did little to settle her.
Ameera reached for her, but pulled back at the rush of heat beneath her skin.
“Astra,” Mirquios called.
