Divined (24 page)

“Do you believe me now?” Clio called to Mannix, who stood on the threshold, his mouth twisted in horror.

“Mannix.” The High Priest’s voice was low. Behind him, amber cloaks filled the room. “Don’t act rashly.”

“You tried to kill him!” Mannix spun to face the approaching army.

“There’s no saving him.” The High Priest spoke slowly as he approached. “You are facing a choice, Mannix. The Emperor will die tonight, one way or another. Think about it. The nobles don’t know you, the people don’t trust you. You won’t have your father to protect you, and the commander will take the throne out from under you.”

Mannix looked down on the ashen face of his father. “I see no choice.”

“But if you had the support of the Order, you could hold the throne. Stand with us, Mannix. Stand with us, and you’ll have everything that is rightfully yours.

“And why would you do that?”

“Mannix, no, don’t listen to him.” Clio tried to step forward, but Atzi held her back, a warning in her eyes.

“I cannot hold the throne myself. Not without risking rebellions,” the High Priest continued. “We need someone to legitimize this overthrow. And someone of royal blood would cast away all doubts.”

“Why should I trust you not to turn around and murder me like you’ve done my father?”

“It wasn’t us,” the High Priest answered quickly. “We’re only taking advantage of a sloppy, half-finished attempt. This is for the best, Mannix. You were never going to rise out from under the commander’s shadow. Not with the people, and not even with your own father. He was always going to love the commander more than you.”

Mannix’s eyes narrowed, black jealousy corrupting his features.

The High Priest grinned. “I heard the name your father called out, even while you sat at his side. You were the one who found him. You who sat with him all this time. And yet, whose name was he moaning?”

Clio shivered in the stuffy heat.

The High Priest approached Mannix and held out the golden dagger. “We need someone we can trust. Prove to us where you stand.”

Mannix stared down at the blade. Clio knew his whole life Mannix had been plagued with jealousy. He had hated his mother for raising her daughters while she cast out her son. And now… Clio watched Mannix slowly wrap his hand around the dagger’s hilt. Now, he had found a father who would have always favored Riece—the man who saved his life, who led his army, who fought at his side—over his own flesh and blood son.

“Mannix, please,” Clio begged.

His gaze flashed to her for a moment then landed on the Emperor.

“Father,” Mannix whispered, laying a hand on the Emperor’s forehead.

“
Riece
…” The Emperor fixed his unseeing eyes on his son, and Clio knew it was over.

The blade flashed as it cut through air and sunk into the center of the Emperor’s trembling chest.

Clio felt Atzi tugging her arm. There was no time to witness what would come next. They had failed. Atzi moved to the window while the Order watched the Emperor take his final breaths.

Mannix looked up at Clio. Blood spattered his face, making his eyes redder. “Kill the Oracle.”

Clio and Atzi turned as one and leapt from the great window.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

The sky held them for only a heartbeat before they fell. Wind whipped her face, stealing her air, as they crashed down into the icy pool. Everything was black, and Clio couldn’t find the surface. Her arms were shaking, and her legs had hit the bottom hard enough that Clio feared she’d broken them.

Pushing off from the sandy ground, Clio found the surface. Her legs screamed, and all she could see was Mannix driving his blade into the Emperor’s chest again and again, but Clio swam to Atzi. None of the priests had been daring enough to make the jump after them, but Clio could see amber cloaks storming out of the palace doors at the far end of the pool.

They swam through the darkness, the pool seemingly stretching on forever ahead of them. When they reached the far side, Clio could barely drag herself out of the water. Atzi slipped, her fingers sliding against the slick stone, and Clio reached over to grab her wrist and pull her up. They lay on the cool marble, panting as they stared up at the moonless sky.

“We need to go,” Clio said, after she’d recovered her breath.

“I know.” Atzi rolled to her side, getting to her knees. “They can’t see us in the dark, but they’re searching the grounds for us.”

There was nothing to say. They had failed. The Emperor was dead, the Order was back in power, Mannix had betrayed them, and they were no closer to stopping the Bloodied One from destroying the mortal world. They made their way through the silent Morek streets, sticking to the shadows and looking out for Order members, but all Clio could think about was how she was going to tell Riece she had failed and the man he’d loved like a father was dead.

When they arrived at the temple, they found it completely dark. Not a single torch had been lit in any of the houses of the Deities. It was easy to slip down the steps leading to the priests’ residences without a single soul spotting them. Clio shivered as they reached Nox’s chambers, her armor heavy and frigid from the icy water.

Ealis stepped out into the hallway. “I thought I heard someone.” He smiled when he saw them. “Are you all right?” His smile slipped into concern.

Clio pushed past him wordlessly. Inside Nox’s rooms Riece, Tirza and Ashira stood over Vazuil, who was tied up on the floor.

“Clio.” Riece’s voice was warm with relief, but his eyes tightened with worry as he took in Clio’s appearance. “What happened?”

Ashamed, she had to push his hand away. “We failed.” Riece’s face cracked open before her. He sat down as if he couldn’t manage to stand with the weight of the Emperor’s death. “Mannix joined forces with the Order. He was the one who dealt the killing blow. They’ve seized the palace,” she finished, her voice flat and empty.

“Was he—” Riece cleared his throat. “Is Mannix the mortal working with your father?”

“I don’t think so.” Clio shook her head. “Someone attacked the Emperor but failed. Mannix looked as surprised as the rest of us. It was the High Priest who convinced him to turn on the Emperor and stand with the Order.”

“Did he… Was it quick?” Riece looked up.

Clio hesitated. “He didn’t feel it,” she finished. “When the time was upon him, his last word was your name.”

Riece buried his head in his hands and silently shook. Clio laid a hand on his shoulder, fighting her own tears. She looked around the room at the drawn faces watching them.

“Where’s Ixie?” Clio asked.

“She wouldn’t leave the palace,” Ashira answered. “She said someone had to warn Derik and Zarae.”

“I can’t—” Clio shook her head, anger making her heart pound. This was past the time for Ixie to be taking chances with her life. “Her recklessness will get them all killed.”

“Clio…” Ashira’s eyes were mournful.

“What Ixie does is no longer any concern of mine.” Clio turned to Vazuil. “When is this sacrifice going to take place?”

“I told you everything.”

“He’s lying.” Ealis stepped forward to stand beside Vazuil. “I treated his wounds when he came in. He doesn’t know who the instrument is, but I saw a red blade in his memories.”

Riece stood, the remains of his grief still etched across his face. “A red blade?”

“If I understand correctly,” Ealis continued, “the key to the Deities’ power lies in blood. It’s the blood of their worshippers that gives the Deities strength, and the more blood shed in their names, the more powerful they grow. I don’t know what the blade is, but I know Vazuil covets it.”

Vazuil pushed himself into the wall as Clio knelt down in front of him.

“What is it, Vazuil?” She held her hand out, and Riece placed a dagger in her palm.

“I was going to tell you…”

“Good. Then tell me now.” Clio leaned forward, dragging the blade along the thin skin of Vazuil’s throat.

“It’s an amulet. Your prophet is right. Bloodletting is power to the Deities. But as you discovered with Daizon, if you can kill a Deity’s worshippers then the Deity loses his power. The Bloodied One watched what you did to Daizon, and he figured out how he could steal power from his brothers. Spill enough worshippers’ blood, and they will grow weak.”

“But the Bloodied One would be weakening himself too. His brothers’ worshippers are also his own.”

“Right. But not if he can channel the strength of the bloodletting into an amulet,” Vazuil answered. “He’ll drain his brothers of power while his mortal ally harnesses the blood’s power in a single blade—the amulet. When your father is summoned, he’ll take the blade and possess the combined powers of all the Deities.”

Clio slammed her elbow across his face.

“What was that for?” Vazuil spat blood. “I’m telling you the truth.”

“I know.” Clio stood. “But you want the blade. You won’t get it.”

“Of course I want it! Your father already used it against me. My powers are inside that amulet. His mortal has been killing with it already. You think the increased offerings are only for famine? He’s been using the Order to kill enough worshippers to drain my powers into that cursed blade.”

“So then someone in the Order must be the one working with Clio’s father,” Nox said, appearing on the threshold, his robes torn and bloodied. “The offerings came as an order from the High Priest, but he wasn’t at the palace when the first attempt was made on the Emperor.”

Tirza rushed to his side. “What happened to you?”

“The army didn’t take to the High Priest’s announcement.” Blood was dripping down his arm and a dark bruise blackened his cheek.

“What announcement?” Riece asked.

Nox limped into the room and took a seat. “You’ve been accused of treason. The High Priest told an assembly of nobles and warriors that the Emperor had been betrayed by his commander. He claimed you’d been beguiled by the schemes of the beautiful and treacherous Oracle.”

“I have to go to my men.” Riece sheathed his blade and strode to the door, but Nox grabbed his wrist, halting him.

“You can’t leave here. Not yet. You and Clio have just been named the murderers of a beloved Emperor.”

“But my men—what’s to happen to them?”

Tirza looked to her brother. “He’s injured, Riece. Can’t you give him a moment to recover before you question him?” She crossed the room to retrieve a water basin and set to tending Nox’s injuries.

“Allow me,” Ealis offered.

Nox waved him away without a look. “My injuries don’t require your particular ministrations, cousin.” Something passed between the two men.

“Still jealous after all these years?” But Ealis retreated, handing his bag to Tirza.

“I have nothing to be jealous of. I simply prefer the touch of my lady.” He turned to Riece, offering his bleeding arm to Tirza. “Most of your men belong to Mannix and the Order now. The ones that resisted”—he indicated his injuries—“they fought. Some escaped. I imagine they’ve gone into hiding.”

“Nox is right, Riece,” Clio added. “You can’t go out into the city yet. Your men will wait for you.”

“And we should focus on rooting out which Order member is behind all of this.” Atzi still looked worn, her face drained of color.

“Or…” Clio paused, knowing her next words wouldn’t be well received.

“What?” Riece asked?

“Zarae told us she had found a new ally. What if she’s the one behind it all?”

Riece blinked. “And how would she have gotten access to the Order’s sacrifices?”

“I don’t know. But she turned on us once already, and she told us.
Freedom, power, a true ally.
What if it’s my father? She always wanted to escape the Empire.”

“Or she could have been speaking of Derik.” But Riece’s voice didn’t hold as much conviction. “We should find her. Speak to her.”

“Ah,” Nox began. “While we are on the subject, I’m afraid I have some bad news. Your Vessel was caught coming from Derik’s quarters.”

“Caught?” Clio repeated the word, suddenly numb.

“There was a lot of confusion in the palace following the attacks, but Derik and Zarae were never found. I think Ixie allowed herself to be caught in order to buy them time.”

“Is she alive?” Ashira could hardly finish the question.

Nox nodded. “For now. The High Priest plans to question her.”

“You mean he’s going to torture her.” Clio turned away. Part of her wanted to scream at Ixie for such recklessness. To sacrifice herself so Derik could get away? Clio’s eyes stung. It was foolish and dangerous, and yet she found herself only thinking of one thing—Ixie, suffering. It didn’t matter what she had done. None of it mattered. Only Ixie. “I’m going after her.”

“The palace is guarded by a hundred men tonight. There’s no way in.” Nox winced as Tirza tightly knotted a bandage around his arm.

“It doesn’t matter. They are torturing her because of me. She saved Derik because of me. I’m not abandoning her.”

“Only moments ago you said what this Ixie did was no longer any concern of yours.” Vazuil spoke from his place on the floor. “What we should be worried about is moving locations. When the High Priest gets Ixie to talk, she’ll lead the Order straight to our door.”

“She won’t talk,” Clio snapped. “And no one has asked for your opinion on the matter.”

“You should go,” Ealis said suddenly to Nox. There was a surprising depth of worry in Ealis’ expression. “You can get into the palace. Free her.”

“I would if I could. But then what? The Order will find out my betrayal, and I’ll be cast out. I’ll need to stay in the Order if we’re to keep abreast of the High Priest’s plans.”

“Then I’ll go.”

Nox laughed. “You’ve never been a warrior, cousin.”

“We can’t just sit here while they torture her!” Ealis’ face was red, and his eyes shone.

“I’m not proposing that.” Nox studied his cousin, then turned to face the group. “Tomorrow when the sun is at its zenith, Mannix will be coronated. The Order will be distracted, and I’ll be able to pull guards away from Ixie without raising too much suspicion. If she manages to resist them until then, we can make our rescue.”

“She’ll resist them,” Clio and Ashira said at once.