The Shadow Princess (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 6)

It was the simple gold band with a black oval stone that I’d worn every day of my life in Wyoming and for the first time, I realize it’s not on my hand. My false memories had me believing it was a gift from my parents, and I never wanted to remove it as it made me feel close to them. I realize now that was probably nothing more than a compulsion, and it clearly had a protection spell imbued in its dark stone.

No wait… that’s not right. I think back to that moment before Bastien sent me through the veil and he had fiddled with my engagement ring. He had turned the pink diamond into a simple black stone, or rather, maybe he merely glamoured it. I couldn’t figure out what he was doing, and then it no longer mattered as I was sucked out of this dimension. Regardless, it’s no longer on my finger as its job is done. It’s no longer protecting me, and it certainly isn’t an engagement ring anymore.

He further explains to the Conclave, and I guess to me, since this is the first time I’m hearing why Bastien came for me, an incredible tale of strange and perilous happenings in the First Dimension, including the death of Kymaris, queen of the Underworld, and a new god of Life named Zora.

Bastien’s expression is unyielding when he finishes. “I don’t need to explain myself for trusting Maddox with the news he brought to me. It should be enough that you trust me as commandant of this army. The fact that Thalia was unprotected without her ring meant there was no time to discuss with the Conclave the merits of retrieving her. And you should be grateful I acted without your counsel, for Kieran and I arrived just as three erchras were poised to kill her.”

Laina’s face crumbles at this news, and her shoulders hunch. “Well, yes, then… you acted appropriately.”

“You,” I seethe, my anger hotter than ever, “did not act appropriately when you conspired to send me away without my permission.”

Laina flushes guiltily. “Your Highness—”

“Stop,” I order, and her mouth snaps shut. “I don’t want to hear your reasoning. I don’t want your apologies, because I don’t believe you’re sorry for what you did. You not only betrayed me, but you disrespected me by not following the wishes of your sovereign.”

“Your Highness,” a man says from across the table. He wrings his hands nervously, and I recognize him as one of the Clairmont Conclave members who fled the palace with us all those years ago after my parents were killed. “You were young… not but twenty, and you were burdened with grief and fear. We knew you didn’t want to leave, but there were thirteen of us on the Conclave who felt we needed to protect you from yourself.”

“There were fourteen of you who made the decision,” I reply flatly, indicating I’ve not forgotten that Bastien sided with them. “I understand your rationale, but I don’t accept it. For those transgressions, you’ve lost my trust. However, we are at war, and I know that I need this Conclave’s help to regain Kestevayne. For now, I am putting aside punishment until I can get a better handle on what’s going on.”

Several of the members pale. I myself have no clue if there will be true punishment, or even if I have the power to carry it out. It’s been proven that the Conclave were not above disregarding my wishes, and they could do so again. They certainly were able to enlist Bastien in their treachery, and he commands an army.

As such, I have to play this firmly, but safely.

The room is silent, and I’m not sure if I’ve rendered them mute with fear or if perhaps they’re plotting how to gain control. “However,” I continue, “I am here now—apparently at the behest of the gods—with the sole intention of working with the Conclave to help win Kestevayne back for its people.”

My last words seem to cut through the tension, and Laina lets out an audible sigh of relief. She smiles anxiously. “Well, let’s all take a seat, shall we? We will bring you up to date on our progress.”

The Conclave members shuffle to their chairs. I move to one on the end, hoping it will establish my authority. I grit my teeth when Bastien sits at the other end of the table, which makes him look like my equal.

To help solidify the notion I can be in charge, I begin by ignoring him and addressing the Chief of the Conclave. “Laina, why don’t you start by explaining why I don’t recognize some of the members sitting at this table. You are thirteen strong, as it should be, but this is not the Clairmont Conclave who fled the palace with me.”