Page 92 of The Awakening of Essensia

“My Lords, Lady” he said, then turned to the Queen. “My Queen.” He bent slightly at the waist and strode out of the room. No one objected to his abrupt departure.

He stalked through the palace, the joints in his hands aching as his flexed his fingers.

Let them pray, let them fixate on the wrong threats. He had no faith left in any of them. If they wouldn’t act, he’d stop pretending they had a say in any of it.

Outside, the crisp night air cooled his skin. He descended the palace steps, left a message with one of his men at the gate, and pulled up his hood. Then he turned towards Old Town.

21

Petals

Vaelira sat at the kitchen table in Axel’s townhouse, a bowl of untouched soup cooling in front of her. She stirred the dumplings absently, watching them drift among hunks of meat and finely diced vegetables. Erryn had brought her here before dinner. She’d handed her a Royal Crest then looked away when Vaelira pinned it to her cloak.

“Did he say when he’d be back?” Erryn asked.

Axel shook his head. “Just said to get everyone here.”

Erryn sighed and pushed her plate away. The door opened and Willem stepped into the kitchen. His flour-covered apron was gone, along with his usual charm. It had been replaced by a black knit jumper, fitted trouser, and a sombre expression. Throwing knives lined his belt. He looked like he’d aged five years in the thirty minutes he’d been gone.

Vaelira tilted her head. “They suit you.”

He shrugged and dropped into the seat beside her, one foot tapping restlessly against the tiled floor. “Only weapon I’ve ever been any good with,” he muttered, “been throwing them longer than I remember.” He stared at a blank spot on the wall. Considering where he’d probably learned to throw those knives, Vaelira didn’t push the subject. The door swung open again.

“About time,” Willem said without looking up.

Elijah entered. He scanned each face then sat at the head of the table. “We move tonight.”

“You’re sure?” Willem asked. Elijah nodded.

Vaelira leaned forward. “What’s tonight?”

“We suspect someone is smuggling relics into New Town,” he said. “We’re going to intercept them.”

“Did you find anything behind that door?”

“Something was definitely being stored there, but by the time I went back it was cleared out. We must have spooked them.”

“You think whoever it was is the same person we’re after tonight?”

“Yes.”

Axel frowned. “Is the source secure?”

Willem gave a short, bitter laugh. “Davey heard it from someone in Shanks, who heard it from his sister who heard it from a brothel girl last week.”

“You can’t rely on Davey to piss straight,” Erryn said. “Let alone deliver reliable intel.”

“As pleasant as that image is,” Elijah said dryly, “I’ve confirmed it. We have one hour to be in position.”

No one dared linger after dark anymore. Shadows stretched down every silent street, the lamplighters seeming to have forgotten this part of New Town.

Vaelira stood with her back against a wall in a narrow alley, hood drawn and her new dagger in hand. She hated how easily the hilt fit her palm, as if the cold metal had been moulded to its shape. Jon’s had always felt heavier and slightly off balance, but at least it had felt like hers.

She peered into the main street. It was unnaturally quiet, as if the stone sensed the strange relics drawing close. In the alley opposite, Erryn mirrored her position and signalled for Vaelira to fall back into the shadows.

She moved back as the sound of hooves echoed in the distance. She resisted the urge to call on her power. Elijah hadn’t told the others, and now wasn’t the time. She had no idea how they’d react. Essensia wasn’t trusted, especially not now, with the summonings spreading fear through the city. The Gods only knew how that news would land, and if it went badly, it could end up with her in a cell and executed by morning.

The hooves drew closer and Vaelira pressed herself deeper into the darkness as a black carriage barrelled past. It was made of polished wood, its wheels thick iron. Far too fine for New Town. It continued down the street, and Erryn nodded. This was the one.