Chapter 24: The Rival's Hand

  "You entered a rivalry for Princess' hand." Evadne said.

  I quickly marched toward her. She stood at the center of the spacious area. Light from the windows stretched on the floor on both her sides. Shadow guard beside her had his back to her, scanning the royal guards in the room.

  There was no trace of the garden's warmth. The closed doors behind me had shut it off. Guards with hellhounds stood on either side. The beasts' breath was visible as steam in chilly air - yet heavy with their stench.

  She made a step toward me, into the sunlight. Hands together in front of her. A stiff face, making her true emotions a mystery to me. I found myself hating that.

  "High Priestess," I met her with my step forward. I could lean in and whisper to her ear, but that would be overstepping.

  "I agreed to meet her weekly, the price for the therapy seemed fair," her hands tightened their grip, "but I said I may not keep the schedule, and..."

  "Saint Leonard," she interrupted me, turning her head away, slightly, but it was enough for the scent of her hair to reach me. She smelled like meadow and herbs.

  "You did what you thought is necessary for your short-term goals," her seemingly calm eyes pierced mine, "but you missed the long-term consequences."

  The very thought of "long-term" itched me. Nails sank into my palms painfully when I clenched my fists.

  "They don't matter to me, Evadne."

  I looked away.

  *Victoria and Veronica, that's all that matters.*

  *I'll survive and find a way out, no matter the cost.*

  *Should I tell her?*

  But her words struck before I found the courage.

  "They matter to me, Leonard." She stepped back, into the shadow, to stand beside the guard. Straight-backed, hands clasped. Closed off, distant.

  "I'm sorry, High Priestess. I got what I wanted, let's find Pythia." I faced the guard on her left, his armor shimmering gently in the sun rays coming through the windows behind me. "Where is she?"

  "Saint Leonard, I'm Corvus, follow me please." We left the Royal Guards with their hounds behind and passed through the door on my left, alongside the garden's walls.

  *Good, without the Holy Knight at my side the beast was giving me chills.*

  The corridors were decorated with mosaics depicting hunting large animals similar to a bear, a guard's hound, or even a snake. There were also tall, colorful vases I could have hidden in, and paintings of stern-faced royals. In contrast to the ones in my room, they didn't move.

  *Odd, these are not magical?*

  Hallways were very bright, but I sneezed suddenly from the chilly air. Sun rays falling through the windows were giving a temporary relief with warmth while we were crossing them.

  We went what felt like around the garden and turned into a large hallway. Not many windows there, but massive chandeliers under the ceiling were full of lit candles, giving it a cozy feeling.

  At the end of the hallway were eight or so men in vivid robes. The fabric wrapped around their bodies, forming overlapping folds. Not like mine plain, monk like robe. They eyed me without a hint of shame, whispering. Behind them guarding the door was the Holy Knight with a dull longsword.

  Corvus met the men, their bodies forming a wall separating me from the room where I was expecting to see Pythia. I stood right behind him.

  One of the gawkers stepped forward deliberately, looking down his nose at me. He ignored Corvus as if he were air, focusing on me.

  "And who do we have here?" Polite voice was tainted with repressed disdain. "Who had the pleasure of a, private meeting, with Princess Ariadne?"

  "He's from the noble faction, pretender to the Princess' hand, be cautious," Evadne whispered behind me. "I should have known. Word of your meeting had spread through the court the moment you entered the garden."

  I didn't reply right away, listening to what Evadne had said, and that gave him an opening.

  "I'm Romulus from the Honorius Family." He turned at his followers briefly with hands theatrically spread. "Perhaps an Otherworlder?" He said that title as if trying to spit it from his tongue. Some of his followers smirked with satisfaction, others grimaced.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  "Saint Leonard," I nodded, and murmur intensified around us. I whispered to Corvus, "Move him if necessary, I want to meet with Pythia, now."

  Corvus made a step.

  Romulus didn't falter, confident nobody could touch him.

  Corvus pressed on, politely, but his voice was hard as iron: "Please make way, Sir Romulus."

  "How rude." Romulus stood still, his eyes locked on me. After a tense pause that stretched unpleasantly, he reluctantly stepped aside. "I merely greeted the new face in the Royal Palace."

  "Highest Priestess is expecting me, goodbye," I dismissed him.

  We moved with their glares pressing at my back.

  Just before the doors closed, I heard Romulus's voice, raised just enough to carry.

  "Even street cats know not to take what isn't theirs, and which back alley they belong to."

  The doors shut with a heavy thud, cutting out the laughter of his supporters—but the threat lingered in my ears.

  *Romulus Honorius doesn't like me. Noted.*

  The rest of the escort was laid out in the room strategically. The second Holy Knight stayed close to the Highest Priestess. She was sitting on the large sofa with rich red upholstery and an ornate, golden frame. The sofa looked both priceless and uncomfortable.

  The scent of tea on the matching table in front of her was strong, but mixed with freshly baked buns. They smelled like cinnamon, but not quite. She left her cup on the table with a soft tap.

  She studied me with her calm eyes, then Evadne, then back to me.

  "How bad is it?" Pythia finally asked.

  Evadne didn't hesitate spitting, "He promised her weekly meeting," she emphasized last words with disbelief, "in privacy!"

  Pythia studied me for a moment with her silver gaze before asking, "What do you think about the Princess, Saint Leonard?"

  *Tricky question.*

  I didn't know, honestly.

  *She made me feel comfortable and on alert at the same time. She seemed genuine, but I have a nagging feeling there's more than meets the eye.*

  I was puzzled.

  "She's different than I expected." I finally said, looking at the shaggy carpet on the floor. My boots sank softly in brown fringes, like when walking on a lawn.

  "It's not that bad, at least he didn't fall for her charms," she said, standing up and straightening her robe with silent rustle. "And this circus in front, I assume it's Romulus?" She pointed with her head at the door behind me. "I would be surprised if it was one of the other two, they're too smart for this."

  "Romulus, but it doesn't matter. The Princess said the resources should arrive tonight or tomorrow." I said, catching Evadne's stern look, "That's all that matters to me now."

  Pythia looked again at the table at her feet, as if considering taking one of the puffy buns before leaving. After looking away from the temptation, she said, "I see, then tomorrow we can start. Let's go back to the Temple."

  "Highest Priestess," I started, distancing myself from Evadne, whose calm, indifferent face returned already. "Let me accompany you." She glanced at me with curiosity, but didn't say a word. We moved out, leaving the delicious smells behind us.

  With the whole escort, we passed the noble gawkers without stopping. Daggers in their eyes pierced my back.

  *Nevermind, it's just a distraction.*

  I focused on the archway leading back to the corridor. I had to look past the Holy Knight, and sight of his back calmed me.

  *Better behind his back than in front of his sword, like the Royal Guard back then.*

  A small grin grew on my lips as I listened to his heavy footsteps in the corridors that followed.

  *I feel secure with him. And I appreciate Silas for stepping in and going with me into the garden of his own will.*

  "Highest Priestess," I began firmly, "I'd like Silas to be my guard from now on, if he's willing."

  Instead of Pythia, two other voices, one after another replied.

  The guard in front said, "Saint Leonard, are you dissatisfied with my service?" Then the one behind, "Forgive this humble servant of Pandora, but why only him, Saint Leonard?"

  Startled, I glanced between both guards. Their faces were hidden, I couldn't decipher who exactly I was talking to.

  *They must be 'Corvus the raven' and 'Severus the strict', but who is who?*

  *They forgot I asked them to tell their name when they address me.*

  "Corvus, Severus, it's just that only Silas offered to go with me into the garden," I said, still walking and turning my head back and forth.

  "He's most experienced, Saint Leonard." I recognized strict Severus, but his voice carried a tint of hurt pride. "I was with you during the attack, and I willingly chose to become your shadow today."

  I stopped abruptly.

  Everybody else too, though after a heartbeat of delay.

  We were midway in the half open corridor. One side was a line of columns opening a view to the small patio, where a soft, gurgling sound came from the fountain in the center. A small bird like a sparrow sat on its edge. Then it flew below onto the large flower with two rose-like petals the size of a hand, but ended with spikes.

  The petals closed abruptly, caging the scrambling prey. I looked away immediately.

  "Severus, come to me please." Evadne and Pythia were curiously studying me. Rest of the escort stealing glances.

  When Severus was at the arm's reach, I placed his right hand in mine, so that our seals touched. Lowering my eyes I said, "Thank you Severus for saving my life," and I added with all honesty, "I'm in your debt."

  A moment before I released his hand, a glimpse of unexplainable detachment washed over me. Inexplicable feeling, like being in two places at the same time. Pulse on my wrist became hotter with three quick beats.

  All ended the moment I distanced my seal from his. Seal cooled.

  *What was that?*

  *Is it me losing my mind or the seal acting strange?*

  I was about to ask Althea, but Severus's words grounded me back in reality, "It's an honor, Saint Leonard."

  I let him go and nodded in response. He nodded back. Sharp. Decisive.

  *That should heal his pride.*

  "Highest Priestess, I would appreciate if I could be guarded by the same people as today."

  She didn't reply. Just stood in front of me with Holy Knight towering over her, and with two shadow guards on her flanks.

  I took another breath and added, "it would make me more comfortable to have people I know around me."

  She finally nodded smiling faintly, but genuinely. "You will need six shadows for complete protection. I'll arrange that, let's continue."

  She resumed the walk and I pressed on, my words following the rhythm of my footsteps.

  "I'll be vulnerable during the Crucible, more than ever." I placed my hand cautiously, but firmly on her forearm, "Let's do this right after we arrive, alright?"