Divined (20 page)

“We spent weeks together before he gave me your name, Clio. We had so much to discuss, so much to learn about one another. Only when he had convinced me that the living Oracle was Ires’ own daughter did he tell me your name and who had defended you. He urged me to reverse my edict, telling me you were not guilty of any of your aunt’s crimes.”

Clio’s eyes briefly flicked to Mannix, not believing. “Mannix still could have sent you the note.”

He smiled. “If I had, why wouldn’t I simply reveal your name to the Emperor? If I had wanted to get you killed, I could have easily. I want us to be a family, Clio. We were robbed of that by the Oracle of Morek. She stole years from all of us. When I learned the truth—when I learned my mother had never wanted to give me up—I became desperate to reclaim what we all had thought lost.”

“Did you tell him how you murdered our mother? The woman he loved? Did you mention that piece of the story?” Clio felt herself shaking with all the rage she had pushed down for years.

“Clio.” The Emperor’s voice was stern. “I understand your pain.”

“No. You clearly don’t. Not if you’re willing to embrace Ires’ murderer.” Her eyes were blurring now.

“Mannix was acting on a lie. We all were. If he had known the truth, he never would have done what he did. He was made to believe his mother heartlessly abandoned him. He never knew the tears of happiness Ires and I shed when we learned she was bearing a child. And you know why? Because of what the Oracle of Morek did to Ires.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “We have all done terrible things. I most of all. But the true blame lies with the Oracle of Morek. We all must forgive one another as well as ourselves for what we did because of her.”

The Emperor laid a hand on his son’s shoulder then looked to Riece. “All I want is to be a family. Riece, you have always been a son to me. Look upon Mannix and see your brother, and I will look upon Clio as a daughter.” There was a hardness in his tone, and Clio finally understood Mannix’s game. The Emperor would only reverse his edict as long as Clio and Riece forgave Mannix. She wanted to laugh. After everything, Mannix had managed to leave her powerless.

Riece must have realized the truth behind the Emperor’s words as well, because he bowed his head in submission.

The Emperor smiled. “Wonderful.” He walked away from them. “Tonight I will make the formal announcement. I have hidden Mannix from the eyes of the Order—it’s why the palace is so empty these days. But all that changes after tonight. At the feast, I will welcome Clio to the city and introduce Mannix as my blood heir. I want to live out the rest of my days knowing that when I die, I will pass the Empire to both of my sons.” He looked to Riece. “You will rule this Empire together one day—both equal heirs to my throne. And when my sons stand together before the nobility, not even the Order will be able to oppose you.”

“Your Highness,” Riece began. “The Order will not take any of this easily—”

“Do not concern yourself, my son. After tonight the Order will no longer be a problem.”

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

One of the Emperor’s guards led Clio and Riece to their new chambers in the Emperor’s quarters. Throughout the walk down the stone corridors, Clio burned with questions. They couldn’t trust Mannix, no matter what the Emperor said. And above all, they had to make sure Mannix never inherited the throne. But how could they oppose the Emperor’s direct order? Betraying his trust would only push him closer to Mannix.

Still, they had to think of something. In the middle of preventing a war, stopping the Order and fighting the Deities, she was going to have to contend with whatever her brother was planning.

“Someone will stand guard outside your door at all times,” the guard said as he stopped outside an archway covered in a heavy pelt.

Riece and Clio stepped inside, all too aware that whatever they said to each other would be overheard by their guard. The room was barely furnished. A single window was set in the back wall overlooking one of the palace’s many shallow pools. There were two bedrooms splitting off the receiving chamber, and Clio quickly walked into one, Riece on her heels.

“He found Irime. He must have.” Clio kept her voice low.

“Who?” Riece glanced out the window. “No one guards the grounds beneath us,” he said simply.

“Mannix. How else would he have found out about our mother and the Emperor?” She crossed to the window, seeing the empty pool beneath them. It would be an easy escape. “He did say he was keeping his staff light. But”—she looked to the archway—“we can’t leave. Not while Mannix is with the Emperor.”

“How are we to contend with all of this?” Riece looked suddenly tired.

Clio was spared having to answer by the approach of three serving maidens. Each wore white veils so long they brushed against their bare feet.
 

“My lady,” one of them said as they dipped into identical shallow bows. “We were sent to help prepare you for tonight’s feast.”

“I can manage on my own,” Clio responded quickly.

Blush rose in the speaking girl’s cheeks. “I’m afraid the Emperor has very specific instructions as to your presentation tonight. He said we weren’t to take no for an answer.”

Clio looked to Riece, who smiled unhelpfully. “How bad can it be?” He shrugged.

“But—” she began.

“Clio, if we are to learn anything useful about the Order, keep an eye on Mannix and find out what Zarae is up to, then we need to be at that feast.” He walked from the room, stopping in the archway to address the serving maidens. “Make sure you scrub extra hard behind her ears. We’ve been on the road a
long
time.” He grinned broadly and ducked behind the drape before Clio could reply.

It felt as if an eternity of washing and perfuming had passed before Ixie and Ashira entered the room. Ixie stifled a laugh as soon as her eyes found Clio.

Clio was crouched over a large basin as the serving maidens worked on her hair. It was so knotted and stiff they had to use long combs to pull through the tangles. Clio grimaced and flinched unhappily every time they tugged a new strand.

“So?” Clio asked, ignoring Ixie’s obvious amusement.

“Atzi and Ealis are with Nox in the temple,” Ashira answered.

Ixie crossed the room. “Although we had to speak to Tirza to arrange the audience, and I must warn you, she was less than pleased.”

Clio sighed. “I’m afraid Tirza’s frustration will have to wait until after we save Morek. Did you go to the temple with them?”

Ashira nodded. “I did. The temple was mostly empty.”

“I suppose the priests are more interested in guarding the gates and watching the city than they are in prayer and studies.”

“Clio.” Ashira looked nervous. “Ixie found something out that I think you should hear.”

Clio straightened and hissed in a breath as the maidens’ combs ripped through a particularly tight knot. “What do you mean Ixie found something out? You mean from Nox?” Clio asked through watering eyes.

“No.” Ixie bit her lip nervously. “I took the opportunity to speak to one of the priests. I made it sound as if I had slaves to sell to him. I thought I might get a clue as to if they are purchasing in preparation for this mass sacrifice.”

“You did
what
?”

Ashira stepped between them. “Don’t be angry with her. She was very cautious. And, well—”

“The priest said they had no sacrifices upcoming,” Ixie finished. “So either this is going to be kept a secret from the public or the Order doesn’t know about it yet. If it’s the latter, then I think we can still stop it from even happening.”

Clio paused, considering. “You could have asked Nox. You didn’t need to speak to another priest on your own.” But clearly none of what Clio had said to Ixie had made a difference. The girl was still just as reckless, just as willing to endanger herself.

Ixie took a deep breath. “Well, actually… It was the High Priest himself to whom I spoke. Don’t look at me like that,” she said quickly. “I couldn’t sit there watching Ealis and Nox have possibly the Empire’s dullest conversation, and…and well, I noticed the High Priest watching me walk across the plaza. It was easy to get him to speak with me.”

“Ixie. No meddling. I’m serious. Why can you never obey me on this?” Clio pushed aside one of the maidens who had begun to rub yet another scented oil into Clio’s skin.

“While you’re upset with me I might as well mention I overheard some guards outside the palace. Derik will be at the feast tonight.”

“You’re certain?” Clio asked, her anger temporarily forgotten.

“I am. The rumor is he’s here to discuss the terms needed to prevent war.” Ixie grinned.

Another serving maiden entered the room then, a silk bundle in her arms. “Your ladies must dress if they are to make the feast tonight.”

Clio nodded at them to go. “Don’t think I’ve forgiven you, Ixie. If I hear you’ve meddled more without my permission, then I’ll send you from the palace without a second thought.”

Ixie bowed her head, her eyes still fiery. “Whatever my mistress demands.”

Ixie and Ashira walked from the room as the serving maids held up the silk gown to Clio.

“What is this?”

“The Emperor had it made especially for you.” The girl bowed.

Clio pulled aside the soft folds and nearly gasped at what she saw.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Clio stood in front of a silver mirror. The serving maidens had all departed, leaving her alone with her reflection. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Her hair had been cleansed of all dyes, leaving it white once more. She turned, and the shimmer of polished pearls sparkled between the white strands. It was a traditional Oracle’s headdress, the like of which she hadn’t seen since she’d watched her mother’s séance. Pearls and delicate pieces of engraved bones cascaded down Clio’s head and twisted with her hair. Gold dust was powdered across her forehead, over her eyelids, and when she blinked, her eyelashes felt heavy. Her lips, too, had been lined with some golden liquid, making her look more like a statue than flesh and blood. Stepping back, she took in the rest of her figure. Her robes were so thin she feared the slightest movement would tear the feathery fabric. The maidens had painted her skin with gold flakes to conceal her nakedness, but still her dark skin shone through the translucent silk.

Clio couldn’t look any longer. Even without her powers, the Emperor had made her the Oracle once more.

She walked into the receiving room where Riece waited.

His brows rose into his forehead when he saw her, and he swallowed hard as his eyes traveled down her body. “You can’t wear that,” he finally managed.

“It was hardly my choice.” She raised her arms, holding her robes out. “How am I supposed to conceal a weapon when all my skin is so exposed?”

“A weapon?
That’s
what you’re worried about?” His voice sounded ragged. “Clio, this is… It’s—you need to find something else.”

Clio laughed at the blush rising in Riece’s cheeks. “Why, am I making you nervous, Commander?” She stepped up to him, enjoying the way his eyes darkened.

He cleared his throat. “Nervous is one word for it.”

“The Emperor arranged this for me. He wants me to look like the Oracle at the feast.”

“Then we shouldn’t go.”

Clio raised an eyebrow. “What would we do instead?”

“I have some ideas.” His eyes met hers.

She swallowed, clearing her head. “You said we have to go to the feast if we are to watch Mannix, the Order and Zarae at once.”

He let out a breath. “Did I say that? I don’t know what I could have been thinking…” A corner of his lips pulled up in a half-smile.

Clio laughed and stepped away, toward the door. “The Emperor is planning something. Presenting me like this, where the Order and the nobility will see me, after a ten-year edict against my kind…”

“It’s suspicious. Another reason not to go.” Riece crossed to the door and stood close to her.

She laid a hand on his painted chest. “Derik will also be at the feast.”

“All right…” He pulled her close to him, running his hand down her bare arms.

“Riece,” she chided. “I have to speak to him. Tonight gives me a chance to try to turn him from this war.” She pushed him away and strode out the archway into the cool corridor. “We have to go.”

Riece groaned as he caught up to her. “Why is Derik constantly getting in the way?”

They were walking through the Emperor’s quarters toward the throne room and the sounds of reveling. “You’re very bold tonight,” Clio said, fighting a growing red in her cheeks.

“You walk around the palace like that, and
I’m
the bold one?”

“It’s only a gown, Riece.”

“It’s hardly a gown.”

“I would feel more comfortable if I had a blade, I’ll admit.” They were nearing the feast, and Clio could hear music and laughter.

“Stay by my side for the night.” Riece grabbed her hand, placing it on his arm.

She took her arm back and strode forward. “Derik won’t want to speak plainly to me if you’re at my side.”

“Derik will understand. The High Priest will be here. I’m not leaving you alone.”

“I can manage myself,” she said brusquely.

“Clio, don’t be difficult.”

“I haven’t begun to be difficult yet, Riece.” She walked into the throne room and stopped.

“Could you just—” Riece’s words died in his throat. The entire throne room had fallen silent, and every pair of eyes fixed on them.

Clio couldn’t move. Even the drummers had ceased their pounding. She could see the confusion in every face—everyone wondering how a woman could be so bold as to dress in the style of an Oracle.

“Guests,” the Emperor’s voice boomed out. He was striding toward them. “I have some introductions to make.” He reached them and took Clio’s hand to lead her over to the throne. Mannix stood on the bottom step, dressed in silver and black, and the Emperor offered Clio’s hand to Mannix before ascending. He climbed to the top and stopped in front of his golden seat.

Murmuring picked up among the crowd. Brightly dressed nobles and amber-cloaked Order alike exchanged baffled expressions.

“Tonight the Empire enters a new era. An era of peace and prosperity. I’ve invited you all here so you can witness the birth of this glorious new time. Too long have we been at war. Too long have we fought and bled and sacrificed. Tonight, that ends.” The Emperor paused, his eyes sweeping over his subjects.