Page 31 of Oracle's Reign
“You are not a member of the imperial family either, Lhashiki,” Peroen said as Yslie slid into the spot next to him.
“I am the Emperor’s Will, and His Will is that I am here,” the woman—Lhashiki—said. “The oracles are not allowed in the imperial archives.”
“I am the imperial prince, and it is my will that Yslie and Sophenie are here.”
“Your will does not transcend His Imperial Majesty’s.”
“But you said his orders were that no one not of the imperial bloodline could enter. Which would mean that you cannot come inside. So, which is it, Lhashiki? Is there one rule we must all abide, or are there exceptions, even to my father’s decrees?”
Peroen seemed to have a handle on stalling, talking in circles around Lhashiki. Yslie didn’t want to interrupt. Perhaps Sophenie had judged the possibilities incorrectly. But she had been so adamant that Yslie come to the archives. Then again, her reason might not have been the same as she stated. Yslie knew as well as any oracle that the act of telling a person their future often altered the paths. Maybe she wasn’t here to give Sophenie more time, but to do something else.
Wrapping her arm around Peroen’s, Yslie rested her head on his shoulder as if she didn’t have a single care in the world. Let Lhashiki think she simply wanted to be close to him. The older woman made a noise in the back of her throat when she noticed Yslie’s presence, then pointedly focused only on Peroen.
Being ignored suited Yslie fine. She waited another moment, enjoying listening to Peroen give his father’s lackey the runaround and making sure no one was paying attention to her. Then she let her eyes drift closed and reached out with her power.
Lhashiki’s past flooded her senses. Yslie watched a guard from the archives report that the prince had brought two oracles into the repository of historical documents. She saw Envaho pale at the news before he flushed with anger. He shouted that no oracle was ever to be allowed inside the archives and to “get them out, immediately!”
The guard asked if he had the authority to force the prince out if he resisted. Then Lhashiki stepped forward and assured her emperor that she’d handle the matter.
Blinking her eyes open, Yslie hoped Sophenie was satisfied with whatever she had found in their short time in the archives. They would not be allowed back inside again so long as Envaho sat on the throne. Not because they weren’t members of the imperial family, but because they were oracles. The current emperor feared allowing anyone of their race into this room. Scanning Lhashiki’s past wasn’t enough for Yslie to understand why that fear existed, but she could see how strong it was.
While she had been lost in her vision, Peroen’s conversation with Lhashiki had escalated. The woman gestured to the two guards, and Yslie decided it was her turn to step in. She placed a hand against Peroen’s chest, but directed her attention at Lhashiki. “Threats are unnecessary. I’ll tell Sophenie we need to leave.”
The guards didn’t move, her calm tone reassuring them that they wouldn’t have to resort to violence. It also allowed her to make her way deeper into the archives slowly, dragging out every second she could for Sophenie.
“I hope you have what you need,” she whispered when she reached the other oracle. “If we delay any longer, the guards are going to haul us out by force. And be warned, after this, Peroen won’t be able to get you back in the archives so long as his father has any say in matters.”
Sophenie looked over the books she had spread out and grabbed the smallest one. Like Yslie, she slipped it into her pocket. Her choice was a little thicker than the journal Yslie had stolen, however.
“Stay on my left and a little behind me,” Yslie advised her. “If someone looks closely, they might make out the outline of the book.”
Sophenie nodded, then looked around the archives one last time with a sigh. “All right, I’m ready.”
