Page 58 of Consort's Dragon
“What if Zhos sends more assassins?”
“It won’t.Zhos has no power here.”
“You sound very certain.”
“Because I am.The viziers have long protected this place.”
“How can that be if you only recently met them?”
“Apparently, they’ve been here this entire time, living within the volcano itself, hidden from most.Only the caretakers who travel here monthly to check on the shrine were aware, if unable to speak of it.”
“Unable?They were threatened?”
“More like silenced with magic.Although, when I did find out, it explained why the caretakers seemed to transport an inordinate amount of food when they visited.”
“Does the volcano get many visitors?”
“No.This is considered a sacred location used only for special ceremonies by my family.”
“That seems surprising.I thought this shrine was the home for your country’s religion.”
“A religion that didn’t gain in popularity until my viziers finally emerged from their self-imposed exile.Seeing what they did for me brought many into the fold.It helped that our years of ill luck changed almost overnight.”He confirmed what Prielli had confided to Avera.
“Did your viziers have something to do with that?”
He shrugged.“I couldn’t say for sure.However, belief can be a powerful thing.”
They neared the building and Avera assessed the metal exterior, rusted in spots as well as dusty.She felt a shiver go through her despite the warm air.The shrine stood several stories high, and while wide compared to a home, seemed narrow given its height.The doorway, also made of metal, sat well above her head and required stairs to reach.She saw no windows at all.
They dismounted, with Titus handing the reins to one of the soldiers who’d ridden in on the carriage.The soldier rode Avera’s mount while leading Titus’ back the way they’d come, his pace fast, the late afternoon sun making him hurry.Avera tried to not worry about the fact she’d been effectively stranded.Sure, Titus stood by her side, but should things go wrong, there would be no quick escape.The viziers, who’d disembarked from the carriage, didn’t seem bothered at all when their transport left.It didn’t ease Avera’s trepidation.
Once more Titus read her mind.“Fear not.Once everything is over and it’s safe to cross, they’ll return for us.”
But would they be alive?Hard to not fear when she saw how close two of the channels ran to the keep.Would they be enough to keep the lava from engulfing the shrine?She’d seen in Verlora what happened to buildings that stood in the magma’s path.And what of the heat and ash?How would they breathe without being poisoned?
“Let’s go inside.”He grabbed her by the hand and led her up the stairs into the building.
Stepping over the threshold tightened every muscle in her body even though she couldn’t have said why.The inside proved brighter than expected despite the lack of windows, the space illuminated by cloudy gems embedded in the walls.
Avera reached out to brush her fingertips over one, finding it cool to the touch.“What kind of lights are those?”
Klothi replied, “Those are beryllonite gems imported centuries ago from Pequilh.While usually considered useless by most, it takes but a little injected magic to have them glow.”
The lack of smoke from them proved pleasant, as did their clarity.Avera could see the space in all its grand detail.The area they’d entered was large, the entire space open and several stories high.A staircase wound around the walls and when she craned, she noticed it went through the ceiling.
Titus leaned close to murmur, “It leads to the top floor of the tower where there are a few rooms for those spending the night, as well as access to the roof.”
“We have to climb all that way to go to bed?”
“It is where we will spend most of our time.This floor is mostly for ceremonies such as weddings.”
His remark drew her gaze to the only piece of furniture: a long, solid stone altar.
“Where would people sit?”she asked.
“They don’t.The marriage ceremony has them standing for the entirety.Luckily, it’s not too long.”
“You married all your wives here?”
