Page 41 of Tricky Princess
“Only those in the royal family, or close to it, can bring the living here. Like my son’s hound, Garm.”
Ellea turned away from him. The mention of Ros made her question everything. Where was he? Had he just left her here? Azzy reached for her hand, and she recoiled, leaning back in her chair. She didn’t want his pity, so she pulled from the many questions in her mind.
“How do the souls arrive?”
He paused as they looked at each other. “It’s like a light falling from the sky.”
“You would think I would see something like that.”
She couldn’t remember ever seeing anything falling from the sky, but before her gallop across the land, the only time she’d looked outside was through windows.
“It’s faint, and you wouldn’t know what to look for. Only when we have multiple souls coming at one time is it easier to see.”
Multiple souls? The question must have been clear on her face.
“If there was a mass exodus, like during a war, there would be so many souls coming to Hel that the sky would blaze with light. When that happens, we investigate to make sure it wasn’t something supernatural or unplanned.”
She needed coffee if they were going to continue. As though the demon could read her mind, Reaver appeared.
“You’re becoming my favorite person,” Ellea said sweetly as he placed a coffee in front of her and a tea in front of the king. He didn’t say anything, but Ellea could have sworn a small smile spread across his face as he backed out of the room.
“Now that I have sustenance…” She sipped the delicious drink. “The supernatural war was supernatural, though.”
“I mean a supernatural being using their abilities to cause a disaster. Wars are inevitable; a thousand souls being sacrificed because a God got angry is usually unplanned.”
Ellea blinked a few times. “But the Gods are sleeping.”
“Kind of. There hasn’t been any mass casualties caused by the Gods since way before your time and early on in mine. There were two, actually, and they’re why the Gods retired and the kings fully took over.”
Azzy probably would have continued if a flushed Florence hadn’t barreled into his study. She bowed quickly as they both stared at her.
“My king, Ellea”—she took a deep breath—“the other kings are demanding a meeting with you, and they want Ellea. It’s about the soul. Duhne tried to hold it off, but—”
“It’s okay, Florence,” Azzy said. “Drinks to go, darling.”
Ellea rolled her head and glanced to the ceiling.
Fine.
It was only a matter of time.
“Florence, if you could intercept Beelzebub, we can handle the rest.”
She bowed once to him and then mouthed I’m sorry to Ellea before leaving the room.
“Are we both in trouble?” Ellea asked as they headed to the hall, coffee and tea in hand.
“We are far too powerful to ever be in trouble.” His eyes glinted, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
“If only I could have used that when I was younger.”
The confidence Ellea had gathered on their walk to the meeting chambers was quickly turning into a temper tantrum. The room was full of the kings and their advisors. This made Ellea, Sonneillon, and Cara the only women in a room of twenty or so males. The other two ladies were no help, and Ellea felt like she was fighting this all on her own, even with Azzy’s comforting presence. She refused to look back at him as another lord continued his rant about how one soul had led to several asking to be moved, how unrest was sprouting across the territory, and how something needed to be done. She needed to fight this on her own, even if one word from Azzy would quiet the group.
“So what if more souls want to be moved so they can live in peace with those they love?” Ellea’s voice rang over the lord, and he turned toward her with a bored look.
“Child…” He shook his head. “You do not yet understand the ways of this realm, how it has been and always will be. Each soul brings power to the territory it finds peace in. To move them after they arrive goes against the laws of magic, of tradition.”
Don’t blow up the entire room. Don’t turn this into a bloodbath.
