Page 106 of The Cerulean Sister
The emperor ignores her and turns to the side, as if Lord Hollis is standing next to him, speaking in his ear like he always did. A habit that he realizes and corrects with a scowl. "We have lost too many to let the details of our worlds’ differences keep us from protecting the stones. We united to retrieve them, and we unite again to protect them. I will not be the first emperor who fails to keep them safe during a conjunction."
Then Emperor Mathias's eyes focus on something at the entrance of the grand hall. He squints and then stands up straighter, adjusting the small amount of strictly decorative armor that adorns his lavish clothing.
I turn to the opening, where guards line the enormous entry painted in black, hollow shadows.
Gasps echo as a few of the priestesses turn to look as well, like they see something no one else does.
And then my eyes adjust, and I see it too.
The flames of giant torches lick the armor of Viathans standing in formation. The armor of more than a dozen is as black as the shadows, only picking up the glow of the flames on the surfaces of their visors and some of the details of their weapons.
They are as silent as if they truly are made of shadow themselves, standing and waiting for entry. I have lived with them all around me, but even I feel a little uneasy at the sight of the perfectly still picture that has been present without our knowledge until a candle reflection hit one of their armors just right.
The emperor greets them, and even the first step of the Viathan in front is silent. He walks steadily up the long grand hall between the platforms of priestesses on either side, all watching in silence. I recognize him immediately, the piece of fabric at his back, the more ornate metal carving on his shoulder.
The lord general.
When I see 99 next to him, equally large but less adorned in polished, cumbersome armor, my stomach flips. It is clear who brutally fought today and who gave instructions.
99's walk up the pathway is more intimidating somehow, a slow prowl like when he arrives to his destination, he will attack.
The lord general is diplomatic and calm, and the entire rest of the group walks at his pace. I can see the curved breastplateof Commander Yeva and wonder if one of the commanders on either side of her is Commander Wesley.
They all walk in the same steps of the person next to them, coordinated and deadly in appearance.
"Emperor Matthias." The lord general bows his head as he reaches the dais and halts.
"Lord General."
"Emperor Matthias," 99 says with gritted teeth and no bow.
"Cosima thanks you for your swift intervention," the emperor starts.
"The Estate is secure. A minor number of hostages will be questioned. The stones are secure as well," the lord general continues.
"Yes, of course the stones are secure, Lord General. They are in our temple, being protected by the priestess order. While you were wielding your guns at peasants turned First Son’s followers, we were defending First Mother’s stones," Crixa snaps, saying all her thoughts in one long breath and leaving her red-faced and desperately needing air by the end of it.
"And must the priestess order be present now? Seems foolish to have them all in the same room." 99's tone is so challenging, Crixa steps forward.
He glances down the line of lesser priestesses and then to the platform on my side. The almost invisible tension in his fist when his helmet points in my direction then keeps going tells me he spoke those words on purpose, to distract her and give himself a reason to look at us in disgust. To confirm if I am in here too.
"You may use our cells for the hostages," the emperor announces.
"What value does questioning them have, Lord General? We know why they are here, why they want to destroy the stones," Crixa pushes.
It seems every world has their version of what would happen if the stones were destroyed by First Son. I was always told that if the stones were destroyed, First Mother would never wake again. In the Viathan library, I found a book that stated we would be in permanent conjunction, that the worlds would stop orbiting and stay in darkness for all of time.
Crixa believed our gifts would be taken away as punishment, that she could feel hers increasing when the stones were near each other, so it only made sense that the opposite would be true. But all worlds agree that if the stones are destroyed, all hope of First Mother waking from her slumber will be destroyed with them, any chance of our worlds coming together again dying.
I have every confidence that the priestess order and the Viathan fleet will keep the stones safe, so I do not have to refocus my attention. It will make little difference if a single priestess secretly veers from the course.
The lord general continues to speak with the emperor of strategy, of how they plan to assist during the rest of the conjunction. Crixa objects often but mostly scowls. The only sentence pulling me away is Crixa mentioning that the priestess order will begin training in the ways of the priestesses of old. That the Viathans are to remain away from the courtyards unless they would like to be used for practice.
I watch 99, his strong back, the way the armor mimics the muscles there. I desperately want to reach out and touch my mind to his, but it is too dangerous.
Crixa is close and her wards are too strong.
He looks over his shoulder as if he felt me involuntarily cast out a tendril to him by just thinking of being connected with him again. I follow the tilt of his head like he knows I am behind him, watching as he listens to our leaders.
