The War of Two Queens (Blood and Ash 4)

“What did you see?” Every muscle in my body tensed. If they found anything like what we had seen in that other chamber, I didn’t think I could take it. “Did you find any children?”

“Not yet, but we did find men and women in white robes.”

Likely Priests and Priestesses. “Where are they?”

“We have them in the sanctum.” Lin dragged a hand over his face as I came up the steps. “The tunnels and chambers are still being searched.”

My hands curled into fists as two soldiers opened the doors. We entered the receiving chamber of the Temple, passing another soldier who stood off to the side, her features stark as she stared at the wall.

Beams of narrow sunlight streaked in from the thin windows and crept across the shadowstone floors. Dozens of gold candelabra lined the walls, their flames rippling gently as we entered the mouth of the sanctum. There were no pews. Only a platform framed by thick, black columns.

They sat in front of the platform. Six of them, wearing the white robes of the Priests and Priestesses of Solis. Their heads were bowed. Two females. Four males. Those who had hair wore it either shorn or pulled back in a lacy, white cap. The shapeless robes covered their bodies except for the face, hands, and feet.

A bald head lifted, glancing past me and then bouncing back. His eyes widened as he watched my approach. “I know who you are.”

I stopped in front of him, silent as the remaining Priests and Priestesses lifted their heads. The visage of someone I hadn’t given much thought to took shape in my mind. Analia. The Priestess in Masadonia, who had been responsible for my teachings but preferred to use her hand as a form of education. There had been a singular cruelty to that woman, and I didn’t know if those before me possessed the same vicious streak. But I didn’t doubt that Analia or any who served in these Temples knew the truth about the Ascended and the Rite. “What is your name?”

“I am called Framont,” the Priest answered. “And you…you are the one they call the Queen of Flesh and Fire. We’ve been waiting for you since before you were born.”

“What in the hell is that supposed to mean?” Valyn demanded, having come up behind us.

The Priest didn’t look at him. He didn’t take his eyes off me as tension compressed my spine. I had a feeling I knew what he referenced. “The prophecy.”

Framont nodded as Kieran drew closer to me. “It’s time for you to fulfill your purpose.”

“My purpose?” I repeated. “My purpose is to destroy the Blood Crown—”

“And remake the realms as one.” His words chilled my skin. Vessa had said that I would remake the realms. An almost childlike smile crept across his rounded face. “Yes, that is your purpose. You are the Chosen, spoken of long before your birth. You were foretold. Promised.”

“What in the utter hell is he talking about?” Cyr muttered from behind me.

Kieran sent a quick look at Valyn. “The tunnels under Redrock—they likely connect to this Temple. They should be guarded immediately.” There was intention in Kieran’s words, one heavier than what he spoke. “They lead out to the cliffs by the sea.”

Valyn picked up on the meaning. The former King pivoted on his heel. “I want all of you to make sure that Redrock is secure. Check every tunnel under the castle and seal off those pathways.”

Within moments, Valyn had cleared the Temple of all the generals and soldiers. Only Hisa remained, and that was a smart move. Although Valyn and Hisa had ferreted out any members of the Unseen from their ranks, their methods weren’t perfect. We knew that because of the attack the Unseen had launched on us on the road to Evaemon. But beyond that, anyone who heard the prophecy would assume that it was about me.

“You speak of prophecies,” I said, refocusing on the Priest. “Of the great conspirator—”

“Who is ‘birthed from the flesh and fire of the Primals,’” he finished. “And ‘will awaken as the Harbinger, the Bringer of Death and Destruction—’”

“I have birthed nothing,” I cut him off.

The smile grew, flushing his face. “Not in a physical manner.”

“How? How has a Priest in Solis heard a prophecy spoken by a god eons ago?” Valyn pressed, even though he already knew. Isbeth. “A prophecy that only a handful of Atlantians have heard?”

“Because we have always served the True King of the Realms.” Then, and only then, did Framont look at Valyn. His smile turned into a sneer. “And the Atlantians have always served a lie.”

Valyn stiffened and then moved as if to step forward. I held up a hand, stopping him. “The True King?”

“Yes.” Framont spoke the word as if it were a benediction.

The Priests and Priestesses might believe they served the gods, but they answered to the Blood Crown—what I was sure they called the True Crown. And what they believed about the gods had been fed to them by the Ascended. Which meant that the person Framont believed this True King to be, was who Isbeth believed it should be.