“Your Highness, the king—”
“It’s all right,” Saayna said as she stared up at the Phoenix. A look of clarity suddenly washed over her face, and she closed her eyes. Whispered a prayer they could not hear. Elena ached to feel what Saayna did; to believe so fully and completely in the heavens and find strength from them. “I will go.”
She turned to Elena. Gone was the look of fear and grief. Instead, Saayna’s face was composed, calm even. “You will do what is right. I believe in it.”
“Saayna, wait.”
But the high priestess was already descending the stairs. Majnu bowed and quickly followed.
“Are you okay?” Ferma asked.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine,” Elena said, distracted.What did Saayna mean about the priests?They had been there during the Ashanta ceremony. Not all of them, but they didn’t need the full order for the proceedings. “Ferma, did the priests look frightened?”
Ferma paused. “They did seem… distracted, but I wouldn’t say frightened. Why do you ask?”
“It’s just,” she began, but then Ferma grabbed her hands, studying her reddened fingertips.
“Mother’s Gold, you were burned!”
“Oh.” Elena looked down at her hands. “It’s nothing.” Her shoulders sagged. “I couldn’t withstand the heat, like always.”
“You did better this time. You almost had it.”
“Almost isn’t good enough.”
She needed practice. She needed to be alone in the desert, to lose herself in its dunes, to feel its breath against her skin. She needed time.
The Phoenix stared down at her with hard, unflinching eyes.
Why did you forsake me?
And with that question, mixed with her grief, Elena felt rage spark in her stomach. Rage against herself, against the heavens, against her father. She wanted to drive a blade into those red eyes, to shatter the mirrors that reflected only her and nothing higher. She wanted to weep.
“I thought you were down here.”
She looked up to see Samson.
“Leave us, Ferma,” he ordered.
Elena paused, taken aback. No one commanded Ferma other than her and her father. Ferma bristled and her hair began to curl at the ends. And perhaps it was the image of Ferma standing beside her, defiant, that broke Elena from her spiraling thoughts and rooted her back to the present.
She faced Samson, shoulders straight. “What do you want?”
It was Samson’s turn to be taken aback. He looked between her and Ferma, hesitating.
“Shit. Am I intruding?”
“Yes,” Elena said. “But I’ll allow Ferma to decide if you can stay.”
A small smile touched the edge of Ferma’s lips. “Oh, let’s spare the man for today, Your Highness. He still has a long way to learn who can grant leave.”
At this, understanding rippled across Samson’s face. He bowed his head, sheepish. “I apologize, Ferma.”
Elena and Ferma shared a secretive grin before Ferma turned back to Samson. “At ease, soldier.” As Samson straightened, she whispered in Elena’s ear. “I have to stay behind. Yassen and the guards will be with you.” She gripped Elena’s shoulder. “And don’t fret. You’ll find a way. You always do.”
Elena squeezed Ferma’s hand and watched her vanish up the stone staircase. Then she turned to Samson, who was examining the statue.
“Needs to be cleaned. Doesn’t it?” He pointed at marks left from birds and other creatures of the mountain. When she did not answer, his voice softened. “I heard your father say how proud he was to see you sit in the flames for so long.”
