Page 47 of A Fate Unwoven
Lena cocked her head. “Such as?”
“Such as getting you some appropriate attire—followed by a tour of the grounds, and a lesson on what will be expected of you as the empire’s Fateweaver.”
Just the thought of doing all that was exhausting. She envisioned the tunnels beneath the palace, of the ancient symbols etched into stone. The sooner she started training to use her power, the sooner she could uncover what they meant and find a way out of this Sisters-damned palace.
But seeming too eager would only raise the prince’s suspicion of her. She needed him to think her compliant. A willing vessel for him to mold and shape as he saw fit.
Still, there was one thing she needed to make sure of first.
“Alright. But what about my … friends?” she asked, the word strangely heavy on her tongue. There was no doubt Maia was still her friend, but Finæn …
She didn’t know what Finæn was to her anymore.
Dimas blinked, as if he’d forgotten about their existence for a moment. “What about them?”
Still fragile from the onslaught of the Fateweaver’s magic, Lena didn’t bother to hide her annoyance. “Your deal with Finæn. He gets to be a guard now, right?”
“Yes, he began his training at sunrise.”
“And Maia?” Lena asked, hating how her voice cracked. “Did she see your healer?”
Dimas’s expression softened somewhat. “She did. Her head wound is healing well. As for her lungs and heart … they are still fragile, but as long as she paces herself and takes the medicinal herbs prescribed to her, she should see some improvement in her condition.”
Lena didn’t bother to hide her relief. Her shoulders sagged, some of the tension leaving her. “Good. That’s … good. Where is she?”
“She has requested to study alongside ourZværnanovitiates,” the prince said, his voice oddly soft. “She said she wanted to help you learn to control your abilities however she could, and Iska kindly offered to take her under her wing. She’s already moved into their dormitories.”
Lena’s eyes stung. Having Maia studying the Fateweaver’s power would help, but the thought of involving Maia in her plan, of putting Maia in danger, made something in Lena’s chest ache. She would keep Maia out of it—at least until Lena knew Venysa was telling the truth.
Lena’s train of thought was broken when the door to the reception room opened, revealing the tall figure of a robed man with dark copper hair.
“Your Majesty,” the newcomer said, stepping into the room and bowing his head to Dimas. His robes were more extravagant than Iska’s.The silver details were more intricate, weaving around the sleeves and the hem in a variety of patterns, and there was a pin of Næbya’s symbol on his left breast. His lips parted as his gaze landed on Lena, his hands coming together in a gesture of prayer. “Your Worship.”
“Lady Lenora, this is Brother Dunstan. He’ll be overseeing yourtraining.” Dimas made a point of emphasizing the wordtraining.His meaning was clear: this man was important to her progress, to controlling her unpredictable magic.
“It’s … nice to meet you.” She hoped he couldn’t hear the lie in her voice.
It felt strange to stand before a priest dedicated to the worship of the goddess who had betrayed her people’s matron deities. Although, she supposed it was no stranger than having that goddess’s magic running through her veins.
“There is some reading you must do before we can begin your training,” Brother Dunstan said, gesturing to the pile of tomes in Iska’s arms. “It’s important you understand the …truehistory of this empire, and your role in it.”
True according to who?
Her dream of Venysa’s past rose in her mind, along with Casimir’s words the night she’d fled:There’s a lot about this empire people don’t know. A lot they don’twantpeople to know.
Dimas was watching her closely, and Lena focused on keeping a lid on her emotions as Ioseph whispered something into the prince’s ear. Dimas gave a small nod in response, his cheeks turning slightly pink.
“I’m afraid I must leave you,” he said. “Iska will prepare you for the royal tailor’s arrival. The staff have been made aware of your presence, but … it’s important they don’t learn of your …”
“Heresy?” Lena offered helpfully.
Dimas winced. “Yes. As far as they and the rest of the empire are concerned, you’re from a village a few miles east of here, and Maia andFinæn’s family took you in as a young girl. You were handed over to the village temple a few years later, when yourboda’sabilities began to show. All three of you worship Næbya, and it is an honor to have been chosen as the next Fateweaver.” He paused, looking at her uncertainly. “Do you think you can convince them of that?”
She clenched her hands into fists. It took everything she had to nod in acknowledgment. “I’ll do my best.”
Lena hated the idea of having to hide such a huge part of herself, but if it meant breaking her bond with Dimas and freeing her people from the Fateweaver’s cruelty, then she would do it.
Dimas let out a breath of relief. “Thank you. We shall leave you to it, then. Iska will return for you once you have finished with our royal tailor, Vivika.”
