I cast a weak smile at Aurelia and Kemp—both of whom now looked ill—and sent up a silent prayer to Hellyne to keep them safe.
With no other choice, I fell into step behind the Phoenixian godkin as they trailed after Talon and Ajax. My heart still working overtime, I silently cursed several times, clenching my clammy hands.
At least you’re not being dumped in a minotaur-inhabited labyrinth.
Well there was that. But was being made to try out for the Black Tapestry any better? Not if the behavior of the Sovereigns was anything to go by. And being an officiate seemed like something of a dark fate.
Still, while I had absolutely no wish to join the Order, I had no interest in the alternatives: that being a lethal defeat at the hands of Xalbia, whatever that was, or being subjected to whatever ‘tests’ the Sovereigns had in mind.
In sum, I was well and truly fucked.
CHAPTER THREE
Outside the tower, I drew in a mound of fresh air and took a centering breath. It didn’t do much tosteady me, though. My nerves were so shot that my skin prickled, and the cobwebs of panic in my mind were making it difficult for me to think.
I had been prepared for the Sovereigns to toss me into a situation where my death might well be imminent, given the whole minotaur story. But I would never once havedreamedthat they’d so much as suggest I enlist in the Black Tapestry, let alone in an attempt to test my ability to survive … whatever Xalbia happened to be. I just couldn’t wrap my head around it all.
Atticus tossed an amused look at me over his shoulder and then whispered something to Seneca and Bevan. They snickered, clearly entertained by my little predicament.
As for the godkin from the other Phoenixian settlements—there was approximately thirteen, most of whom were males—they didn’t seem amused at my expense, but there was no sympathy or welcome in their expressions.
Whatever.
Ignoring them, I kept my gaze fixed on the back of Talon’s head as he led the way through the landscaped garden, retracinghis earlier steps. Ajax again took up the rear, maybe still to ensure that we made no attempt to flee.
Once we exited the garden, Talon led us to the front gate of the garrison. The wagons were gone, along with the horses, dogs, and other officiates. He pulled open one of the wooden doors that were smaller versions of the city’s entrance.
All of us piled inside, and I heard Ajax close the door behind me. The woodland-glade look continued here, but the buildings weren’t white. Like the walls surrounding the garrison, they were a gothic black.
The place had a very no-nonsense design. There were no pretty gardens, no decorative columns, no stained-glass windows. The layout appeared to be simple. The structures I could see from where I stood were basic. And the rectangular courtyard that sat in the center of the base was a mere stretch of short grass.
A large building sat either of me, parallel to each other. One appeared to be storage—I could see a flash of wagons through an open door. The other was quite clearly a barn/stable for the animals; I could hear neighs and pup-like yips.
Ahead of each of those buildings was another—again, they were parallel to each other. They were also identical in both shape and length. The one on the left had two doors; the first was marked “Armory,” and the second was marked, “Laundry.”
The structure on the right also had two doors. On the first hung a “Apothecary” sign. The other door was labeled “Supplies.” It seemed that—
“The last of the offerings, I’m guessing,” said a new voice, drawing my attention to a cute, lean male heading in our direction. Based on his white-blond hair alone, he could only be one of the Delphiae. He sized up each of the Phoenixian godkin before sliding that assessing gaze to me. A frown slipped over his expressive face. “Well, this is new.”
“The Sovereigns want her as a candidate for the Order,” Ajax explained, moving to Talon’s side.
“But she’s human,” said the Delphiae, confused.
“Yeah, I see that. Clearly, they don’t find it relevant.”
The blond scratched at his bristly cheek. “Want me to take it from here? Give these the tour and get them settled?”
Talon grunted in affirmation but then shot him a look of warning, his gaze briefly dipping to the other officiate’s crotch.
Holding up his hands, the blond pledged, “I will keep my dick in my pants.”
“Be sure that you do, Jelani,” Ajax told him. “We don’t need more candidates having cat fights in the courtyard over you.”
After Talon spared me one last glance, he stalked off with Ajax at his side.
Facing us, Jelani pointed to the buildings on our left, sweeping his hand to indicate each one as he said, “Storage. Armory. Laundry room.” He then gestured at the structures on our right. “Stables-slash-barn. Apothecary. Supplies.” He guided us to the latter room and pushed open the door. “Form a line to the counter.”
We all did so, me falling into position at the rear. Peering past the others, I noticed a pretty woman with wide amber eyes who had to be a Lykaon. She stood behind a counter clad in a standard Black Tapestry outfit. At her back were several long shelves on which piles of clothing sat. The smile she gave Jelani made the vicious scar on her cheek curve.
