Page 196 of The Eye of the Fifth
Kyra’s gaze snapped back to the Empress. Anger coursed through her, unchecked. ‘Youmutilatedan innocent just to get me here. Could you not have put whatever bullshit you want to spew in a letter?’
‘And have Naal Westerra intercepting it before it got to you? Or poison your mind with preconceived notions of what I want from you?’
‘I don’t need Naal’s influence to know a cunt when I meet one.’
Silence crashed between them. Everyone in the room appeared not to breathe at her harsh words, their eyes darting to their ruler, fearful of how she might react to such disrespect. Kyra could have sworn she caught a ghost of a smile on the solemn face of the beautiful, noble female adorned in silver to the Empress’ left.
Azar simply cocked her head to one side. An asp assessing its prey. ‘No… I do not imagine you to be easily influenced, Kyraena. Quite the opposite, in fact. If anyone is the influencer, it is you.’ For the first time, her burning attention landed on Gedeon. ‘Nothing to say, Gedeon? No empty words of undying loyalty for your queen this time?’
Beside Kyra, Gedeon was very still. ‘I have since learnt to reserve my loyalty to those who have earned it, not demand it.’
That irked her. More than any scathing words Kyra had flung her way. ‘Treasonous fool,’ the Empress hissed. ‘You too, are predictable, my son. I knew there was only one way I would get you back in this room. And that reason is standing right beside you.’
Kyra glanced sideways at Gedeon, and saw cold fury on his face. And something else, something… pained. ‘You knew I would follow her.’
‘I did.’
Mother and son stared at one another for a long while, as though some understanding passed between them. Eventually, Gedeon said tightly, ‘Why, then? Why are we here?’
‘I have never divulged information without purpose, even unto you,’ the Empress said. ‘But alas… theneed to knowhas never been more crucial than at this very moment. Let there be no more secrets between us, Gedeon.’
She stood, the flames dancing on every inch of the famed Black Throne vanishing. ‘You may recall,’ she began, ‘that I have known of Kyraena Daeiros, and the power bestowed upon her, since her birth. That she would play an integral role in the unfolding of my plans. You may also recall that I toldyou,Gedeon, Prince of Fire, Master of Darkness, that your involvement was also imperative.’ A strange excitement emanated from her now. ‘Allow me to show you why.’
Wisping tentacles started around the Empress’ wrists, then distended toward them, unravelling into scenes that shifted with each prophetic line she uttered:
‘Four there are, connected as one,
But when Light and Dark come together, then will it be undone.
A male of Fire, of Night and royal blood,
Must await she who ignites an ancient spark.
For when the Earth cracks and the Sun hides behind the moon,
Then shall she of light and land be born.
Rage will blind and tear down what is known,
For her power to come forth to take its throne.
Bonded must Earth and Fire be,
For Light and Dark to once more be free.
Four there are, connected as one,
And the Fifth shall watch as it is undone.’
The words were kindling to a lost memory. An ethereal voice had sung them to Kyra, desperate for her to understand. As earth and sun barrelled and tore through her body in that alleyway all those months ago, had that voice been the Earth Mother’s? Had it been Roheia’s desperate warning of what was to come?
Kyra had seen herself in the Empress’ strange smoking scenes. She’d seen the day she was born, watched as a quake tore through Avaldale in the darkness of an eclipse. She’d seen herself as a baby, cradled in her mother’s arms whilst a younger, firm-faced Win peered down at her. Then she was older, spattered with mercenaries blood, breathing into the ground as power ignited every cell in her shaking body.
She’d seen Gedeon too. Not as he was now, not as she’d come to know him. But as the prince the world thought him to be. A young prince running away from his golden-haired brother. An older, adolescent prince wielding deadly flames, killing, killing, killing at his queen’s behest.
Another scene showed the moment Kyra had met him in the Council Room in Gallena’s Temple, just weeks ago. She didn’t know whatpower the Empress possessed to be able to recall such things. All she could do was stare at herself and Gedeon in that smoking scene. Just stare and stare and stare as she watched their eyes lock. Watched them look at each other as though nothing and no one in the entire world beyond them existed.
Dread, icy and merciless, sluiced through Kyra then.
