Page 174 of The Stolen Throne
With a cry that would rend any heart, the Reverie opens her hand, and two glittering items fall through the air, sparkling in the starlight. They land not far from us, and Horus and Hakan run off to retrieve them.
Bene whirls around and flies out over the ocean with the Reverie still clutched in his talons. Flies until he’s swallowed by the horizon and we can no longer see him. Hopefully he’s planning to give her quite a swim back.
“Meren?” Cain’s broken voice draws my attention to where he’s gotten to his knees in front of me. I only hear him because I’m so close.
He stares at me, visibly confused, fear and horror rippling over his features as realization sets in. “Mother goddess,” he whispers. “What did I do?”
74
I’m Not Alone
in Hoping
The Rites are for humans tonight.
From where I stand on the top of the palace wall in Tropikis, looking out over the city, I can see the celebrations in the streets. Vaguely, I’m aware of Horus standing nearby, keeping watch over me.
We’re expecting the horns to blast any second now.
The difference in the streets below is enough to know something important is about to happen. There’s a frenzy to the excitement now—a sour, underlying hope that drags at me. The music has changed, an odd, mournful wail lingering beneath the beat. Even the scents on the air are different, more pungent, less of the sweet. Or maybe that’s the effect on me?
More than that, though, people who need to be rejuvenated are everywhere. Elderly have been helped outside by their families. Those who are too sick or debilitated have been carried on pallets and laid under the stars, many of them at the palace walls as close to the king as they can get. Seven years they’ve been waiting, in some cases. A long time.
An older man leans over a woman who looks too weak to get off the cot they used to carry her into the street. Salt-and-pepper hair is braided down her back, and he lifts it from behind her to smooth it over one shoulder, settling her more comfortably.
I can’t help my smile. It’s tempting to join them. We have a lot to celebrate, too.
Like all of us getting back without dying.
Horus, Cain, Bene, and I returned via the portals. Reven had to shadow the rest of the others back. We agreed that it was worth the risk because they couldn’t go through the portals. How would we justify to those guards who saw only three of us and a raven leave that we’re coming back with more?
It’s taking him a while, transporting Pella, Hakan, Tziah, and Vos one at a time. I couldn’t stand the waiting and worrying that he’d run down his power or lose control, so I changed back into my Rites clothing and came up here.
A whisper of a touch feathers over one arm.
Reven.
He made it. I didn’t hear or see him arrive. He must’ve shadowed up here. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Horus leave us, Tziah now at his side.
As if that first touch was a test, his shoulders ease, and he pulls me closer, an arm banded around my waist, my back to his front, so we can both look out over the city.
“Shadows all quiet?” I ask.
Reven nuzzles my neck. “So far so good.”
I sink into him even as part of me notes that something is different. As much as my heart is fluttering, worry tugs at me, though. “You shouldn’t have shadowed up here.”
Reven props his chin on my shoulder. “I had to get Tziah back either way, so I came here instead of the room.”
“What if someone had seen you appear out of nothing?”
“I was careful.” He’s grumbling now. Which is kind of adorable.
I try to stop worrying. We have four of the six amulets, and none of us died getting them. All we are missing is the one Eidolon has, and Savanah’s—and I already know how to get that one. Unfortunately, it’s more dangerous than the Whirlpool and the Reverie. Though after that near disaster, I’m rethinking listening to the ghost of Eidolon’s advice.
Still…by all accounts, today was a huge win.
One I should take a moment to enjoy. “We did it.”
