Truth of Crowns: Book One in The Ash Eternal series by Carl D. Albert

Author:Carl D. Albert [Albert, Carl D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five

It is known that the Underward existed before Emperor Beriad the Builder had his hundred thousand slaves construct the Highnest. Some even believe it was there long before the Drowning, the last vestige of an ancient fae kingdom. Personally, I consider it a metaphor for the true foundations of Corice.

From “Golden Thoughts” by Nemo

“You look handsome,” said Ignatia, who looked absolutely dreadful. Her pallor was wan in the lanternlight. One of her eyes was swollen shut, the other bloodshot and bagged. The shadow of hair on her scalp was matted with blood and sweat. The gaoler had stripped her of all but her masculine undergarments, which were torn over her broken shoulder, exposing a patchwork of scars above her left breast. She’d risen to meet Loria as she approached, and was now leaning against the bars of her cell as if to threaten her, to remind her that if she got too close, she could still harm her, choke her, bash in her head.

Loria let her hands hang at her sides, away from her sword, as she stepped within arm’s reach of the princess. “Do not mock me,” she said.

“I meant what I said. I never noticed it before, how the plate suits you. Black is your color, sir.”

“More mine than yours certainly. I think you wear red quite well.” Loria gestured to the scrapes and bruises on her face.

Ignatia laughed. “The Black Boar would agree with you. He painted me in red by the Saint-Queen’s order. I schemed against the skythrone, or had not you heard?”

“That is why I am here.” In the dead of night, no less. Between the princess’ beatings. Without anyone’s permission. Alone. Loria hoped she could negotiate some truth that the inquisitors could not. No, that’s not the whole of it. I want to hear her lies with mine own ears.

Ignatia cocked her head. “Ask away, sister.”

“I am not your sister.”

“Deny me not. My blood already foreswears my ties to them. You and I, by our holy oaths, are sisters-in-arms, bonded until death does us part.”

You broke your oaths, you bitch.

“Tell me of their deaths,” Loria demanded. “Tell me all you know.”

Ignatia furrowed her brow, distorting the gashes there. “I will tell you what I told the Saint-Queen. I am innocent. I went to bed that night without sin on my mind and I woke to a spearpoint.”

“I saw you in the Underward. I heard you conspiring with someone. Some Dagdariman,” said Loria.

“I was doing nothing of the sort,” Ignatia said quickly. Too quickly? “What you overheard was a transaction.”

“What was it you had to purchase so secretly?” asked Loria.

Ignatia was loath to answer. “An intoxicant.”

“Namely?”

“Dust. Do you know it?” After Loria admitted she did not, “It numbs your pain. Heightens your senses, your awareness…”

An idea occurred to Loria. “That’s what you were searching for during the tourney. That’s why you performed so well in the lists.”

Ignatia bared her teeth in a predator’s smile. “Yes and no. I was indeed looking for my pouch of Dust, but, as it was, my brother had stolen it, hence my need to purchase more.

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