A ramp emerged from the shadows, a spiraling path climbing the immense shaft. Dust drifted in sparkling wisps, catching the newfound glow. My gaze snagged on the carvings that adorned the walls—intricate battle scenes etched in stone, hidden until now. I laughed, unable to mask my wonder.
“Welcome to the Manor in the Mountain, Princess,” Kallias murmured.
He guided me toward the incline, and my fingers brushed the carvings. They felt smooth, polished from care rather than time’s wear. The engravings stretched upward, a story spiraling as far as my eyes could follow.
“It tells the history of our gods and the rise of House Sol,” he explained, his words filled with quiet pride. “A lengthy tale, but if you’re curious, we can return later.”
“I’d like that,” I said, marveling at the details. My attention shifted to the dim shapes cast by our figures. “Tell me of Elohios.”
“Why him?”
The cut on my cheek stung as I ran my tongue along it. “I want to understand the god Radaan’s king serves.”
“Tallon hasn’t sworn allegiance to any.”
“I didn’t say Radaan’sfutureking,” I countered, my tone pointed.
Silence fell, the rhythmic clatter of hooves filling the void. A quick glance revealed Kallias, deep in thought, one brow furrowed while a ghost of a grin lingered.
He was a devout man, as were his people. Curiosity stirred, tugging at me to learn more about the god he served—and how I might earn that deity’s favor.
A tiny voice in my mind said it was only because I wanted to make Kallias smile… and it wasn’t wrong.
“Elohios has no birth, no origin,” Kallias began. “He has always been. The Father, alongside Veridis, the Mother. From truth and life, all things came to be. It’s tradition for Radaan’s king to seek his blessing before his reign begins.”
“Did you claim him before your coronation?” My gaze wandered, tracing the intricate carvings of battles and changing seasons that stretched along the wall.
“I did,” he said. “I was seventeen when I pledged myself to Elohios.”
“And when you ascended the throne, did he choose you?”
“Through his priests, he gave his blessing. They are his voice.”
“You had no rivals?”
“None.” His laugh came low and brief. “I was the only heir.”
“There weren’t many options, then,” I teased, earning a slight grin.
“True, but the choice didn’t matter. I serve Elohios with all I am. He demands truth from my tongue and justice from my sword.”
“And Veridis? Where does she fit?” I tilted my head, frustration stirring as our horses’ strides carried us past details I wished to study closer.
“She is the chaos to his order,” he explained. “She creates life, and Elohios protects it. Without her, there would be no citizens to serve, no lives to honor with truth. She is the lifeblood of my people.”
A faint smirk curled my lips. “Once, I saw a painting in the palace—The Great Hunt. A mammoth, I think.”
“It’s the king’s duty to slay them, to protect his realm.” His tone shifted, softer, as though the memory brushed against something distant. “It depicts King Galivard the Second. It hangs in the southern halls.”
“There was someone with him.”
Greaves coughed behind us, or perhaps it was a choke.
“After the slaying?” I pressed, casting him a sly glance.
His jaw tightened, and his nostrils flared as he stared straight ahead. “The hunt belongs to the king,” he said, voice strained. “What comesafteris the queen’s charge. Veridis blesses her by opening her womb, ensuring life flourishes after death. It is balance.”
“They seemedverybalanced.” My tone carried a teasing edge, but it faded when Kallias turned to me, pain stark in his gaze.
