Page 11 of The Half King
Cerise felt her eyebrows jump. “Do you mean the emissary ended her own life?”
“With poison,” he said. “No one knows why. She left behind a note, but it made very little sense. I think the nature of her message might have contributed to the mysticism surrounding your arrival. It sounded prophetic.”
“What did the note say?”
“Just a single line,” Daerick said.“As above, so below. The flame you seek to dampen will consume you.”
Chills broke out along Cerise’s arms.
“At first, I thought it was a reference to something in the sacred scrolls,” Daerick continued. “But I’ve been searching my texts for any mention of dampened flames, and I haven’t found anything.”
“When exactly did the emissary die?” Cerise asked.
Daerick considered. “Four days ago, midafternoon.”
That was when the Reverend Mother had received her revelation. The timing couldn’t be a coincidence. The Reverend Mother had referred to the old emissary as her most trusted servant. More than likely, the two of them had shared a spiritual connection. But what did that have to do with Cerise? Maybe the woman’s journal would provide a clue—a discovery that might lead to breaking the curses, like the Reverend Mother had said.
“You know something,” Daerick said. “I can tell.”
She hesitated to say more. She didn’t mind Daerick knowing that she was ordinary. Her lack of Sight was no secret. But any mention of the Reverend Mother’s vision could plant a new crop of harmful rumors, and she wouldn’t let that happen.
“You don’t trust me,” he said in a matter-of-fact way.
“It’s not that.”
“Don’t worry, my lady.” He patted her hand as he led her toward the eastern corridor, through halls carpeted in silk and lined with bejeweled mirrors. “Trust is earned. But for the record, I’m doing my part to help you. I’ve already gathered a few of the old emissary’s notes, and I’m hunting down the rest. Organization wasn’t her strong suit, I’m afraid.”
“What about her journal?”
“That’s on the list. It hasn’t turned up yet, but I’ll find it for you. Until then, all I can do is promise that your secrets are safe with me, just as I hope mine are safe with you. The only way to help each other is to speak freely.” He lowered his voice to a teasing whisper. “Besides, I like you.”
Cerise couldn’t help smiling. She liked him, too. Even though she didn’t fully trust him, she felt safe enough to ask him a question that had seemed too charged for Father Padron.
“What does this mean?” she said, imitating the triangular sign she had seen the elderly maid perform.
“Flaming hell!” Daerick snatched her hand before she could complete the sign. “Don’t do that.” He glanced all around. Only when he confirmed they were alone did he exhale and release her fingers. “Never let anyone see you do that.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s apostasy, that’s why.”
Cerise gasped, glancing over her own shoulder. The Order had discretion in handing down their penalties, but the traditional punishment for apostasy was death by a thousand stones. She shuddered to think about that happening to the elderly maid. What had possessed the old woman to make that sign in front of the priests?
Daerick guided her fingers back to the crook of his elbow. “I don’t suppose you learned about the Triad.”
She shook her head. She had never heard of it.
“You know the story about Shiera’s lover?” he asked. “From the Great Betrayal?”
“Of course.” As a Solon, she knew better than anyone. A member of her own dynasty had seduced the goddess from the heavens and convinced her to take mortal form so the other nobles could slay her. That was the reason for the Solon curse of destructive allure.
“Well, there’s an old rumor,” Daerick went on, “that the Solon seducer was a woman and that Shiera impregnated her and sired a race of demigods. The Triad believes that Shiera’s descendants should be in control, not the priests or even the king. They have followers in all four lands, but the sect is especially popular here.”
Cerise wiped her hand on her gown, mortified that she had made such an abominable sign. She knew there were nonbelievers scattered throughout the realm—people who worshipped coin or flesh—but this was justwrong. There were no other gods than Shiera. That anyone would organize a sect and recruit others to glorify false deities offended her on the deepest level. The Reverend Mother had been right to warn her about enemies in this land.
“Heretics,” she spat.
Daerick glanced at her as if amused.
