Chapter64
Tori
InKoron, court was held in a great ballroom that outdid the rest of the palace in its opulence.Itwas open to the air, and the setting sun was framed by great columns that rose up to the arched ceilings.Thelow sun reflected off of every gilded surface, making the whole room seem to glow.Morecolumns lined the walls, allowing guests to mingle away from the main floor.Outside, a great balcony overlooked the gardens, and then onto the fertile fields of theGoldenKingdom.Icould see nothing save for these fields of golden flowers, the light summer wind causing them to shimmer in the dying light.
Ahuge city like this, surrounded by plants that couldn’t be eaten, while its people starved.Inoted that the placement of the balcony and gardens also blocked the view of the lower ring.Can’thave the nobles viewing that suffering, now can we?
Abraxasplaced his hand on my lower back, the warmth there was my only comfort as we stepped into this viper’s den.Ikept my face schooled in cold neutrality, my back straight and chin high.Ionly deferred toAbraxasand theEmperor.Everyoneelse was below me.
Hadeonhad gathered his entire court to honorAbraxas’ visit.Aswe swept into the room,Ifelt the stares lock on us.Unlikewhen we had first entered court atXyr, it wasn’t curiosity that drove it, but a mixture of fear and reverence.WhileAbraxas’ and my outfits were cut just the same as the nobles, theirs tended towards pastels and light colors.Abraxas’ black and my crimson had us standing out like blood on clean linen.Butthat was the idea.
Shortly, some nobles approached us.Aftermy introduction, most ignored me and spoke directly toAbraxas.Ipaid them no mind.Aslave came by carrying a tray of ambrosia, andItook glasses forAbraxasand me.Imade very blatant toasts with one noble after another, making sure they saw me drink from the glass beforeIfound surreptitious times to dump the rest in a potted plant.
Eventually,Hadeonmade his way to us.
“Abraxas, how long has it been since you’ve been to my court?Andso kind of you to bring your little pet with you.”Hegave me that predator’s smile, whichIreturned with a demur one of my own and a small curtsey.Hefrowned. “Imust say,Iwas surprised you wanted to visit so soon, especially asIhad just seen you.”
“WhatcanIsay,YourEminence?PerhapsImissed you.”Anemotion shot throughHadeon’seyes thatIcouldn’t decipher, butAbraxascontinued, “ButIthinkImostly liked the type of show my little princess likes to put on when you’re around.”
Hadeon’sexpression cleared, “Yes,Idid quite like seeing her undone.”Revulsionriled in my gut, butIhid it. “PerhapsIshould have you andPallasget better acquainted.MaybeAbraxaswould be more partial to sharing you with her, especially as a spectator.”
Abraxasplayed his part well, “Well, when you place such a tantalizing offer on the table,Hadeon, how canIresist?”
Isaw surprise flash inHadeon’seyes for just a moment, but then that grin returned. “Excellent.”Hewaved his hand, andPallasseemed to appear from nowhere, as if she had been waiting to be summoned.Shewas just as stone cold asIremembered, wrapped in a light blue gown that shimmered as if it had been sewn from ice.Shewas stunning, perhaps the most beautiful femaleIhad ever seen.Buther eyes were deep, andIknew they hid unimaginable things.
Hadeonspoke, “Pallas, my love, please escort the princess so the men can talk.”Herexpression didn’t change, but she held her arm out for me to take.Itook one last steadying breath, shoving the image of me sending the stem of my glass of ambrosia straight throughHadeon’seye away, and took her hand.ButAbraxastightened his grip on my waist.
“Now,Hadeon, my little princess has been so good of late,Ipromised she would get to see her brother.Ihaven’t seen him tonight.Canyou summon him?”
Hadeonstiffened, “PrinceJundesired privacy tonight, unfortunately.”Myheart caught in my throat.Ineeded to get toJun, this whole plan wouldn’t work without him.WasIalready too late?
ButAbraxasbrushed me off, andPallaspulled me away.Mymind was spinning, trying to form a solution.
Pallasdidn’t seem interested in conversing with anyone, mostly just gliding around the hall.Mostof the nobles seemed just inclined to avoid her.
“So, how long have you lived inKoron?”Itwas an inane question, but it was allIcould think of in my distracted state.Shebore her eyes into me, answer enough of what she thought of it.Iswiped a glass from a passing tray, and she eyed it with disgust.Itook a sip, but knewIhad to be careful.Iwouldn’t be able to dump this glass with her watchful eye.
“Whatof the ambrosia harvest this year?Ihad heard much of the crop was lost throughout the land?”Shedidn’t even blink and still said nothing.Sheled me around the edge of the room, behind the columns and out of sight.
Theintense lack of conversation was grating on me.
“Whereare we headed,MyLady?Actually, how shouldIrefer to you?Youaren’t empress and you aren’t royal, so what does that make you?”Finally, something stirred in her.
“Hasanyone ever told you that you talk too much?”Shesaid it quietly, but her grip on my arm tightened.
Good,Iwas getting somewhere. “Justtrying to get to know you,Pallas.”Oh, she didn’t like that.Sheshoved me so my back was to a column.Wewere out of sight, andIwondered what she would do next.Mynerves were fried, andIitched for a fight, even though that was a terrible idea.Butshe just continued to stare at me, her gaze tracing over my face and down my chest.
Pallas’ gaze lingered on my neck, andIcouldn’t help asIsquirmed.Therewas no way she could see through the glamour.Notunless she had magic of her own, which was impossible, wasn’t it?
Buther eyes snapped back up, and she latched her hand firmly around my wounded arm.Asmall whimper escaped me.Sheflinched, but then her eyes hardened again, and she leaned in, “Comewith me.”
Itried to look back toAbraxas, warn him, butIcouldn’t do so without making a scene as she dragged me out of the hall.
Weheaded down several halls, and by habit,Itried to memorize the route, but her hand was clamped down hard and pain shot through my whole side, breaking my focus.Eventually, she shoved me through a door and released me.Ispun my feet into a wide stance and raised my hands, ready to fend off her next attack, but she just rolled her eyes at me.
“Youhave two minutes, that’s it.”Shecrossed her arms and stared at me.Ifinally took in my surroundings.Wewere in a bedroom, a fine one.Ilet my eyes leave her for just a moment and saw a bed along the wall.
“Jun!”Iturned my back toPallasand ran to him.Itwas a bad tactic, butIdidn’t care.Helay on the bed, sleeping or unconscious,Icouldn’t tell.Iran my hand over his forehead, and he was clammy and covered in sweat. “Jun,I’mhere…Jun, wake up.”Itwas too similar, all too similar to what he must have felt when he had found me nearly dead on the floor.
