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"I know." Mia turned to look at him. "I'm really proud of how our community came together to help these strangers. Syssi, Alena, Sari, and several others went shopping so the women would have fresh clothing to change into after they showered and got patched up by Bridget, and several ladies from the service staff volunteered to take care of them. "
"They've been through so much," Frankie said quietly, her gaze drifting. "It's going to be a long road to recovery."
Mia nodded. "They are getting the best help possible. The clan has been rescuing trafficking victims for years, and they operate a charity that rehabilitates them. The lady who runs it has plenty of experience dealing with traumatized victims."
"I'm glad." Frankie glanced at Dagor. "We were at the right place at the right time to save them. Perhaps your Fates had something to do with it?"
"I'm sure they did," Dagor said. "But we won't know their plans until they are ready to reveal them."
"How true." Mia let go of Frankie's hand. "I should let you rest. Is there anything you need? Do you want me to get you a nightgown from your cabin? A brush?"
Until Mia's offer, it hadn't occurred to Frankie that she probably looked like roadkill. And to think that she'd been talking with Dagor about commitment and feelings while looking terrible was so damn embarrassing that she felt like pulling the sheet over her head.
"Yes, please. I need a brush and a mirror, my facial creams, deodorant, perfume… in short, the works."
Mia patted her arm. "I've got you, girl. I'll pack a bag for you and come right back."
"Thank you. You are a lifesaver."
"I thought that was me," Dagor murmured.
"You too, darling. You are both my life savers."
Aru
In his bedroom, Aru lay on his back, closed his eyes, and opened the channel to his sister.
I am alone now, he sent.
It took a couple of moments for her to answer.This will take some time. Are you going to be alone for a while?
Aria's mental voice was devoid of its usual warmth, which probably meant that she wasn't alone, and that someone was telling her what to say. It didn't matter that only he could hear her. Her demeanor influenced her inner voice.
I have about an hour.
That is sufficient. The Oracle assures me that while I am in the temple, we can communicate without fear of anyone eavesdropping on our telepathic communication. This is important in the context of what I need to tell you next. The queen wants to speak to her granddaughter through us. Meaning that I will be present when she comes to visit the Supreme, and you will need to be with the heir at the same time.
Aru frowned.That is too dangerous. For thousands of years, the two of them have met in complete seclusion. Is there a way for you to sneak into the reception hall without the queen's attendants noticing? Some secret passage that only the Supreme knows about?
There is not. But the queen came up with a good cover story for why she suddenly needs to visit the Supreme Oracle daily and why I need to be there.
No cover story will be good enough, Aria. Any deviation from tradition will be met with suspicion.
As Aria chuckled inwardly, the inner sound of her amusement traveled over their communication channel in the form of bubbles that were a little tickling. You are talking about the queen of Anumati, Aru. The most seasoned politician after the Eternal King. She is going to announce her latest project at the gala for the new university that is in three days, and it cannot be suspicious if she makes it public.
What kind of a project?
The only one that could involve the Supreme Oracle and her scribe. Making a written record of all the greatest prophecies. She will ask the Oracle to look back into the distant past and report what her predecessors have predicted. The queen will decide which prophecies should be included in the official canon and which should be kept in the royal archives for the king's and queen's eyes only. That not only gives a legitimate reason for her daily visits, but it is also something that the king will covet and encourage.
Aru was impressed. Their queen was as devious as she was brilliant.
Naturally, she will need a scribe to write them down.
Aria chuckled again. Naturally.
That sounds patriotic enough, but how are the three of you going to pull it off while facilitating conversation between the queen and her granddaughter? Are you going to make the prophecies up?
Some are already engraved on the columns, so I only need to copy them. Nothing says that everything the Oracle sees needs to be new. Great prophecies have been engraved on the columns from time immemorial, but since the king does not trust their accuracy, he would be very happy about the Oracle verifying that they were recorded properly and also that they came to pass according to the prophecy. That will require the Oracle and me to spend some time courting those visions, but we do not need to rush. The queen will warn that the project might take many years because the Oracle's visions are often unclear and the requests need to be repeated.
