Page 97 of Jeweler to the Blessed
It was no longer just the prince.
I responded as they expected, my heart rate spiking. “I do not.”
As much as I knew the prince was not to be underestimated, at least he played at being the genial royal.
When the doors opened, I knew that version of the prince was nowhere to be found. The room was massive. White marble floors with the same blue and gold swirled pattern of the doors spread out before me. Alcoves similar to those at Forest’s Edge lined the room. The curtains, a material thicker than the sheer ones I was used to, alternated between the same gold and blue of the floor. A chasm for me to cross—the room was empty save for more guards.
My gaze was drawn to Prince Elias. He was in a traditional uniform, the same one he’d worn at the Cornucopia, more finely made than Hart’s and of the same bright blue as the hall. For the first time since I’d met him, he didn’t greet me with a grin. He stood at the bottom of the steps leading to a raised dais. When he turned his head toward where his father sat, mine followed.
The throne was gold and covered in gems. Even from the entryway, I could tell they were quartz. The sheer volume of adamas necessary to complete the design would have been untenable to demand. A golden throne wasn’t the threat in this room, though.
King Rodric Glanmore sat in it—waiting to greet me.
29
Her breaking point will be the city. His will be her.
— FROM CHAMPIONS OF KAVIOS
The doors clanged loudly behind me as they closed. The echo cascaded across the length of the marble floor. I had nowhere to go but forward, even though the face that stared back at me was anything but welcoming.
I assumed the Blessed saw King Rodric regularly in situations much like this. I imagined rows of chairs covering the floor. Blessed in attendance to show their gratitude and hear their king’s words. Monthly sessions for the Blessed to mingle with royalty. Those without magic invited would have found themselves behind the curtains with a Blessed needing to take. Not even Serena attempted to garner an invitation to these events. She said she was quite happy with the pleasurebrought from Forest’s Edge. There was no need to add impressing royalty into the mix.
King Rodric did not look impressed at my approach.
I should have assumed this was coming. Alaric had missed a meeting with the king on the day he disappeared. It was the reason Vaddon had found me. The thought inserted itself into my mind like a rude guest.
Vaddon drew my gaze as I crossed the chasm of a room with slow steps. I pressed my hands against my side to stop myself from twitching. I need not show how nervous I was. Even if they needed me—even if the prince had forbidden anyone from taking from me—all bets were off with the king.
Better not to give him a reason to try.
The king’s advisor was with the guards. Even farther removed from the dais than Prince Elias. He apparently couldn’t stop his arms from folding over his chest at my approach.
I swallowed and continued my strides across the marble floor. My focus was on the only question worth answering. What did the king want with me? Was this truly to test my skills with the adamas?
He sat stalwart on his throne, cutting an imposing figure. One hand scratched at the silver-flecked beard on his face, and the other draped lazily over the armrest. The magic of the Blessed was at Rodric’s disposal, but still, he let his hair gray. It was an interesting move. One I assumed was intended to further impress his power. The salt and pepper color didn’t make him look old but refined. Where the prince inspired love and joy from the citizens of Kavios, the king used his legend. He’d built this city with his father two hundred years ago. He let his age show to inspire confidence, fear, and loyalty for all he’d donesince then.
Too bad the rest of the city didn’t know what he really did to them.
Finally, my gaze moved to the crown atop King Rodric’s head. Eight triangle points topped the gold circlet. What stole my focus was the gem fixed to the center triangle … it was glowing.
Green light filled the room. He hadn’t yet spoken and already wasted the adamas’s stored magic. If nothing else, the king was confident in his ability to harvest more.
The king studied me just as intently as I did him. I took care not to let my gaze linger on the gem’s color. They knew I could find the adamas. I didn’t know what else they knew about my abilities. Giving them more information to lord over me was not my goal.
“You’re right, Elias.” King Rodric didn’t bother to glance at his son. “She does appear to have Alaric’s spark.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but the king’s voice exuded confidence.
My steps slowed, and I attempted a curtsy. It wasn’t much better than the one I’d tried in the prince’s study.
“Rise, child,” he said. “Do you know why you’re here?”
The green glow of the ring didn’t falter.
I glanced at the prince and gripped the satchel still slung across my body. “I understood I needed to provide the adamas to Prince Elias before the Presentation.”
I didn’t want to leave anything out lest he think his magic wasn’t working.
