At this, her stomach churned. What had been holy about that fight? What had beenright?
“He is a god, greater than you, greater than us. Even those who did not believe in the gods are now clutching their prayer beads. And his followers, they…” She faltered, an anguish so deep wrenching her face. “They destroyed the temple.”
“The bastard,” Elena seethed. She began to rise, but Kruppa shook herhead, and Elena found her fury an insubstantial speck compared with the priestess’s sorrow.
“The people would rather align themselves with him than…” She paused, looking away, as if the words caused her pain. Then, in a softer voice, “I am sorry, Your Majesty. Truly. But you have lost.”
Lost.
What a simple word. So quick on Kruppa’s tongue, so quick to ensure Elena’s defeat.
She had lost in a simple skirmish that had evolved into something more, something she could not control. Why had she reached for her sword? Why had she not left, when she had had the chance?
Elena blinked hot tears from her eyes and hurriedly wiped them away in disgust. She should not be crying. She should be raging. Marching through the city, straight toward Samson, and taking his head for all to see. But even as she thought it, Elena remembered how easily his flames had cut through hers, how viciously his urumi sang through the air. His utter, complete control. She knew that if she went now, she would not defeat Samson. She would lose, again. The people would see her fall, again. What little trust and loyalty she had gained would quickly vanish like landmarks in a sandstorm.
But I cannot stay still.
The thought, only half-formed, quickly solidified and sank into her bones as if she was buried deep in sand.
She could not stay within the clutches of a monster who called himself a prophet and further jeopardize her standing with the Ravani. If she did, she would have to live according to his terms. Make herself smaller, lesser. Elena could already see the confines of her cage, feel the rough scratch of a noose around her neck.
No.
Elena rose with a borrowed strength. Heat thrummed in her veins, her Agni stirring. She was Elena Aadya Ravence. The queen of Ravence.
She was not meant to be caged.
Elena met Kruppa’s eyes and saw the older woman shrink back. “Where is my sword?”
Elena ignored the whispers as she strode toward the command center. People stared or reeled back as she neared them. One woman signedacross herself, while an older man clutched his prayer beads and averted his eyes—as if merely catching her gaze was considered sacrilegious. Not long ago they had showered her with flower garlands and praise as she had stood on the hall steps. That day, she had wanted to fling off their love and wallow in her self-misery. What she wouldn’t do to feel that devotion again.Kruppa was right, she thought bitterly.I am carrying the black plague of the godless.She drew her scarf tighter and bounded up the stairs. Guards at the door started at her appearance, but she swept through and pushed back the doors with a loud boom.
Chandi looked up from the holopanel. Akino froze at his worktable littered with urumis. Visha lowered a metal contraption and gave her a cold, hard smile. But Elena gazed past them all as Samson slowly swiveled in his chair and met her eyes.
“Elena.”
“Samson.”
She sauntered forward and winced inwardly as her wounds smarted, as if a reminder of being so close to his Agni. Samson rose, his face stoic and cold.
“You’ve recovered,” he said.
“You’ll have to try harder to put me down.”
His mask did not slip, but she caught the small twitch of his lips.
“Undoubtedly so.” He paused, and in the awkward silence that followed, Elena felt for his Agni. She searched for that familiar presence of heat, so ruthless and self-assured, and found itless. It was as if his Agni was… tempered. Like a shobu made to heel, it felt contained. No bracelets of fire adorned his wrists.
“I—I wanted to apol—” he began and frowned. “I… Well, I wanted to check on you. Kruppa, Visha”—at this Visha gave a snort—“the others were worried. The people were worried. Yesterday went too far.”
Elena smiled at him, thinking,What utter bullshit, you snakeskinned bastard.
She dropped her hand to her waist and drew her sword. Akino gasped. Visha sprang to her feet. Chandi loosed her urumi, and the metal sound of it scraping against the floor filled the space. Only Samson remained still, his eyes narrowed.
“Have you come to lose again?” he said.
“No,” she said. And then Elena Aadya Ravence did something she had sworn never to do.
She knelt.
