Winter's Crossing: A Golden Fates Novel by Katie Macey

Author:Katie Macey [Macey, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-12-03T06:00:00+00:00

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None of them needed to be told to reach the plateau before all light had disappeared. Caeednce touched Niamh's arm, just below the graze. Niamh jumped, pulled out of her thoughts.

"Oh, sorry,” said Caeednce. “Does your arm feel okay? I wish they hadn’t rushed us out so quickly in the end. I mean, when we weren't sure we'd get out, yeah- but in the end, it felt – well, I don't know."

"I get it,” said Niamh. “I hope Jomen is okay. I'm shaken, and I wasn't the one dangling. Have you ever seen people use chanting like that before?"

"No. Not in a long time, anyway."

"So you actually have? I'd love to know more about you, Caeednce."

"It's complicated."

Caeednce fell back to follow behind Niamh.

Ahead Iilen groaned loudly saying, "Aarin. Spill."

The sky’s masterpiece deepened to burnt orange. Aarin cleared his throat.

"They said-"

"From the beginning," Iilen corrected.

Aarin punched him in the arm again, but Niamh noticed how he was careful not to knock him from the narrow path.

"So I'd taken a bath, gotten into these," said Aarin, speaking loudly so they could all hear as they walked single-file. He tugged at the side of his baggy silk trousers, "These are completely impractical. And those baths were creepy...but I snuck out. I found a staircase, right? They cut right into the stone, slick with dripping water and the same pink crystals sticking out of the walls. I don't know how they don't get hurt all the time..."

The path curved, and the sky melted into a deep vermillion that reflected in Aarin's black hair.

"Just cut right to it, Aarin,” said Veayre.

"Okay, so we all know how the king is-"

Veayre thumped his back.

"Okay, okay!” said Aarin, raising his palms, “-how the 'High' King is getting old right? That's why you're abroad isn’t it, Niamh?"

Niamh hadn't expected to be mentioned just then. She wanted to find out what Aarin knew - not share her own story again. It made less and less sense, even to herself, the more times she told it…

"Uh, yeah. If he dies, Lord Gleriledd controls the throne until another heir appears,” said Niamh, right as her footing slipped on a run of gravel. But she righted herself and said, “He doesn't approve of my sisters much."

"What has he got against them?" said Caeednce.

"No idea,” said Niamh, weighing her words carefully. “My aunt is pretty secretive about it actually. And I've always done what she asked without question, so..."

"You don't even know why you have to become a priestess?" said Jomen, coughing. Niamh was grateful she couldn't see the incredulity that definitely would’ve shown on his face.

"We didn't really talk about it,” said Niamh. “Let Aarin say what he found out."

They neared the end of their descending path. Small shrubs dotted with tiny flowers and longer grasses began cropping up beside their way.

"Anyway, the stars show the king's decline, right?” said Aarin. “We all know that. But there are rumours… that room I found, the Lady wasn't in there, but other officials were arguing about whether or not to tell her something.

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