Page 34 of Prisoner of Darkness and Dreams
Why has it taken me so long to see what a seventeen-year-old girl has worked out all on her own? I knew the Temple was evil, of course. But I didn’t see what could be done about it. I even argued with my brother about my role in all this. I know now that I can’t shrink from this any longer.
There’s only one way. One choice. Lafia is right. The Temple must fall if freedom and good is ever going to flourish in Trova.
I stand so abruptly it makes Lafia jump.
“I have to go find Harman,” I say. “We need a meeting.” I look down at the young cleric. “You should be there too.”
“A meeting about what?” Lafia asks.
“About how we’re going to kill Caledon.”
Chapter 11
Morgana
It takes hours to organize everyone we need to meet in the hidden caves just outside Tread: Harman and the key local members of the Hand like Esther and Deedus, Leon and his soldiers, plus Lafia and Tira. Evening is almost drawing in by the time we’re all gathered. I wore my glamour token over here for the first time, and while it seems to work fine, I wasn’t expecting the strange tingling in my fingers and toes whenever I wear it. Alastor told me I’d get used to the sensation, but it was a relief to take it off again once we got into the caves.
“Alright then, Morgana, you’ve got us here. Now what’s so important?” Harman asks.
I look at Leon, and he gives me a nod of encouragement.
“When I was being held prisoner, the bearer Sophos came to visit me,” I say. Leon tenses beside me, and I put a soothing hand on his knee.
“I thought maybe he’d come to hurt me—or to gloat. But instead, he just talked to me.”
Harman frowns. “About what?”
“About Caledon. He helped me understand what Caledon is doing this all for. It’s not enough for him that he’s already in charge. He wants to become a god.”
Deedus makes a choking noise, and several of the rebels raise their eyebrows.
“I’m sorry. Agod?” he asks incredulously. “What does that even mean?”
“He truly believes in the legend of Ethira—that he started as a man who transformed himself into an immortal being and ascended to the celestial realm. And Caledon thinks he can do it too. And then, once he has, he’ll use whatever new power he has to claim the whole continent. That part Caledon basically told me himself.”
“But that’s impossible, isn’t it?” Stratton asks. “I mean, the religious stories are about teaching moral lessons, right? They didn’tactuallyhappen. Isn’t Ethira just made up?”
“There’s a fair amount of historical evidence that Ethira really lived, actually,” Lafia says. “At Bastion, they have tracts that predate the creation of the Temple, and he’s mentioned several times.”
She blushes when she realizes everyone’s turned to stare at her.
“Whether Ethira actually ascended or not, Caledon definitely believes he did—and he intends to follow in Ethira’s footsteps. From the way Sophos was talking, it sounded like he had an actual plan for it,” I continue.
“You heard this conversation too?” Esther asks Lafia.
The young cleric glances at me, hesitating before she answers. “Well, no.”
“That’s the thing,” I say. “Sophos used his aesteri magic to stop anyone from overhearing. Now, why would he do that? If he was telling me things Caledonwantedme to know, why hide it?”
“What about when we staked out the place, captain?” Stratton says. “He was the one who cleared out security. We thought it was strange at the time. Hell of a coincidence that it was him who paved the way for us to get in.”
I blink, recalling the other part of my conversation with Sophos.
“He asked me about you,” I said to Leon. “I made a comment about you coming for me, and he wanted to know if I was sure. He seemed very interested in that.”
“Why would Caledon’s right-hand man go behind his back to help us?” Alastor asks bluntly. “Forget his loyalty to the Temple, a few months ago Leon cut off the man’shand.Not the kind of thing I’d forgive in a hurry.”
“I don’t know why he did it,” I say. “Maybe itisanother trap. But I don’t see how. Caledon wanted to drain me of my powers, and yet I’m here, safe and alive. We’ve hardly played into his hands.”
