Divined (2 page)

“I’m sure she does.” The last time Zarae and Clio had spoken, she had made certain promises to the princess. Promises Clio could no longer fulfill.

“She helped you, and you’re really going to break your word to her?”

“I’ve broken my word to those more powerful than Princess Zarae.”

“She’s your friend,” Ixie added quietly.

Clio looked at her Vessel and saw the hurt that briefly flashed in Ixie’s eyes. “Ixie, you know I would never abandon you or Ashira, right? I would incur the wrath of the Emperor, of the Deities themselves to help you.”

Ixie looked away, her jaw set. “Zarae is your friend,” she repeated.

“No. She was an ally. Believe me, she feels no loyalty to me beyond what I can give her.”

Ixie pushed off from the wall, still refusing to meet Clio’s eyes. “So you won’t go see her?”

“I won’t.”

“Fine.” Ixie walked to the door and stopped. “I told her where we now live. You should expect her sometime before sunrise.”

CHAPTER TWO

Clio didn’t waste her breath reprimanding her Vessel. Ixie would do what she wanted, and there was nothing Clio could do to stop her. The day would come when what Ixie wanted would no longer have anything to do with Clio. Until then, Clio would enjoy whatever time they had left together.

Ixie, Ashira, Zarae, and even Riece had only known Clio as the Oracle. It was harder for them to see Clio turn her back on who they thought she was. Riece understood why Clio couldn’t serve the Deities, but he didn’t think she could simply cut that piece out of her. Clio disagreed. She’d cut a lot out of her over the years.

When Ashira fell asleep, Clio made her way outside. If she stayed on her mat much longer, she would sleep, too, and she needed to wait until dawn before she closed her eyes again.

The night air was cold. In the distance Clio could make out the firelight in Sheehan. She settled into the dry grass just outside their small hut and watched the fires go out as families retired to bed. It was an easy way to pass the time. Eventually, only the palace beacons remained.

Derik had been the only one to understand why Clio couldn’t live in the palace anymore. Riece had wanted Clio to summon Vazuil, believing there was a way to lock him up forever and keep him from hurting Clio, but Derik and Clio agreed it would be too big of a risk. A mortal could never kill a Deity. If one thing had gone wrong then Vazuil would be out, loose on the world like Daizon had been. They couldn’t chance that, not after everything that had happened, not while Mannix was still out there. Mannix had bargained with a Deity before to try to bring Clio down. She didn’t trust he wouldn’t try it again. No, Vazuil would have to stay in the heavens, able to reach her whenever he wished. The best Clio could do was make sure Vazuil was kept far away from the ones she loved.

Riece would see it differently. When he returned, Clio knew he would be angry to find her living outside the city. He would try to move her to Morek, and Clio had to be ready. Opposing Riece was never easy, not even when she was at her full strength. And when he saw how much Nox’s draught was laying waste to Clio’s body, Riece was going to be nigh unstoppable. She was going to need a plan, a way to say no, to stand her ground and make him see that this, all of it, was her choice.

Her head felt too heavy for her shoulders, and her hands ached where she’d once gripped Daizon’s blade to keep it from piercing her chest. She let herself lean back until she was looking up into the sky. Night faded around her, giving way to sunrise, and Clio was still no closer to thinking of a way to convince Riece this was where she needed to be. She was supposed to have twenty days. Something would come to her before then.

“Careful”—a woman’s voice sounded out of Clio’s sight—“an enemy could easily sneak up on you like this.”

Clio sat up, forcing her stiff hands to flatten against the ground beneath her. Zarae stood before her, a white fur cloak pulled tight around her shoulders, shrouding her head so all Clio could see were the princess’ red lips.

“Is that what you are?” Clio asked, getting to her feet.

“Deities, Clio, you look terrible.” Zarae took a step forward. She let her hood fall back, revealing her sun-kissed hair and dark green eyes.

“You’re too kind, Princess,” Clio muttered with a grin that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Kindness has never entered much into our relationship, has it, Oracle?”

“Don’t call me that.” Clio turned her back on the princess and walked into the hut.

Zarae followed. “We had a deal. Remember? I got you Riece’s army so you could save Sheehan from Daizon. Now it’s your turn.”

“I can’t help you.” Clio cupped her hands into the ewer, and brought the cold water to her lips.

“You mean you won’t help me.”

Clio turned back to face the princess. Zarae was more beautiful than ever before, but behind those soft curves and fluttering eyelashes, Clio knew there lay a mind sharper than any blade. “I won’t help you,” Clio agreed. “But you already knew that. Derik would have told you when you entered Sheehan.”

“I hoped it wasn’t true.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” Clio said, still working on straightening her hands. The scars were too tight, and if she didn’t work at it, her hands would curl in on themselves.

“No you aren’t. Do you even care what’s happening around you? This is our chance, Clio. Our chance to break free from the Empire, from the Order.”

Clio remained silent.

“But you’re too selfish to care, aren’t you?”

“I’m too selfish to start another war and cause the deaths of thousands of your people, yes,” Clio answered. She didn’t want to get upset. Vazuil was already back, gnawing at the edge of her mind.

“Too cowardly then,” Zarae said with disgust.

“Zarae, what do you expect me to do for you? I promised I would use my Sight to help the Corner. But everything I was ever Shown was a lie. I’m sorry. You made a deal with the Oracle, but the Oracle is gone now.”

“At least come back with me to Sheehan. There are changes happening in Morek that you need to be aware of. It involves you as much as it does the Corner.”

“No.”

“No?” Zarae asked, surprise rounding her delicate mouth.

“No,” Clio repeated.

“So that’s your plan? To hide here forever and pretend there’s nothing you can do to help?” Zarae asked, her eyes cold.

“That’s the plan. Have a good journey back to Sheehan,” Clio said, walking Zarae back to the entrance.

“I’m sorry to hear you say that.” Zarae stopped and turned back to Clio. “Do you have a message you would like me to convey to our dear commander?” she asked, pulling her hood back over her head.

“I’m just as able as you to get a message to Riece,” Clio answered. Zarae was concealing something, Clio felt it.

“Are you? Funny. I’m headed to see him now. He asked if I would bring you with me to the palace, but now that I know you would rather be left alone, I’ll be happy to make him aware of your change of heart.”

“You’re lying.”

The princess shrugged. “Am I? Have a good day, Clio.”

Clio took a step outside and sighed in frustration. “He’s still in the Corner.”

“He returned in the middle of the night. It’s why I came to Sheehan. To meet him. I thought you knew.” Zarae continued to the dirt road.

“And he sent
you
to come fetch me? I find that unlikely.”

“He’s a busy man. And between us, he’s not exactly thrilled with you at the moment either. Something about you promising to stay in the safety of the palace while he was away—I’m not sure. I care very little.”

“Why is he back early, Zarae?”

“Come to Sheehan and find out. But as you made perfectly clear, I have nothing more to say to you.” She walked down the road, her cloak whipping out behind her.

The throbbing in Clio’s head grew as she watched the princess. Clio didn’t want to go. She didn’t want to hear about the Empire or the Order or any of the evils she no longer had the power to combat. But if Riece had returned and had chosen to send Zarae to fetch Clio rather than coming himself then he was planning something.

Aren’t you curious why the boy came back early?
Vazuil asked, his voice splintering through her thoughts.

“Ashira!” Clio called, rubbing the heels of her hands into her eyes and wishing for blindness.

Her Vessel emerged from behind the hut where they did their washing in a small ground spring. “What is it?” Ashira asked, worry in her creased brow.

“Get the draught and find Ixie. We’re going into Sheehan.”

CHAPTER THREE

They caught up to Zarae before crossing through the trader’s gate into the city. Another swallow of the draught had made Clio sluggish, and she’d needed to lean on Ashira for the last leg of the journey. When Ixie saw, she shook her head but kept her mouth closed, opting instead to run ahead and walk with the princess. Clio was too out of breath to object and focused all her strength on staying on her feet.

Even so, she’d had to stop and ask Ashira to fetch some water before they made it to the palace.

“How bad do I look at the moment?” Clio asked as they started moving again. The city was more crowded and bustling than Clio had ever seen before. Everywhere she turned, Sheehan and Untouched alike walked through the markets trailing goats and wagons full of the season’s harvest for barter.

“You look lovely, as always,” Ashira said after hesitating a heartbeat too long.

Clio cast her a glance. “I don’t care about lovely. How upset is Riece going to be when he sees me?”

“Riece is always upset about something.” Ashira shuffled, uncomfortable.

“Ashira…” Clio began and stumbled on a bump in the road.

Her Vessel caught her and brought her back to her feet. “Let’s just say, I’ll be sure to keep Ixie between Riece and myself during this visit,” Ashira said seriously.

Clio laughed. “Maybe you both should wait outside.”

Ashira’s lips pulled up into a half-smile. “I wouldn’t object.”

“Smart girl.”

Clio patted Ashira’s arm when they reached the palace gates. Ixie stood outside, speaking with a group of palace guards.

“Stay here,” Clio told the girl.

“Whatever you say, sir,” Ixie replied with more distance in her gaze than Clio was prepared for. But there wasn’t time to stop and muddle through the snares of Ixie’s opinion as Clio walked forward and entered the throne room.

For the first time since before the wars with Morek, the throne room was glittering and resplendent with gold and gems. Walls that had been stripped bare to pay for weapons were once more filled with a myriad of rubies. Clio noticed Sheehan nobles standing beside Untouched who wore their own rich silk and golden jewelry. It would have been impossible to tell them apart except for the hand gestures the Untouched used to communicate. An Untouched man finished an elaborate dance of fingers and stepped back, smiling at a Sheehan noblewoman who surprised Clio by laughing and reaching out to take the Untouched’s arm. They understood one another.

“Clio!” She heard Derik call from the front of the room as he pushed through the sea of nobles to reach her.

Clio bowed, suddenly wishing she had taken the time to wash off more of the dirt from her night spent outside. She pulled her golden warrior’s cloak tighter around her shoulders.

“What are you doing here?” Derik asked. “Not that I’m not pleased to see you, of course.” He took her hand and grinned down at her. He was wearing his father’s elaborate gold breastplate, but all Clio could see was the scarred mark under his eye. He’d taken a knife to it, slashing it down the middle when he renounced Daizon, but it didn’t erase the permanent reminder of what they’d all gone through. Clio had a matching burn on her chest, and she never could stomach looking at it, let alone permitting others to see it. But if Derik was the least part ashamed, he didn’t show it. Every bit of him, from his dark curls and gray eyes, to his warm smile and commanding stride, bespoke regal power.

“Did Zarae not tell you I was coming?” Clio squeezed his hand with affection.

“Not me. I think she’s with the commander at the moment.” He gestured toward a crowded corner of the room.

“Of course she is,” Clio grumbled under her breath.

The barest hint of an amused smile curled Derik’s lips. “Would you like me to escort you to them?”

Clio looked around at the room. Nobles were watching her out of the corners of their eyes. She was no longer the king’s mistress, and as such, it was no longer appropriate for her to approach men and women of such elevated status as the commander and the princess. Already, women were exchanging whispers, their gazes darting between Clio and the king.

“I suppose so. Might as well get this over with,” she said with a sigh, allowing him to lead her through the throng of nobles.

Zarae had removed her cloak, and she stood wearing one of her characteristically revealing silk skirts. Clio’s eyes quickly skipped from the princess to the man standing at her side. The commander.

He hadn’t seen her yet, and Clio took the moment to take in his appearance. As always, he had donned his golden cloak. Underneath, Clio knew he wore no fewer than four blades at a time. His hair was shorter than the last time she’d seem him. She noticed the ends were jagged, as if it’d been chopped off in a hurry or, knowing Riece as she did, he’d likely taken a blade to it himself with little concern or care for his appearance.

“Excuse me,” Derik began, and Riece and Zarae turned.

Riece’s skin was darker. It always was whenever he came back from a long journey, as he opted to walk among the men rather than ride in one of the carried cabins. His brown eyes widened as he saw Clio, and she could tell by the way his gaze drank in her appearance he was pleased to see her. But something twitched in his grin, and the thick scar around his neck tightened, which Clio knew meant he was restraining his anger.

“Commander Riece, Princess Zarae, you remember Sheehan’s prized warrior, the Lady Clio?” Derik asked while the nobles watched.

“How could we forget?” Riece said. He reached for Clio, his eyes never leaving hers as he laid a careful kiss on the back of her hand. Clio looked around at the crowd and blushed as she snatched her hand back. A small grin broke through Riece’s controlled demeanor. “My apologies, my lady. A common custom at the Corner. I’ve been among them so long, certain habits are hard to break.”