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Chapters (50)
  1. Praise for
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. City of Mariit: Capital of Maynara Map
  5. One
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Two
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Twelve
  19. Thirteen
  20. Fourteen
  21. Fifteen
  22. Sixteen
  23. Three
  24. Seventeen
  25. Eighteen
  26. Nineteen
  27. Twenty
  28. Twenty-One
  29. Twenty-Two
  30. Four
  31. By Order of General Ojas,On Behalf of Her Majesty Hara Duja
  32. Twenty-Three
  33. Twenty-Four
  34. Twenty-Five
  35. Twenty-Six
  36. Twenty-Seven
  37. Twenty-Eight
  38. Twenty-Nine
  39. Thirty
  40. Thirty-One
  41. Thirty-Two
  42. Thirty-Three
  43. Five
  44. A Coronation Prayer
  45. Thirty-Four
  46. Epilogue
  47. Acknowledgments
  48. Thank You
  49. About the Author
  50. Violetear Books x Bindery Books

Luntok centered himself, laying his palms flat against the table. He sat in jaw-clenching silence as he made peace with his decision. He did not speak until he let out a last, shaky breath.

“The way is under, not over,” he said, meeting Imeria’s gaze with damning certainty. “And I can get us in.”

Twenty

line

Duja

The door to Ariel’s workshop was half-open when Duja strode into the eastern wing. As she walked down the corridor, her nostrils filled with the sharp, acidic smell of vinegar. She stopped before the wainscoted wall lining the hall, where she glimpsed herself in the mirror. Duja wore her finest skirt, a voluminous balloon of viridian silk that billowed with every step. Her headpiece weighed heavily atop her hair, a magnificent crown of gold plates shooting out from her temples like sunrays. A handmaid had added some charcoal to her eyelids and a touch of rouge to her lips. She looked majestic; she felt like a fraud.

High Shaman Maiza had arrived early for the midnight feast and headed straight to Duja’s chambers for a healing session. The sorcery had worked; her muscles felt loose, and her fingers were free of tremors. Duja hoped the enchantments would last until the end of the ceremony. She couldn’t allow herself to appear weak before the Council of Datus, and especially not this night.

Maiza’s enchantments were effective, but unpredictable and weak. Duja needed a solution more potent than such petty sorcery allowed. For the first time in years, the solution lay within reach.

With a deep breath, Duja pushed the door open. Ariel was sitting at the table in the center of the workshop, a magnifying glass in hand. He held the glass to the tray before him, muttering to himself in Orfelian, his eyes glued to its contents. He did not notice Duja standing over his shoulder until she cleared her throat.

“Good evening, Dr. Sauros.”

Ariel jumped to his feet and whipped around. His eyes widened in awe when he caught sight of Duja in full ceremonial dress. “Oh my⁠—I mean, good evening, Your Majesty.”

The corners of Duja’s mouth curled up into a shy smile. “Don’t worry, Ariel. I suspect we’ll have you fitted for your own court attire soon,” she said, peering into the tray before him. “Would that be the precioso?”

Ariel nodded and gestured for her to come closer. “I’m monitoring it for now, but it looks like the precioso will be fully set in a few hours. Would you like to see?”