Page 34 of Of Serpents and Ruins
Somehow, she had lived.
Someone must have helped her.
One of the factions, perhaps? Who had that kind of power? And why would they have done it when the Gola Resh was a threat to our very existence?
"We need to inform the Council," Hord said. "Despite their opposition to Stella remaining queen, they will understand the gravity of the challenge the Gola Resh presents. And if Stella is indeed back, then she could be reinstated."
"The Gola Resh still being alive may give the sages, scholars, and arcanists what they need to find a way for ending these curses," I muttered. I pressed my hands harder against my belt. "And these assassins, did they have anything to do with the Gola Resh? Have you finished interrogating them?"
"They claim a seer helped them. They don't know the name, but the seer told them that the queen had returned and where to find her," Hord responded grimly, "and that her death was essential. Should forces be sent out to return Kine and Elias to the dungeons and Stella to the palace?"
That look of disapproval was one of those times Hord's manner alone indicated we were family. He had my father's way of curling his upper lip and wrinkling his nose ever so slightly when he disapproved of something even when he tried to hide it. Hord hadn't agreed with my imprisoning those two at the start.
"No."
As much as I longed to hold Stella in my arms once more, I could not risk her. I would rather never see her again and know she was safe rather than see her and harm her. Sometimes, the need that rose within me was so strong I could scarcely breathe. And sometimes the curse compelled me to seek her out. Being away from her cut me to my soul.
But for now…for now, I could refuse its urge. I could remember how vital it was that we not see one another. We would wait, and I would not see her. Not until I knew I could be contained. Not until I knew why I had snapped early. Not until I could end this curse, or at least predict when the madness would seize me with more accuracy.
"Then do you want guards sent to the Master of Sight in case additional assassins attempt to harm her? If the factions who want her dead know that she lives or even if some of the people become panicked, then it may be needed."
I stroked my jaw. Auntie Runa had recently declared the entire surrounding territory of her land to be one free of weapons. No weapon—magic or not—could be wielded in that place. Something to do with strengthening the protective properties of her sanctuary. And the people of Sepeazia were far more preoccupied with day-to-day life. As far as they were concerned, the curse ending our land and destroying our lives was still held back. They’d gotten numb to its presence over the past five decades, even with the deep gouges in the earth representing the start of the Gola Resh’s draining magic at work. Best to keep everyone calm for now. Let them focus on theordinary tasks. It wasn’t as if they could do anything at this point anyway.
"Select a few trusted warriors to go to the corners of her land, but do not permit them to cross the barriers. Inform the Master of Sight that they are present should she have need." I hesitated. The curse had not included my issuing orders while in its grasp thus far, but with the time surge, could I really risk that remaining true? Other facets of the curse might change as well. "And bind them to take no action against the queen. No matter who commands it."
Hord scowled. "May I ask why?"
"To keep her safe," I said gruffly. "Make sure it is done."
My intelligence plummeted in the throes of the curse. Sometimes I could speak. Sometimes I couldn’t. Mercifully, I remembered little, but Hord and Candy as well as a few others—the ones I trusted with my life—told me I became more brute than man. Not being able to remember was both a blessing and a curse.
Apparently, all I managed were threats. Poor ones, at that. It gutted me to know that friends and allies as well as threats could be harmed in these times. No matter how hard I tried to fight it, it always won.
The dread that trickled down the back of my neck and seized along my spine before I lost control might as well have been all my cunning and willpower draining like wine out of burst wineskins.
Neither my full council nor my people knew how often these attacks came now. Only Hord and perhaps a few others knew the full extent of it. I used the charm to ensure I was isolated as much as possible when they came. But last night—something had changed. Maybe it was Stella’s return. Maybe it was something else. Maybe the Gola Resh playing games, now that we knew she was alive.
Setting my jaw, I dug my fingers into my arms. The serpent tattoos that coiled around my biceps and forearms twitched.
Hord inclined his head, his tone even more serious. "The other matter is that we cannot contain word of the queen's return for long. There are already rumors because of what magically inclined Kropelkians felt. The seers have been speaking of it, and there was enough knowledge from all of this to prompt one of the factions to try and end her life. The only reason my men were able to intervene and help at all was because we heard Kine’s and Elias’s distress calls."
I leaned back against the cold stone wall. Though it looked slick, it was dry. Strong and secure as this fortress was, it was useless when it came to protecting Stella.
"No. We don’t change our stance so far as the people go. We may have to inform the council, but they will be sworn to keep it secret. The more people who know she lives before this curse is ended, the more who may choose to take it into their own hands," I said.
"We should increase the guards on you as well—"
A sneer twisted my mouth. "It doesn't matter. Any assassin who comes I will deal with as I have dealt with the others."
Hord inclined his head to the side, concern etched into his usually stoic features.
I continued, not allowing him the time to interrupt. "As for the current prisoners…have they said anything else?"
"Nothing we didn't already guess or know," Hord said. "I recommend you rest—Brandt!"
I had already crossed to the door. They'd tried to kill Stella. Maybe I couldn't protect her from everything. I could barely protect her from myself, but I could get vengeance on them for daring to harm her.
Flinging the door aside, I continued out to the landing and then down into the inner dungeon. The dungeon itself wasmade of long halls with narrow cubicles, every inch of the stone drenched in the essence of silence. No screams could penetrate these doors or walls, even if someone stood just on the other side.
