Page 76 of Of Serpents and Ruins
"And who knows where Arjax and Lorna are," Dromar muttered.
Brandt released a slow breath as he drew his hand over his mouth. "The Wild Lands. Reasonably, assume three or four days to get there with the currents and wind staying average. Two if we're lucky. At least a day with Arjax and Lorna, either because of delays or getting the timing right for the Keening Pass. One day to return if we draw the ships ourselves and take the Keening Pass. Half a day to get to the Ember Lord's Crest. Then however much time is needed for the ceremony. The Great Axe is more straightforward as long as whoever gets it can navigate the labyrinth. It’s a day and a half there, a day and a half back. Maybe half a day for the labyrinth."
"It's not an overly complicated ceremony," Tile said. "One simply gathers the items and reagents together and throws them in the center of the Ember Lord's Crest in the primary chasm. You might call it the heart of the heart. It's impossible to miss with the sulfur and caldride essence forming that outer circle and turning it such a bright shade of blue."
Thunder rumbled outside, distant but growing steadily louder, matching the ominous beat of my heart.
The councilor with red lips leaned forward. "What is the likelihood that the Gola Resh knows this and is trying to find the location of these items or remove them from their holdings?"
"So long as whoever has assisted the Gola Resh is not in this room, I would say little chance," Tile said. He cast another long look around the room, his gaze fixed on his fellow council members. "And I trust these men and women. Even in our darkest hour, none of us would side with the Gola Resh because we all know that to do so would mean certain death for all in Sepeazia. There is no escaping that truth."
Grunts and murmurs followed. Some appeared ashamed. The words struck deep.
My gaze drifted back to Brandt. His expression remained stoic, his gaze set on a few of the council members beyond Candy, his jaw set.
Thunder cracked loudly outside, making me jump. Scarlet squawked in disapproval and buried her face against my neck. A relentless drumming pounded against the walls. Rain. The steady roar reminded me of late summer nights.
"Bad storm," one of the men robed in blue said.
"Bad omens," a woman clad in black and red countered.
The door creaked open, the sounds of the worsening weather intensifying. An attendant in silver entered with a large square box. Dromar and Osvar murmured their disapproval. All the rest were indifferent.
Brandt indicated me with a casual wave of his hand, though he did not look at me. "Return the ring to our queen," he said.
The attendant approached me, his footsteps echoing in the tense silence of the chamber. He held the carved wooden box reverently in his hands. Scarlet sat up straighter, tilting her head as if contemplating nipping him.
The attendant offered it to me, not moving within Scarlet’s reach. "Your ring," he said, bowing his head as he opened the box.
My breath caught. Nestled inside on a bed of black velvet lay a silver-white ring with a single blue line along its sides.
Dozens of memories raced through my mind. The cold of the silver. The blue arcs of energy. The sting and ache of transformation. Echoes of the previous Stella and her water serpent form who had once been and who might yet be.
Steadying the box with one hand, I lifted the ring out with the other. My skin prickled with goose bumps almost at once. Slipping it onto my finger was the most natural thing in the world. It settled into place. My blood heated.
For the space of a breath, the blue line glowed, burning with magic.
Everyone was watching me, but Brandt’s attention was all I cared about. Looking up, I met his intense, dark-red gaze. Slowly, I held up my hand and spread my fingers.
Brandt’s jaw tightened as he lifted his chin. The barest hint of a smile played at his lips.
Heat flared through me. Oh, that man. By all that was—
Scarlet nipped my finger, her teeth scraping my skin and the metal.
A startled yelp escaped my lips. She peered up at me indignantly. I scowled at her. She bobbed her head again as if what she was demanding was obvious.
Little bratty empress indeed. I stroked a line down her neck as she settled again. One thing was certain. Nothing killed the hazy seduction of romance like a mini raptor biting you.
Brandt cleared his throat. "Councilor Tile, ensure that a list is prepared of the necessary reagents and everything else that will be required for this ceremony. We will separate and send forces to retrieve each item. The meeting point and timing will be designated among the parties involved. No one is to speak of this outside of these walls or anywhere the Gola Resh may hear of it."
My eyebrows lifted a little as I continued to stroke Scarlet. The Gola Resh had been able to send her cursed hourglass into this place. Auntie Runa had secured the sanctuary from her as well, but that hadn’t kept the lid over the well from jostling off and the Gola Resh somehow getting up through there. The truth was that none of us fully knew what we were dealing with. Who was to say she wouldn’t surprise us yet again?
Brandt then dismissed several of the council members. All that remained were myself, Elias, Kine, Hord, Candy, Tile, and three others I did not know.
Once they had gone, Brandt resumed speaking. "Hord, you and Candy will take three whom you trust to find the Great Axe. You will also see to it that guards are stationed at random throughout the castle to ensure that the Goblet remains protected without drawing direct attention to it. Tile, you must ensure that every other aspect is prepared. Kine, you may choose whoever you like to go with you to retrieve the spear from Arjax and Lorna in the Wild Lands. The ships can be readied as soon as the storm ceases. Stella, I would ask that you go with him. You may not remember them yet, but Arjax and Lorna were friends of ours. I'd also appreciate you considering remaining here for the night so that you can depart early in the morning."
The thunder cracked even louder, shaking the castle like a giant’s footstep.
