A Soul For Chaos (The Soulbearer Trilogy) (21 page)

He approached her and bowed his head. “Your Imperial Majesty, I appreciate your invitation.”

“The reason I asked for a private audience, Prince Kell, is so we can speak frankly with one another. For all practical purposes, we are the rulers of our respective nations.”

“Last I heard, my father was alive and in good health.”

“And last I heard, you were named his heir.” She moved away from the map table to a smaller one laden with a bountiful breakfast tray. “Since there is a good a chance I will outlive him, it is safe to say I will still be Empress when you take the throne.”

He followed her to the table, his stomach growling. With all the excitement surrounding Arden, he didn’t have a chance to eat dinner last night. But protocol demanded he wait until he was invited to fill his plate.

The corner of Marist’s mouth rose, cutting a dimple into her cheek. “Please, break your fast, Prince Kell. It’s much more pleasant to discuss business on a full stomach.”

After she’d placed a few items on a silver plate, he loaded up his own and sat in the chair opposite her. “I must admit, I’ve found the food here to be interesting.”

“Yes, I suppose it’s different from the meat heavy meals you are accustomed to.” She tried to sound pleasant with the small talk, but her penetrating gaze told him she wanted to get down to business. “Now, tell me why you are here.”

A web of magic surrounded him. For a few seconds, he couldn’t move under the force of it. His hand inched to his sword, every muscle in his arm straining. Sweat beaded along his forehead. When his fingers brushed the hilt, the weight lifted off of him. His breaths came hard and heavy.

Despite Marist’s hospitable demeanor, he was decidedly in enemy territory. “What were you trying to achieve with that?”

She peaked one brow. “You noticed?”

“Don’t play innocent with me. You know damn well I noticed.”

She sipped the steaming tea in her cup as though nothing was wrong with her magical attack on him. “Prince Kell, please remember you’re in my presence and refrain from swearing.”

His hand tightened around his sword. It took every ounce of self-control not to draw it. Now he understood why his father refused to have ties with Gravaria. The Empress treated diplomacy like a game where she was the cat, and he was the mouse. “Stop toying with me, then. You said you wanted to talk business, so prove it.”

She set her cup down and placed her hands in her lap. “Very well. It hasn’t escaped my notice that you arrived here under very unusual circumstances.”

“I wanted to keep a low profile.”

“Or perhaps you wanted to slip in here unnoticed and spy on us.”

Her accusation was as sharp as a blade, and he found himself on the defensive. “I have no desire to risk my life spying on you. I’ve made no attempt to deceive you, nor your representatives.”

She leaned her head to the side and pursed her lips together. “A valid point. Perhaps I have jumped to the wrong conclusion.”

“And is that why you made this meeting private? So you could determine if I’m a spy for my father?”

“I admit my initial suspicions were in error, so please, let’s end this hostility and resume our discussion.”

He unwrapped his fingers one by one from this hilt, his eyes never leaving the placid appearing woman across from him. So far, this had been the oddest political meeting he’d ever attended. Of course, none of them had involved magic. Swords, he could handle. The invisible hand the Empress wielded to do her bidding was an entirely different opponent, one he didn’t know how to attack.

“So let me ask you again, Prince Kell. Why are you here?”

“I wish to renew ties between our two nations.”

“You’re lying.” She gave him that same half smile, only this time, it mocked him. “You’re here because of the Soulbearer.”

“I admit, Arden is part of my concern. I wanted to make sure she arrived here safely and would be able to return home when she is done.”

“And your personal feelings have nothing to do with it?” She sipped her tea before adding, “I know she spent the night in your room, even though I ordered her back to her quarters.”

Kell resisted the urge to squirm under her stare. If anyone was guilty of spying, it was her. “Dev asked me to keep her safe, and she was quite comfortable with me.”

She set her cup aside and leaned forward, her hands in front of her on the table. “Do you have any idea what you are dealing with?”

“Since you are being so vague with your question, I can’t answer it.” But his stomach twisted in warning.

“You may be infatuated with the Soulbearer. You may even think you love her. But you are the one toying with forces beyond your control, and she is caught up in them.”

“Are you trying to tell me to stay away from her?”

“I’m afraid your feelings for her have already placed you in danger.” She closed her eyes, and another shower of magic surrounded him. This time, however, it was more soothing than intimidating. “Oh, dear,” she whispered.

Once again, as soon as he touched his sword, the magic vanished. Maybe there was some truth in what Dev was telling him about it. He mentally added a visit to Foresco to his Gravarian agenda. “Is there something you wish to tell me?”

“Love has blinded you to what she has become, to what lives inside her.”

“I know damn well what lives inside her, especially after seeing him take control of her.”

Marist’s eyes snapped open. “You’ve witnessed him taking control of her?”

“Yes, and this Loku is not a very pleasant person.” A shiver coursed through him from the memory of it. “I didn’t believe it at first, but now I have no doubt that she has another being living inside her.”

She stood and went to the window, chewing her bottom lip the way Arden did when she was lost in thought. It was just another striking similarity between two very different women. “Have you noticed any signs of madness in her?”

“None.”

“Very unusual.” She paced the length of the window and back again before returning to him. “I have lived through three Soulbearers, Prince Kell. The last two declined at an alarming rate, which we have attributed to their fragile human nature. But this one seems to be an aberration.”

“Or maybe Arden’s stronger than you give her credit for.”

Her face lengthened into a mournful expression. “For your sake, I hope so. It is not easy to watch insanity consume the Soulbearer.”

The sinking feeling in his gut returned, but with less heaviness. Perhaps Arden needed time not to think about her answer but to see if she would be affected by this madness. Perhaps she wanted to give him time to fully understand what lay ahead of them. Did he have the strength to watch the woman he loved sink into madness? “I pray I never will.”

“Ah, but you will. It is the nature of the burden put upon her. We mortals were not meant to channel the powers of a god, and the process eventually unravels the fabric of the mind. Hence why all the prior Soulbearers eventually slipped into madness.”

“So there is no hope for her?”

The Empress shook her head. “You’d be wise to douse those feelings you have for her. They will only bring you pain in the end.”

His blood roared to life. He didn’t want to believe it. He couldn’t. Marist was just like Dev, intent on tearing him away from Arden. But the look of pity on the Empress’s face quelled his anger. If there was some truth to what she told him, then he’d heard more than he cared to hear.

“Please, Empress Marist, let’s change the topic of our conversation. I’m here for more than just Arden. When you sent a delegation to Ranello years ago, relations between our nations did not improve. I’m here to see if we can mend that gap.”

“Very well, Prince Kell. Let us see if we can reach a new concordance while you are here.”

As the conversation shifted to politics, the Empress’s warning lingered in the back of his mind. Would Arden be showing signs of the madness the next time he saw her?

Chapter 19

The sun had descended behind the pinnacle of the mountain they climbed, bathing the road in long shadows. Despite the high altitude, the air was balmy and filled with the sweet scent of flowers rather than the icy snow that capped the surrounding peaks. Here, it was as though spring had moved in and refused to budge.

A series of terrace and towers climbed up towards a structure that seemed to erupt from the very mountainside. “Is that the Conclave?” Arden asked.

Dev nodded. “We’ll be safely inside its walls before nightfall.”

A flap of wings sounded above her, and the same Ornathian from yesterday circled overhead like a vulture. After a few passes, it flew to one of the towers and disappeared through the window. Somehow, she didn’t feel like the Conclave was completely safe with those creatures roaming around it.

“Are the Ornathians allowed in here?”

“A few are in residence, learning about our magic.” Dev pointed to the tower she’d seen the winged creature fly into. “They usually stay there.”

“Then I’ll stay away from it.”

Dev laughed. “Terrified of something that’s different from you?”

“You’re the one who warned me not to cross them.” Embarrassment prickled along her spine. “Are you changing your story?”

“No. They can be dangerous when crossed, but from my experience, they are no different than anyone else. They just want to live in peace.”

“
You said they’re here to learn magic?” she asked, wanting to change the subject from how dangerous these strange creatures could be. If she could see they were like the others in the Conclave, maybe she’d be less intimidated by them.

“The Mage’s Conclave is more than just a safe place. It is a school for magic, where all mages in the Empire come to be trained by the best. The Mage’s Council also resides here and oversees judgment for any abuse of magic.”

“Do you think they know who was behind the attacks?”

“Perhaps.”

The weathered grey wooden doors creaked open as they approached, pulled by an unseen hand. Inside the walls, the air crackled with magic, reviving her while also setting her nerves on edge. If magic fed the land of Gravaria, then this was its source.

A rotund man with only a fringe of hair circling his otherwise bald head came out to greet them. “Dev,” he said, vigorously shaking his hand before pulling him into a hug, “so good to see you again.”

Dev bowed politely once the man released him. “It is good to see you, too, Mage Secundus.”

Arden slid from her horse and waited for Dev to introduce her. But he never had a chance.

The Mage Secundus pushed past her protector and grasped her hand. “And this must be the new Soulbearer. It looks like Loku did a right bit better with this one. Much easier on the eyes.”

His compliment brought a smile to her face and set her at ease. “Yes, I suppose I look a bit better than Robb.”

“You’re lovely, my dear.” He moved between her and Dev, his arms around both of their waists, and ushered them into the main building with Cinder bouncing among them like a young pup. “Welcome to the Mage’s Conclave, Arden Soulbearer. We have been eagerly awaiting your arrival. I must apologize that the Mage Primus isn’t here to greet you as well, but he got called away on an urgent matter and should return tomorrow.”

Dev stiffened. “Do you know what the matter was?”

The Mage Secundus shook his head. “You know how he is—a man of many secrets. I only hope to be privy to some of them one day.”

The interior of the main building reminded her of the castles back home. The walls were heavy grey stone adorned with embroidered tapestries. A grand staircase filled the entryway, climbing up the very side of the mountain for at least a dozen floors. Chandeliers lit by magic rather than candles hung from the ceiling, bathing the interior in warm light.

Older children in dark robes scurried back and forth along the balconies, carrying heavy books and talking amongst themselves. “You say this is like a school for magic?” she asked as she watched them.

“If a child shows potential for magic, he or she is sent here for testing and to be assigned to a tutor.” The Mage Secundus smiled wistfully as he followed the children above. “Some return to their towns to act as healers or help ensure the crops receive enough water. The ones with the most potential stay here and train under the Mage’s Council.”

It was a system so very different than Ranello’s, where the instant a child showed any magical potential, they were put to death. How would her life have turned out if she’d been born here instead of in Ranello?

“You’re invited to dine with the rest of the Council tonight,” the Mage Secundus continued. “We’re all anxious to meet Arden and see if there’s any truth to the rumors we’ve been hearing.”

“Depends on the rumor,” Dev grumbled. “If they involve her getting into trouble, then they’re probably true.”

Arden sucked in a breath through her teeth. Dev had been sullen all day, but his mood had just crossed into downright pissy.

“I was more curious about the one where she defeated the necromancer.” The Mage Secundus winked at her. “I can’t wait to hear more about it over dinner.” He waddled up the stairs and disappeared down a corridor.

“Come on, Trouble, let’s get you cleaned up for dinner.” Dev trudged up the stairs, not even looking behind him to see if she followed.

“
You’ll find your accommodation here to be similar to the ones in the palace
,” Loku said.

“
Complete with mithral jewelry?”

“Only the best for the Soulbearer.
”

Arden gritted her teeth and reinforced her mental shields. As cordial as their host had been, this place was just another prison. At least her quarters were nicer here. Dev led her to a room with a cheery fire and shelves full of books. Two walls enclosed a corner of the main room, forming a separate room. Inside the open door, she caught a glimpse of a bed with a thick mattress, a desk and chair, and a window looking out into the starry sky.

She stepped inside and lowered her bag. “This is my room, I take it?”

Dev nodded. “I hope you find it suitable.”