Page 56 of The Eye of the Fifth
He’d seen her again. Standing on a ship with the wind whipping her thick hair about her heart-shaped face.
Why? Why was the Goddess connecting them so?
But then she’d faded, and he was elsewhere. In a hellscape of promised death.
Through shadows and wisps that had no end, Gedeon ran, following the sound of a male voice that pleaded with an enemy. Over and over and over again.
It wasn’t darkness like his own. Not a homely, comforting blanket of blackness. No… it was lethal, impure shadows that threatened to envelop him and never set him free, never allow him to see the sun again, or fill his lungs with sweet breath.
The male was going to die and he knew it; Gedeon could hear it in his voice, but no matter how fast he ran, or which direction he turned, he couldn’t find him. Could not save him from his deadly fate.
‘Wake him.’
The wisps stirred at another voice, as if it called them home. Shadows began to lift and Gedeon looked around frantically for the male. If he could see, if he could just see through the smoke, he could save him, he would not have to die after all-
Magic that was not his own tingled through his body, setting his cells alive, bringing him back to a world that was not consumed by smoke…
His eyes flickered open.
Upon the flaming black throne was his mother, clad in a thunderous grey gown and staring down at him, her expression unreadable. He was on his knees, and as he fully awakened, the spell that had been holding him upright was lifted.
Sekun moved from his side to stand by the Empress, hands gripped behind him, chest puffed with importance. His sneering face was set with sickening retribution.
Hot anger coursed through Gedeon upon realising his brother had kept him unconscious for theentirejourney back to Zarynth. The wound from the arrow twinged underneath his bloodied shirt as he slowly stood.
Sentries lined the Throne Room, but not one of them looked his way. None apart from Sunsi, who was impossibly still at the Empress’ other side, her hard gaze fixed on him. Duchess Ysabell stood next to her, staring down at the floor.
Gedeon lifted his wrists to his mother. ‘No chains?’
Her eyes flashed. ‘You are not a prisoner.’
‘Then why am I on trial?’
Her glare was cutting. ‘Your brother tells me you could not do as I asked. You… would notdo as I asked.’
The flaming blue, smoldering city assaulted his mind’s eye. He blinked it away. ‘I would not do it,’ he said slowly, ‘because it was wrong.’
The Empress’ fingers gripped the throne arms so hard they turned white. ‘How can I expect my legions to follow me into war, if my own son will not obey a simple command?’
‘And how can you expect the entire world to bow to your new proposed order if you destroy innocents in cold blood?’ he countered recklessly.
Silence followed. The whole room seemed to hold their breath.
Gedeon took a defiant step forward. ‘Iamwith you, mother. I serveyou,my blood, my queen. My flame and sword are yours and always have been. This is not a betrayal. You knew of my hesitation before we departed. I stand by that doubt now, and implore you to listen. Bethe leader future generations will remember with awe and pride. Show the world your might, your vision,withoutslaughtering those who will one day beyoursubjects.’
Never before had he dared speak to her so plainly. Especially before the eyes of so many others. The room was still silent, save the crackling flames.
She stared at him.
Calculating.
At her side, Sekun’s gaze flicked from her to Gedeon, as though he was inwardly praying she would explode with rage and kill him right there and then.
When the Empress spoke next, her voice was deathly quiet. ‘And you’ll be with me, will you, Gedeon?’
‘Yes.’ He dropped to one knee and bowed his head. ‘I will be by your side through it all, and proud to serve the mighty Empress who united the four continents.’
‘Words,’ she said slowly, ‘are meaningless without action.’
