Page 84 of Legacy of the Heirs
Her hand twitched, moving to the dagger at her side. She could prove herself here before the gods—prove she was worthy of her blood, her title, and her realm. The other rulers would not challenge Soren if she had Garridon’s approval. She slid the dagger from its holster, the wooden handle unusually cold against her skin. Her fingers were stiff as she wrapped them around the hilt. Soren’s hand trembled, and she frowned at her body’s betrayal. Scanning the room, Soren ensured each ruler was focused elsewhere as she stepped forward.It could all be mine.Another step.I could make them both proud.She drew back her arm.I could take what he has guided me towards all these years.On the final step, Soren paused as she felt the weight of Garridon’s gaze. She smiled as though already victorious. She went to strike but could not move an inch. Soren frowned, and Garridon gave the slightest shake of his head as the murmuring in the room faded.
“No.”
Soren remained frozen with her hand around the dagger, angled low towards Caellum’s back, as Garridon’s voice entered her mind. Her eyes widened a fraction at the glow in Garridon’s gaze as he paced the room with the other gods once more. She followed him, watching as he inclined his head and narrowed his eyes. Caellum’s head remained bowed, but Sadira moved slowly, glancing from the corner of her eye to where Soren stood.
“Why?”she returned, but he did not answer. Soren winced as she felt claws invade her mind, reaching for the parts kept sacred for the Lord of Night. She tried to resist, yet the hand was demanding, grabbing at every thought she had and clutching her deepest wishes and desires before releasing them and looking for something else.Her head pounded.
“Someone else has been here,”he said. He released her mind from his grasp as he walked past her, forcing her to step back from Caellum. Her back met the stone wall, and she released the grip on her dagger as Garridon turned his back on Soren and stood directly behind Caellum and Sadira, shielding him. Soren frowned and pondered why Garridon would not approve of her reclaiming her rightful place as queen. She was torn between the will of two men: her god, and the man who had guided her for so long. Regardless, she could not risk attacking now, not with the god’s power between her and her target.
“Time—”
“Is—”
“Nearly—”
“Up.”
The gods spoke quickly as light filtered back into the room, highlighting the crack on the table. Their images flickered and ebbed, like they had before they cemented themselves into this world. Soren looked up at the moon slowly creeping from the sun, bringing the sky to life once again. She peered around Garridon’s back at the faces of the rulers, a mixture of frustration and confusion. Soren was indifferent to the prophecy’s outcome, knowing the dark creatures it referenced were controlled by a man who would ensure no harm came to her.
“What more can you tell us?” asked Larelle. “Anything.” she pleaded. Soren looked to where Nerida stood, peering down at her descendant with sympathy. The relationships between each god and ruler were so different. While Keres appeared to approve of Nyzaia, Vala refused to acknowledge Elisara at all. The light in the room radiated, piercing through the gods’ forms, whose eyes widened as they shared a panicked look. Soren was not the only one to notice.
“What’s wrong?” Caellum asked. The image of the gods flickered.
“Prepare—”
“For—”
“War—”
“Death.”
Soren approached the table, trying to get a better look at Garridon as he began to fade.
“Outer—”
“Border—”
“Breached—”
“Beyond the Unsanctioned Isle.” The rulers pushed from their seats, desperate for more information. Sadira shared a panicked look with Caellum, and he rubbed her arm. Soren looked up at the reappearing sun.
“Fourteen days—”
“Fourteen nights—”
“They come to fight—”
“Prepare yourselves.”
A full beam of light streamed into the room as the gods faded, but not before Soren locked eyes a final time with Garridon, who stared intently at her before vanishing completely. Stunned silence fell across the group.Fourteen days.Soren hoped the Lord of Night would return to her dreams before then to prepare her for this time. Perhaps this was her chance to take the throne amid the chaos of war, a war the rulers would not win. Yet when she surveyed the room, there was no denying the unity between the rulers and their closest confidants, as Kazaar comforted Elisara, and Alvan and Larelle spoke in hushed, hurried voices. Farid and Nyzaia stood opposite one another, deep in conversation, and Caellum and Sadira remained seated, holding hands. Soren frowned at the small voice in her mind, reminding her she was alone.
“So, what are we going to do?” Soren asked, breaking the groups from their intimate discussions. They turned to look at her.
“We?” Nyzaia narrowed her eyes.
“The entire realm is at risk, is it not?” asked Soren. “Thatincludes Garridon, my primary focus.” She was not lying, though she cared more about learning their next strategy to reveal it to the Lord of Night when he returned. Perhaps offering him such information would please him and he would allow her to keep her realm.
“They said the outer border beyond the Unsanctioned Isle, which means an attack is coming to Vala or Keres,” Elisara said to the room.
