Page 80 of The Divine Shallows
“As you command.”
King Eamon began writing on a parchment, pausing briefly. “Be prepared to influence her judgment through the tether if I deem it necessary to intervene.”
Finnor’s mind flickered with uncertainty, but his sense of duty quelled his unease. “As you wish, my king.”
Elowyn stoodbefore the cherry-stained doors of her sister’s chambers, her fingers wrapped around the teardrop-shaped gem that hung from her neck. Its magical hum was gentle, yet powerful, awaiting its other half just beyond the wooden entrance. Elowyn hadn’t spoken to her sister since before theVitus, knowing that Elyria sought solace in silence.
Still, she couldn’t resist the urge to seek her out.
She raised her fist and rapped on the door, the sharp sound echoing through the empty corridors of the castle.
“Elyria? It’s me. Can I come in?” Silence greeted her, stretching uncomfortably as Elowyn shifted nervously on her feet. “I understand if you’re not up for visitors, but I wanted to check on you before the Seventh Day. I just want to make sure you’re all right.”
Attempting to open the door, she found it firmly sealed, protected by various wards. Despite her efforts, it remained closed, impervious to her touch—no one could enter unless Elyria willed it.
“What if we just lay together and do nothing? I promise not to leave any crumbs on your silk sheets,” she added, attempting to lighten the mood with a joke. But the silence that followed felt heavier than before, weighing down on herwith a sense of defeat.
With a resigned sigh, Elowyn turned away, the distant echo of her footsteps mingling with the silence of the castle halls.
As she retreated from her sister’s chambers, the opal gem nestled beneath her collarbone protested, silently urging her to go back. Elowyn tightened her grip on the gem as if it would comfort the stone. The necklace had always served as a constant connection to her sister, but it would soon become a marker for her absence.
Elowyn did her best to suppress her gloomy aura.
Tonight was the night where her sister entered the Trial of Caena, and it felt too soon.
28
Crossing of Kin
The Seventh Dayunfolded in Erimead, the final of the seven kingdoms to host the Ceremony. Situated adjacent to Eriden, Erimead was only separated by a large channel of water that divided the mountainous territories. Despite being neighboring kingdoms, Elowyn had ventured to Erimead only a handful of times during the years.
King Balt and Queen Nyra Blackbane ruled this realm, blessed with twin sons near Elowyn’s age: Prince Lox and Prince Llyr Blackbane. They both possessed hair of silken onyx, but the one defining feature that separated their otherwise mirrored appearance was their eyes. Lox had a pair of sapphire blue eyes while Llyr had one eye of sapphire-blue and the other of emerald-green.
Eyes of which Lyra would not stop droning on and on about.
“Llyr is simplydivine. Just imagine how perfect the names Llyr and Lyra would be together? It feels like fate,” Lyra gushed, her hands clasped beneath her chin. “And yet, Lox carries this heavenly-yet-mysterious allure that sets him apart. Don’t you agree?”
“They’re twins, Lyra,” Elowyn remarked matter-of-factly, meeting her friend’s gaze squarely. “They’re practically identical.”
“Well, aren’t you a bore now that you’ve already found your prince. Let me indulge in my fantasies then,” Lyra shot back.
“By all means, daydream away! I wouldn’t dare to disrupt your desires,” Elowyn grinned. Softening her tone, she added, “Either of the princes of Erimead would be fortunate to have you, Lyra.”
Lyra straightened her posture, arms crossed over her chest. “At least you’ve come to your senses at last.” Then, a spark ignited in her eyes as she continued, “Oh! I’m not usually one for gossip, but have you heard about the chatter brewing among the fey of Erimead? It appears they’re quite divided over which heir will be chosen as the Blackbane candidate by the High Priestess tonight. Only one can be selected, isn’t that dreadful?”
Elowyn found herself puzzled by Lyra’s remark, as she had never given it much consideration, but there was truth in her table talk. Only one of the Blackbane twins could be named as a divine candidate for the upcoming Trial. It was a gut-wrenching circumstance, particularly if the brothers shared the close bond they appeared to have. She wondered if it caused any strain between them.
“Right, only one can…” Elowyn’s voice trailed off, her thoughts lingering on the weight of the situation.
As twins, the Blackbane princes had been compared to each other since birth. However, once one of them was chosen as a divine candidate over the other, an undeniable shift in their status would occur. The first of them to receive the final Mark will cleave the divide between the two; a permanent reminder to the other that the difference between them no longer lied in the color of their eyes.
Lyra continued in a hushed tone. “And there’s speculation that the son chosen as the divine candidate tonight will also be declared the Crown Prince of Erimead. How awful for the other prince! To lose a throne for a reason beyond their control seems unjust.”
“A fate decided by the Moon Goddess is rarely fair,” Elowyn expressed crossly.
Lyra’s hand flew to her mouth in horror. “Oh, Elowyn. I didn’t mean to bring up anything untoward. Please forgive me. Moons, sometimes I speak without thinking and end up making a fool of myself.”
“Lyra, you have nothing to apologize for,” Elowyn reassured her friend, reaching out to place a comforting hand on her arm. Then, with a playful smirk, she added, “Now, if you’re interested, I can introduce you to Lox and Llyr. Since you mentioned it, I must admit that the names Llyr and Lyra do seem to complement each other quite nicely.”
