Page 151 of The Oracle of Dusk

“None of that excuses the horrors you allowed Epicasta to suffer! That you allowed so many to suffer! You could have saved Epicasta from the harms done to her and Hyllus!”

Aurora stood her ground, her shouting no doubt rousing some of the sleeping clerics.

“If I had, it would have been at the expense of Viridis! When Epicasta demonstrated the ability to manage her mother, I knew she had to be encouraged to become the next queen—through any means necessary. Now Viridis’ only hope has run away with a handsome nobody made avatar. You think you set her free? You allowed her to shirk the only duty she was born to, all so she can galivant across Trisia with a man whose divine mission puts him in harm’s way. She’s in constant jeopardy as long as she remains by his side. You were a fool, blinded by your naïve heart.”

She felt the sting of guilt then. Had she actually done the wrong thing? How could causing suffering ever be the right thing to do?

“Is this what you came here for? To make excuses and insult me for having a heart at all?”

Orithyia stamped her cane on the floor in a fit of pique.

“I came here to give you the truth, and the chance to seize power. I’m giving you the opportunity to do the first intelligent thing you’ll do since you were sent here. I’m offering you the chance to be more than just an ornamental queen bound to a lying king.”

So now she sought to sow divisions between her and Theron? Aurora ground her teeth.

“I’m not interested in your slander. Theron is a good man who sacrificed his life for me! While you and Flora have thrown your worst at me, he was there to protect me! I won’t stand here and listen to you insult his character!”

Aurora marched passed Orithyia, reining in the urge to throw the punch she so richly deserved. When Aurora was a few steps from the edge of the courtyard, Orithyia spoke.

“I found your beast, this bringer of calamity. Your Drakon.”

Aurora stopped in her tracks, her breath hitching.

“Where?” Aurora spun around. “Where is he?” she asked, grabbing Orithyia’s slender, bony wrists.

“In Aureum,” she answered, pushing Aurora’s hands off her. “And there is more than one.” Orithyia dipped a hand into the pocket of her robe and withdrew a scroll, sealed with the insignia of Knowledge’s temple. She pressed it into Aurora’s greedy hands.

Aurora tore the seal and opened the scroll. Inside, detailed images of great serpents, each with a unique set of horns atop their scaly heads. The images were painted with colour, naming a few, notes on their size scribbled in the margins. Other details, like what they ate and how often, where they’d been spotted and more littered the pages. Except Drakon’s image was not among them. Her heart sank as a cold sweat ran down her neck. Merciful Triad, there were so many of them. Was Drakon simply the last one of these beasts left standing at the end of the first cycle of calamity? Would she and Hyllus be forced to fight them all? One great serpent was bad enough. There were dozens detailed here.

“They’re in Aureum. None of them can fly yet, as far as my informants are aware, but Batea is rumoured to be altering them for that purpose. Batea is your husband’s cousin, by the way, and his most trusted general and acting queen of Aureum in his absence. Her magic allows her to create chimeras. She would not have been creating these creatures without the king’s knowledge or express permission. He has lied to you, Aurora.”

Aurora’s knees gave out and she slumped to the ground, crumpling the scroll in her hand. Hot tears ran down her cheeks. Her heart threatened to shatter.

“No,” she whispered, her voice cracking.

It wasn’t possible. This must be some ruse, some trick.

“You can ask any of the Aurean soldiers staying here in the temple. They would have been selected from the ranks of your husband’s most trusted. They will confirm that Batea’s kennels contain these very same beasts.”

Aurora spotted an acolyte wandering the halls.

“You!” she called.

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Bring one of the Aurean soldiers here, as quickly as you can.”

The acolyte’s eyes widened with alarm at her state. She bowed and raced off. Aurora held herself as still as she could. Theron wouldn’t lie to her. Not about this. They were fated—meant to walk the path of life together. To find love in each other’s arms. He knew how vital her mission was. He had some inkling of what Drakon had taken from her. And he’d promised to help her slay the beast. To put every resource of his kingdom at her disposal. This must be some mistake, some clever lie on Orithyia’s part.

Aurora didn’t even notice the soldier marching up towards her, so lost in her thoughts as she was. He knelt before her.

“Your Majesty? What’s happened? Please, allow me to—”

Aurora pushed the scroll at the soldier.

“Do you recognise any of these beasts?” she asked, her voice brittle.

The soldier took the scroll from her and eyed it.

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