So she bowed her head in an effort to pray, but Ryvinika stole her mind once more, her voice louder than any half-hearted prayer that Sapphire could muster:

She does not fear you. She does not bow to you. She will serve justice and bring peace to Eriobis. And its citizens will no longer live in fear.

Today, she will bring down the barrier that you built. Your temples will be levelled, altars burned. Today, the world will learn. And it will be at my child’s hand.

Ryvinika purred but Sapphire felt a sickness settle into her bones. She could have sworn she heard a new voice ring out.

You will not.

Her focus snapped and she vomited. She opened her eyes to find a puddle of blood in front of her and Evera and Kaian gazing at her. She stared at the blood, frozen.

Get out.

Sapphire stood quickly and began to make her way to the door, fighting back the urge to throw up once again on the polished marble floor of the sanctuary. She tucked herself away from the prying eyes beyond the gate and vomited once more, coating the stones beneath her feet with blood.

Evera and Kaian hurried up behind her and reached out frantically to hold her steady.

‘Sapphire, what is happening?’ Evera’s voice didn’t sound like her own.

‘Get me to the forest, now.’

Neither of her friends argued, escorting her to the carriage. Once they were among the trees, Sapphire could breathe, and she inhaled sharply a few times, desperate to rid herself of the feeling that had come over her in the temple. Desperate to rid herself of the Elders’ tainted touch. Kaian and Evera’s eyes held unspoken questions; questions Sapphire could not answer.

And when the carriage stopped, she was the first out of the door, not breaking her stride as the other two hurried to follow her.

‘Sapphire! What are you doing?’

She didn’t slow, but she heard their footsteps behind her.

Move fast, child. It’s coming.

She lowered her head and trusted the presence to guide her feet in the right direction.

‘Sapphire, please! At least tell us where you’re going.’ It was Evera crying out behind her, and Sapphire turned to meet her eyes.

Evera registered the magnitude of their current situation. ‘No. Sapphire, no!’ she burst out. ‘Think about this!’

But Sapphire did not answer.

‘What’s happening?’ Kaian half shouted as they stormed through the forest at her heels.

Sapphire knew Evera was looking to her for an answer – for guidance. Her allegiance had been sworn to Sapphire before anything else – but Sapphire didn’t have time to waste.

Not when she could have sworn she felt the footsteps of oncoming soldiers.

Not when the Elders knew what she was about to do.