The Wicked House of Caroline

The capital of Paraxes was often described as a bustling city built upon the foundations of an ancient city. It was never destroyed, like Gah-run was, and there was a historical record of its existing in the form of a coastal city state at the same time. According to what she’d read, Paraxes survived by remaining staunchly neutral for much of its early history.

Its location in a strategic choke point on a sea trade route, where it created the dominant navy in the region for the last several centuries, was also a large reason for its survival where others in the region had collapsed and vanished.

Paraxes was also mentioned in Temple records; the histories of several great oracles had mentioned it. Paraxes’ stability allowed its economy to flourish, to support its navy, and for its arts and education to continuously advance. There were numerous libraries and museums in Paraxes, both public and private.

The Temple had a large following in the kingdom and housed a large library in the capital that mainly focused on old religious texts, many of which were duplicates of those in the catacombs of the Great Temple Complex. Rumor had it that those old texts weren’t duplicates, but the originals and that the duplicates had been moved to the Great Temple Complex.

Regardless of if they were duplicates or originals, as long as proper care was taken, theology students were allowed to view them in the reading room.

Sister Levina was posing as a religious student while Elder Arash was her ‘mentor’. Jonas was there as free labor, but he didn’t have the fabricated identifications from Aceria to let him into the restricted reading room. As a result, he was forced to wait outside, something Beks found some amusement in, as it meant that Sister Levina could focus.

Sister Levina and Elder Arash did not disappoint.

Beks leaned back against the chair and ran a hand down her face. Her lips were drawn in and bitten as she mulled over Elder Arash’s worrisome findings through an urapearl.

Beside Beks, Lucian’s sharp blue eyes were focused on the table surface. They were narrowed as his tense fingers tapped on the tabletop.

“Are you certain of the effects?” he asked, raising his eyes to look at the urapearl.

“There are specifics, Your Highness,” Elder Arash replied in a calm voice, though there was clear concern in her eyes. Behind her was the backdrop of their inn room. Sister Levina was just to the side, flipping through pages of notes she’d made. Even Jonas was transcribing something. “Only two of the Muil Stones are required for their ceremony. The other Muil Stones are used to establish control.”

“What control are they trying to establish?” Jonas asked as he looked up from behind Elder Arash.

Beks’ eyes narrowed. “They want to control how far back in time the priestess goes and to what body they wake up in.”

Jonas drew his head back, his lips curled with disgust as he recoiled. “What do you mean - what body? As in...a corpse?”

Beks drew her lips inward. “To be honest, I don’t know if they’re actually a corpse or if they can enter a living body?”

“Somehow, entering a living body is a bit more disturbing,” Lucian muttered under his breath.

“How would they know who to target?” Jonas asked. It was obvious the idea of one’s spirit or soul forcibly entering another being to use it as a puppet to do their dirty work was more than a little disconcerting.

Sister Levina held up a piece of paper for him to read. Jonas leaned forward and immediately winced.

“What does it say?” Lucian asked.

“The Temple keeps records of the health of their priestesses, as well as their deaths,” Jonas replied. He looked back towards the urapearl. Beks felt her stomach twist. “This means if they can target a specific time, they can find out through the Temple’s records who is an ideal...um...”

“Host,” Elder Arash said, her lips pulling into a tight line. Her old eyes met Beks through the urapearl. “Is that not what a parasite latches on to?”

Beks raised a brow and gave her a subtle nod. “A parasite is the right term in such a case, especially if the host in question was forced to accept another soul.”

“Considering how secret this all is and how long it takes to actually gain access and research this, I doubt any priestess knew about this ceremony until they were hand selected and groomed for it,” Lucian told her.

Sister Levina nodded. Neither Lucian nor Sister Levina knew anything about such a ceremony.

“It only happens every few centuries, when a reset is necessary. Those who don’t need to know won’t be told,” Beks said. “The late Great Oracle came back under the guise of ending my influence that would begin the collapse and deterioration of the Temple. In her books, she didn’t know what the ceremony would entail until the very end.”

Elder Arash frowned. “Human sacrifice?”

“Specifically, the priestess.”

Sister Levina’s head shot up, her eyes wide with shock, as if she’d just avoided death. She lifted her hand to her chest and gently rubbed it to ease her heart. Jonas reached across to stroke her head in comfort.

“Strahnroc was built for human sacrifice. While I have no doubt that the Temple wouldn’t hesitate to slaughter as many people as needed for their purpose, there is a practicality in sacrificing the chosen priestess,” Beks said. “First, the less people who know, the better. If the sacrifice is one of their own, it’s easier to cover up. Second, the purpose of the priestess is to go back in time to become a Great Oracle. What stops them from trying to come back, if it’s at all possible?”

“We don’t know that yet, since we couldn’t find such an instance,” Elder Arash told them. “I suppose it’s possible.”

“Women are voluntarily sacrificing themselves, who knows how extreme they are,” Beks replied. “It seems that Great Oracles are expected to live out the rest of their lives in the past.”

“And it is said that it is their greatest honor to do so,” Lucian replied.

“There are plenty of records of priestesses who passed on, but the cause of their deaths can easily be fabricated,” Jonas said, reading Sister Levina’s paper. “So, we checked for the names that the Great Oracles insisted on being called upon awakening.”

“What are the findings?” Lucian asked.

“Their causes for deaths varied, but were usually violent. Caught in skirmishes and local battles during a mercy mission, an accident, such as falling from heights or struck by a cart,” Jonas told them. “There were a few that were animal attacks.”

“Why would they all be so violent?” Beks asked aloud. “The last Great Oracle said she was drugged and then her throat and wrists were cut....”

Both she and Lucian and the trio on the other side of the urapearl seemed to understand what this meant.

“It’s not that human life can be sacrificed in any particular way,” Elder Arash said in a low voice. “If it was, then poison would be a good way to sacrifice a life. Let their deaths be painless. It would be merciful and a favor to those who would give their lives. However, a violent, bloody death fits with what it is. Human sacrifice means blood.”

Beks closed her eyes and drew her lips inward. “They bleed their priestesses to death.”

They collectively shuddered at the thought, though they shouldn’t have been so surprised. Sacrificial stones were identifiable because of their tell-tale grooves that would allow blood to drain to in one direction. The sacrifice died on the stone, likely bleeding to death.

“The more I learn about this process, the more disturbing it becomes,” Lucian said.

“I’m wondering how such a ceremony was discovered in the first place,” Jonas replied.

Elder Arash took a deep breath. “My people have legends of groups of sacrificed humans in ancient times. During the migration north, our best warriors were attacked by sects that still practiced it. It was preferred to use someone from...outside their community. By sacrificing a human life, it would gain the ultimate favor of the gods.

“Drought? Rain. Flood? Clear skies. Pestilence? Insects die. The more important the life, it seemed, the greater the favor.”

Beks lifted her head up. “The more important?”

“Yes, a human life is held above that of an animal-”

“Or it could mean the life of someone who was revered. The more important a person was in their group, the more valuable the sacrifice, and the greater favor of the gods,” Beks said. “They don’t select just any priestess. They are trained to become the most respected amongst their peers.”

Jonas drew his head back. “If the more important the better, why not sacrifice a high priest or priestess?”

“Those in power don’t want to die, Jonas,” Beks replied. “Especially when someone else can do it for them.”

Lucian let out a small click of his tongue and crossed his arms over his chest. “It seems they really have this ceremony ritualized.”

“Going back, now that the jaw of St. Cyric is destroyed, they have less control over the ceremony,” Jonas said. “Does this mean they can’t control how far back they go?”

“In the records we’ve pieced together, it seems that the Great Oracles always go back a few hundred years. Never more than roughly three hundred. It’s likely that they don't need to go back further than this,” Beks told him. “But you make a good point. We don’t know how far they go. Was this three centuries a choice or a limitation?”

“Will it also allow them to select who the host will be?” Lucian asked, looking over at her.

“And if they can’t select their host, who will they end up inside?” Beks replied, meeting his gaze. “Iris Elpidah seems to know the process and masqueraded as an oracle.” She narrowed her eyes. “Could she have been a failed attempt?”

Lucian’s back straightened up and held her gaze. “Or she didn’t have the complete Muil Stones.”Beks drew her head back. “It did sound impatient, as if the complete set were unnecessary for her needs,” she said. “If that’s the case, there is a possibility that if the Muil Stones are incomplete for the ceremony, then the priestess will return to her own body in the past instead of a different host at a more distant time.”

Lucian frowned. “That explains a lot.”

“About how she had correct predictions?” Jonas asked.

Lucian glanced at the urapearl. “About why she wanted to kill Beks.”

“And here I thought it was just jealousy,” Elder Arash replied with a slight sigh.

“Your Highnesses, considering what we read in the last Great Oracle’s books, is it possible the future knows that the late Great Oracle failed because you lived and tried a second time?” Jonas asked.

Beks was quiet for a moment and mulled over the thought. After a few counts, she lifted her head. “I don’t think she was sent to kill me. At least, not for the sake of the Temple.” She looked at Lucian. “The late Great Oracle’s book said that I married you and Laz, and had children. There was no mention of Luther or whether or if I had been engaged to him. Iris Elpidah openly used Temple resources to get rid of me. If it was just for the Temple, why was Luther so heavily involved between us? And if everything went accordingly before her appearance, then there is a chance I had been engaged, or even married to Luther. I couldn’t marry you and Laz unless we separated. We all know that I was duty bound, but Luther….” He left her once, she wouldn’t ignore that he’d do it again…and with the same person.

Lucian raised his brows. “You are saying you think Iris Elpidah went back in time for Luther?”

Beks lifted a hand to her chest and gave him a small nod. “To be with Luther, yes. I’m in disbelief, as well. No sane person would do such a thing.”

“Our sources do say that she appeared very much in love with Prince, I mean Mr. Hessing, Your Highness,” Jonas told him. “It was surprising that she fled, though we heard that Mr. Hessing urged her to, even providing her with gold for her to flee before we reached Kadmus.”

Beks tapped her finger on the table. “Perhaps she thought she had another chance when this life’s plan failed. If you know you can try again, you wouldn’t be so reluctant to leave.”

“That explains quite a bit,” Jonas said. He seemed to take a deep breath as he held Sister Levina’s hand. “What do we do now, Your Highness? The missing relic will give them a slight disadvantage at best.”

Elder Arash nodded. “Yes. They will still be able to hold the ceremony and send someone through,” she said. “They must be stopped. We cannot afford the death of another Inheritor.”

“I don’t plan on dying any time soon, Elder, let me assure you,” Beks said as she leaned back against her seat. “News that I destroyed the relic has reached the Temple by now. They’ll hasten the ceremony.”

“They already have their hands on the other Muil Stones,” Elder Arash told them.

Lucian frowned. “What about the heart of St. Ingrid? That relic has remained missing since they opened the tomb and found her chest agape and empty.”

Elder Arash wore a wry smile. “Do you know that in the Giant’s Ridge, the Salgul people bury their most esteemed members in a particular way. The body is buried, but the heart is removed and then placed in a sacred pyre to be burned. The funeral involves the ritualistic bleeding of members of the deceased’s family into the fire.”

“All right,” Lucian said with a nod. “What does that have to do-”

“Her heart is in Strahnroc.” Beks spoke up at once, her eyes wide as her mind assessed Elder Arash’s words. “Burial and funeral rights that separate internal organs from the body isn’t new. It was common in many ancient civilizations. Usually, it’s the heart or the brain.”

Sister Levina was furiously scribbling on a piece of paper and then shoved it to Jonas to read. He furrowed his brows as he held up the piece of paper. “St. Ingrid wasn’t part of one of those tribes that practiced such.”

Elder Arash looked over her shoulder and smiled a bit. “But St. Myriagnus was. I read about it a few days ago. The more I read about her, the stranger she becomes.” She looked back at Beks through the urapearl. “Didn’t you say that no one knew who would’ve cut out St. Ingrid’s heart and stole it? The tomb would’ve been well guarded, wouldn’t it? Who else would be able to get in and out of the tomb without suspicion but one of the original six?”

“And then she buried the heart in Strahnroc,” Lucian muttered. His eyes crinkled up. “It’s under the sacrificial stone, isn’t it?”

Elder Arash nodded. “Then it’s no wonder the Temple couldn’t ‘find it’. I suspect they knew where it was, as they were already using it for the ceremony.”

“Is there anything in particular we need to be aware of?”

Elder Arash nodded. “Yes, ceremonies and rituals dedicated to the goddess Xeria have always taken place at dawn, which is the start of the new day. If they’re going to do a ceremony, it will likely take place at dawn.”

Beks’ lips tightened into a line. Behind Elder Arash, she saw Sister Levina nodding in agreement. “If we delay them, they just have to wait it out...we’d need to stop them all together. Destroying the relics and the sacrificial stone may be what’s needed, but they’ll be wary of us after what I did in the north.”

“Are you sure they won’t come after you, Your Highness?” Jonas asked. Beks shook her head.

“I’m sure there are plenty of people who want to, but right now, their priority is to prevent the downfall of the Temple. I have proven difficult to kill, and am already backed by both Kadmus and Langshe.”

“In other words, the progression in this time has gone too far,” Lucian said.

“And it’s too much trouble to curb it now,” Beks replied. “Their best bet is to go back and try again. And they’ll be in a hurry. Who knows when I’ll try to stop them once more.”

“Are they expecting your attack, Your Highness?” Jonas asked.

“I’m sure they are, and we should move to do so soon,” Beks said. She looked at Lucian. “The Temple will move soon, if they aren’t already. We should go and prepare to cut them off.”

“Go where?” Elder Arash asked.

Lucian rose to his feet and turned to head out of the tent. “Strahnroc.”

╔═════════════════ ∘◦ ♔ ◦∘ ═════════════════╗

“That’s disappointing to hear.” Laz grumbled as finalized his order to Battalion Commander Gatlin. He looked towards Lucian, who’d told him that their efforts at the Giant's Ridge only caused a small loss of control. Lucian shrugged.

“Now, we can only wait to intercept them at Strahnroc,” he replied.

“Your Highnesses, why do you need to wait at Strahnroc? Why not attack them enroute?”

“Because Strahnroc itself is also a target,” Beks said as she passed. “And paladins aren’t allowed up there.”

Battalion Commander Gatlin looked taken aback by this. “If it’s such an important secret, wouldn’t having as much security there we a necessity?”

“They’re keeping it a secret from the paladins, too,” Laz told him. He patted him on the shoulder before turning to leave. “Their entire institution lives because of their secret.”

Battalion Commander Gatlin scrunched his face. “Then, what’s the secret?”

“In all honesty, Gatlin, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Laz said. “Leave behind what you can’t carry with you with a secondary unit. The sooner you can get to Strahnroc, the better.”

“What if we’re stopped for crossing the border?” the Battalion Commander said. “That mountain is still within the territory of the Temple.”

“They’ll be so caught up with their own problems, they won’t be able to stop you,” Laz replied.

Battalion Commander Gatlin frowned. “So, I should expect a battle?”

“Skirmish.” Laz gave him a small shrug. “But there is a chance that you’ll miss them enroute. If there is going to be a...small conflict, it will be around the mountain itself. If they get there first, then you’ll be attacking them. If you get there first, you will be defending.”

“We’ll wait at the top and keep watch,” Lucian told the other man in a voice that was leagues more reassuring than his brother. “It’s best that they don’t reach the ceremonial site. If they do, we will need to stop them before their ceremony is complete.”

Battalion Commander Gatlin nodded. “I’m not sure what the ceremony that you’re talking about is, but we will do what we can. Should they breach the top of the mountain, do we have orders to advance?”

“Yes,” the twins and Beks said at the same time.

The Battalion Commander let out a heavy sigh. He looked at the trio helplessly and shook his head. “You know if this gets out, it will be said that Kadmus started a war for the Temple. Other countries may not stand by and allow it.”

Laz let out a scoff and sneered before holding his arms open. “Then they can come to stop us. I’ll welcome them.”

Beks rolled her eyes and pulled him back, towards the rokh’s basket where Gerard and Rid Callan were waiting. “We’ve already been here for a few days. I’m sure by now, their entourage is on the way. We need to leave. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can find Snowflake.”

“Have you heard anything about him, Your Highness?” Gerard asked as he stood ready to order Thunder up. “The Legion hasn’t reported any sightings.”

Beks shook her head as she stepped into the basket. “No...no one’s caught sight of him or found any evidence of his presence. No tracks, scales, shed skin, no evidence of a struggle happening during a hunt.”

Lucian sighed and stroked her back as Laz closed the door behind him. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. Maybe he wanted to go home to the island and headed south. Legendary beasts are said to have amazing memories and senses of direction.”

Beks wrinkled her nose. “Snowflake would not go back without me.” If Lucian and Laz didn’t purposely ban Snowflake from entering the bed chambers when it was time to sleep or rest, Snowflake would stick his head inside to be as close to Beks as possible. He slept just outside their villa, in their courtyard, back at the Gilded Palace.

“He waited patiently for you at the island,” Laz told her. “He wasn’t restless there.” He gave Gerard a nod and Gerard let out a whistle. A few paces away, Thunder spread his wings and began to flap. As air rushed up around them, Laz turned towards Battalion Commander Gatlin, who was seeing them off. “Spread the word to the other battalions in the south to see if there are any traces of a giant horned serpent!”

Battalion Commander Gatlin squinted, but nodded.

The five soared over the camp. Already, a large group was moving ahead. No matter how fast they moved, they’d still get there days later than Beks and the others. Regardless, once they attacked the Temple, it would be war and the more legions around Kadmus’ border, the better.

“How long until we get to Strahnroc from here?” Beks asked. The camp was closer than it was before.

Laz looked out towards the east. “We’ll reach it before dawn,” he told her.

“Hopefully, they’re still marching towards the mountain,” Lucian added. “Nothing has changed yet, so I assume that they haven’t performed the ceremony.”

“Every dawn that passes is dangerous,” Beks said. “It’s good that Elder Arash told us that.”

Rid Callan clenched his jaw. “Do you think they left?” Several heads turned to him. He glanced around. “When we left after their blessing ceremony...how far did they go? What if they didn’t make it all the way to the Great Temple Complex?”

“Wouldn’t it take some time for them to relay the information that the Princess incinerated the jaw of St. Cyric?” Gerard asked. “Weren’t they waiting for the last relic?”

“They have urapearls, too, Gerard,” Lucian said. “They’re rare, but for something that important, they’d likely have the expedition use an urapearl. Information is essential right now.”

Gerard sighed. “Where did they even get an urapearl....?”

“They stole them,” Beks said as she narrowed her eyes. “Like they stole those light pearls still in those sconces. They were taken from Gah-run. Everything the Temple has is from theft and murder. I don’t understand how the gods could let this go on as long as it has.”

The group lapsed into silence as Beks leaned over the side and gazed out at the hills and mountains they flew over. The sun began to set soon after, and Rid Callan passed around dried meat, cheese, and bread for their dinner.

“Beks, get some rest,” Lucian told her. “We’ll fly the rest of the night and should reach Strahnroc well before sunrise.”

“You need to rest, too.”

“We will.”

Beks nodded and sat down. Lucian covered her with his outer robe and Beks shut her eyes, counting herself to sleep.

She didn’t know how long she had been asleep, but she almost swore she’d just closed her eyes when she felt the hands gently shaking her.

“Beks.” Lucian gave her a gentle shake and she stirred before she registered his voice as his. She cracked her eyes open, only to see nothing but darkness.

“It’s still night....” What happened to letting her sleep as long as she could so she wouldn’t get tired? Beks still pushed herself back up into a seated position on the little wooden bench in the basket. Lucian helped her stand as she groggily rubbed her eyes and looked around. “It’s dark.”

“That only makes you see them clearer,” Laz said from the other side of the basket. She cocked her head to the side and walked towards his voice. She passed Rid Callan and Gerard, who were also looking over the edge, in the direction of Laz’s gaze.

Beks saw the crooked line of yellow-white dots standing out in the darkness. They flickered and swayed, indicating movement that was just noticeable from their altitude.

“I assume that is what I think it is?” she asked in a low voice. The two men beside her nodded.

“To travel at night...they must be in a hurry to reach Strahnroc,” Lucian said. Normally, caravans, soldiers, and other travelers would stop for the night. Traveling in the darkness posed all sorts of dangers from the inability to see where one was going to the prospect of robbers hiding in wait, or nocturnal hunting animals.

In addition, both people and the animals with them needed to rest. To ignore the dangers and risk to the safety and health of multiple people, and animals, meant that the reason for doing so was vastly more important.

For instance, Battalion Commander Gatlin’s battalion was marching in that direction without much rest, going as far as to leave behind the majority of their heavy equipment in favor of speeding up travel time.

Beks wasn’t too surprised to see that there were others traveling at night, but she was impressed at how long the line of torches and lanterns went.

“How many people do you think they’ve brought with them?” Laz asked.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if most of their remaining paladins and mercenaries are accompanying them,” Lucian replied. He narrowed his eyes. “There are multiple ornate carriages.”

Laz glanced over. “That means?”

“That means High Priests and Priestesses are down there,” Lucian replied with a frown. “It could be that they summoned as much of the High Council as possible for the ceremony.”

Gerard’s brows shot up. “Are you certain that their security won’t follow them up the mountain, Your Highness?”

Lucian nodded. “At least not to the ceremonial site. Like last time, there’s a point on the route up to the site where they’ll be left. You can’t see past a particular point, so the ceremonial site won’t be visible from where they’ll be made to stop. Of course, that doesn’t mean that sounds of fighting won’t be noticed.”

“Gerard, make sure to send Thunder to a safe peak. He’s not built for battle,” Beks said. “If they have any projectile weapons, I don’t want them aimed at Thunder.”

Gerard nodded with understanding. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“When we get to the Strahnroc, I will destroy the sacrificial stone,” Beks told them. They gave her a nod and Lucian gently led her to the bench at the far edge of the basket. She sat back down on the bench and closed her eyes, trying to focus on the difficult possibilities they’d face and how to counter them.

No matter what, there were only five people on their side. All with strong biha, but the Temple had bodies to throw at them. Beks needed to destroy the stone first, and because there was a chance they’d find another place to perform the ceremony, she also needed to destroy whatever remaining relics there were.

In that case, she’d need to wait until they were close enough with the relics to attack.

Her brows knit together in frustration. They had to wait.

Lost in her thoughts, she almost didn’t hear Laz or feel the basket move as he rushed from where he was standing beside her to the opposite side.

“What is that?” Laz rushed to the edge of the basket and peered down. His eyes widened. “Impossible....”

“What is it?” Beks asked. She squinted as she stood, looking in the same direction as he was, but couldn’t see anything below except a long train of lights on a winding path towards the mountain.

Lucian’s chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. “They’re already on the mountain.”

“What?” Both Rid Callan and Gerard cried out, rushing to the side of the basket where they were standing and nearly jumping over the side to get a better look.

Like Beks, they couldn’t see in the dark and only glowered in frustration. Lucian held out his hands to try to direct them to where the mountain was. “We’re approaching and there are people on the mountain; a large group is at the base. Much more than the amount during the blessing.” He swallowed hard. “And they’re not pilgrims this time.”

“I don’t know who told them, but it seems they were expecting us to come,” Laz said with narrowed eyes.

“Any projectile units?” Gerard asked in a low voice.

“Two near the peak of the mountain and, from what I can see of the sloping side, there are another three. Two are next to the path, another is on the side where we landed before,” Lucian told them. “The other sides are too difficult to place a unit on, but there are people. Mercenaries or paladins, most likely. They’re moving all around the cliff.”

Beks took a deep breath and drew her head back. “They’ve tried to fortify Strahnroc.”

“There isn’t anyone on the peak...at least not yet, but a procession has started,” Lucian told her as he turned to look at her. “If we try to land, they’ll shoot at us and at Thunder.”

Beks clenched her jaw. “If I could see them, I could use a light beam.”

“What if we hold your arm out and aim for you?” Laz asked. Beks shook her head.

“A lot of biha is collected and may hurt you. I also am not sure if you’ll be able to aim my hand. If we shoot, they’ll see the flash of light and shoot in our direction,” she told him. “Even if they can’t see us.”

“It’ll be the same if we wait until dawn, then,” Laz said. He looked at Lucian. “Let’s set down lower down the mountain, on the side that’s sloped and less guarded.”

“We can lead you up in the dark. If we can take out the projectile unit on the way up, it’s one less thing we worry about,” the younger twin agreed.

“Beks destroying the sacrificial stone won’t be quiet. We’ll be attacked then,” Laz said. He looked at Beks.

“It doesn’t matter if we’re attacked then. Humans in the present aren’t as threatening as when they go back in time.” She grabbed her eldest husband’s forearm and locked her eyes with his. “Just get me to that stone.”

Laz met her gaze and took a deep breath. He pursed his lips, but nodded. “We will cover you.”

“Beks, you must be careful when you send a light beam into the stone,” Lucian said, grasping her hand. “The energy will make it explode. Pieces of stone will fly in all directions.”

“Rid Callan,” Laz said, turning to the older man. “Can you stay with Beks and use your biha to shield her?”

Rid Callan hit his fist against his chest and gave them a solemn nod. “I am the Thirnir of Princess Rebecca of Caroline of Kadmus,” he told them in a firm, determined voice. “Your Highnesses, Thirnir means thorn. Our purpose has always been to defend with our lives.”

The twin princes gave him a solemn bow of their heads in gratitude. Lucian met his eyes. “Whatever happens, sir, your children will be taken care of.”

Rid Callen’s eyes reddened a bit. “Thank you, Your Highnesses.”

“Don’t be so depressing,” Beks said as she raised her hand and slapped Lucian’s chest. “Rid Callan will go back to Yaya and her brother just fine.”

Gerard gave her a hopeful look. “That is what your instinct says, Your Highness?”

Beks opened her mouth, but stopped. Her brows furrowed as she raised her hand over her chest. For a moment, she was quiet, stunned at what her instinct was telling her.

Or rather, wasn’t.

In all her previous missions, no matter how dire, a small, nagging feeling always reassured her. Whether she was able to handle it or someone stepped in to assist them. There was never a point where she was consumed in fear and resigned to failure.

Even when she had her first biha explosion, all she wanted to do was cool down and survive to get revenge on the bastards that tried to kill her.

“Beks?” Laz turned his head to look at her face.

She stared out in front of her.

This time, there was no small, nagging feeling of reassurance. Her instinct didn’t tell her ‘everything will be fine’. When she thought of the situation they were in, she was neither confident nor defeated. Only determined. Perhaps at that moment, her mind wasn’t able to focus on anything else but stopping the Temple.

At the same time, her instinct didn’t make her wary of any dread.

She narrowed her eyes. Was it because she didn’t know what exactly to expect or what would happen, so she couldn’t make the calculations? She lifted her head and saw several expectant eyes.

Without hesitating, she gave him a firm nod. “My instinct isn’t afraid.” Which was true. Gerard and Rid Callan relaxed at that, but the twins eyed her in silence. She felt Laz’s arm on her shoulder and Lucian squeezed her hand. Her words were the best she could offer.

“We’ll get rid of the ballistas first. At least that will allow us an escape route. Once they’re clear, Lucian, Gerard, and I will clear any nearby paladins-”

“We may have to wait until they get close enough. I need to know where the other relics are so they can be destroyed, too. I don’t know if the ceremony can be performed at another sacred site, but if the site itself is a relic, then destroying it will only hinder the strength of the ceremony. They could still go back,” Beks told them.

Laz gritted his teeth and seemed to think. “All right. Then, we’ll rid the ballistas that aren’t visible from the path and lay in wait. Once the relics are in sight, destroy the sacrificial stone first and then others. We will make sure no one else gets to the summit. Rid Callan will stay at your side.”

Beks let out a heavy breath and nodded. “The number of people on the summit will be limited, but once they realize something is happening, even the orders of the High Council won’t stop the paladins from rushing up. You need to keep them back for as long as possible. Once the items are destroyed, we can evacuate.”

“Then, while we’re keeping the paladins back, we should destroy the ballistas on the path.” Lucian looked to his brother, who nodded.

Laz looked at Gerard. “Take us down. Be quiet about it.”

Gerard nodded. Instead of whistling, he pulled on some of the ropes that hung and wrapped around one of the support ropes of the basket. Thunder didn’t screech out a reply, as he usually did. The basket began to lower, and Laz and Lucian kept their eyes on the mountain as the basket seemed to circle it in their descent.

“Gerard, use your wind biha to make it bellow below and drown out our landing,” Laz said, moving to Gerard’s spot in the basket. With his one hand, he took hold of the rope used to steer and order Thunder.

A moment later, Beks could feel both biha and wind move past her. The area where it was concentrated was directly below, in accordance to where Lucian directed. Gerard kept collecting and releasing biha as they landed, with Beks placing her hand on his shoulder to give him a steady feed of biha so as not to drain him.

The basket landed on the sloped ground where they’d landed before. In the east, the sky above the horizon began to lighten from black awash with a sea of tiny stars to a hazy deep purple color.

The sun was going to rise. If the Temple missed that dawn, they’d have to wait for the next one; however, if the mountain still had ballistas, it was likely that the ceremony hadn’t happened yet. And if the mountain also had many paladins even stationed on parts of the cliff they could fend attackers from, then the ceremony was going to happen soon.

Lucian opened the door to the basket followed by Rid Callan jumping out and immediately reaching for the ground. Behind him, Beks came down with Gerard afterwards. Laz gave the rope a final tug before jumping over the side of the basket.

Thunder’s wings flapping was drowned out by the violent howl of the wind. Beks had braided her hair that night, and but by some miracle, though the heavy tail of it rose and swayed in the wind, it hadn’t come undone.

Laz and Lucian moved the other three up before making a signal with their hands for her to stay. Lucian also pointed at Rid Callan and signaled for Gerard to remain. Both men nodded and split, leaving Gerard with Beks to continue drowning out any sound as the other three men rushed up the mountain side.

Beks crouched down as she took a small step back to try to minimize her presence. She couldn’t make out the twins running up the side of the mountain, but tried to listen for any sounds of struggle. As soon as the paladins stationed at the ballista were in capacitated, Rid Callan would open a crevice and allow the ballista to be swallowed by the mountain.

In front of her, Gerard was using his biha to make the wind howl in order to block the sounds of the twins.

Beks took another step back, brushing her hair out of her face as some wayward hair fell over her face. The heel of her right foot hit something hard, yet with some give. She stopped at once to avoid falling backwards. She turned around and squinted in the darkness.

There was nothing there.

She frowned and looked down, expecting to see a piece of wood or stone or perhaps even some supplies placed there by the paladins at her feet. Instead, there was nothing. Just crushed grasses.

And familiar biha she couldn’t immediately place.

Narrowing her eyes, she carefully raised her arms and reached out with her palms out. They moved through the air, to reach out to where she began to see a vague outline of a few smatterings of trees down the hill.

Her warm palms collided with something smooth and cool, and familiar. She knew who the biha belonged to at once. Her eyes went wide as she caught her breath. She didn’t pull back her hands. Instead, she moved them from side to side, across the empty space in front of her.

Her eyes could see nothing there, but she felt him.

It’s light biha...light biha can be manipulated to change colors.... Her eyes rose and looked from one end of the other as awe was quickly replaced by relief, and then worry. She opened her mouth to whisper, but Gerard called for her.

“We’re advancing!” His voice was low and Beks could make out his arm waving for her to follow as the first rays of the morning reached them.

Beks looked towards them and then back. She gently patted her hands and whispered. “I’ll see you at the top, my baby.”

She stepped back and turned around, running after Gerard. Lucian intercept them and led them around a pile of wood that seemed to have fallen three-thirds into a massive crack in the ground. Beks barely saw the lifeless bodies strewn around as they rushed.

Lucian released her hand and motioned for them to go to the top before pointing to where Laz and Rid Callan presumably went to destroy another ballista. “It’s clear. Go and wait,” she heard him as he passed.

Beks nodded and put her hand on Gerard’s shoulder to stay close as they trudged up the mountain side. As they reached it, Beks could see that a faint line of orange was appearing in the distance. From the top, Beks and Gerard crouched down near the shrubs and peered towards the entrance, where the path led.

“I don’t see anyone coming,” Gerard said. Beks stopped him from moving forward.

“Wait for the others.” Gerard hesitated, but nodded. Beks looked towards the east, her stomach tightening with unease as she watched the sky grow lighter and lighter.

“The procession is well underway.” Lucian said as he appeared and knelt beside them.

“It’s not a procession,” Laz said as he removed his sword from his sheath. “Paladins are coming up.”

“What about the priests and priestesses?” Beks frowned. They were key to this. The paladins wouldn’t be able to get all the way to the summit.

“Unless they’re dressed as paladins, they’ve yet to come up,” Laz said.

“Perhaps they’re adding more security,” Rid Callan told them.

“Even if they are, we’re already here,” Laz replied. “And they’ll know that soon enough.”

“Do we still wai-”

Shouting came from behind them. Beks whirled around at the sound and didn’t see anyone, but heard one yelling voice became multiple. The five all frowned.

“It seems they found the dead paladins and the broken ballistas,” Laz said. He tucked his sword under his arm and leaned down to kiss Beks. “Break it. If we have to dig the other relics from their dead, bloody hands, we’ll do it.” He then looked at Gerard. “Come with us. Rid Callan-”

“I will cover the back. No one will make it up that side,” Rid Callan said, rising to his feet and eyeing the direction that the alarmed voices were coming from. He looked back at Beks and saluted her. “Remain here and be safe, Your Highness.”

Beks put her hand on his shoulder and filled him with biha one last time. “You, as well, Rid Callan.”

He rushed off and Beks looked towards her husbands. Lucian held her hand once more and then kissed her. “We’ll be back.”

“Beks,” Laz said with a firm look. “Don’t do anything risky.”

Beks cracked a small smile. “Risk is a matter of calculation,” she assured them with an intent look. “And I’ve always been good with numbers.”

Her husbands gave her endearing smiles before stepping back. Gerard bowed. “If anything happens to me, tell Sandra I love her.”

Beks nodded. “And if something happens to me, tell my family and my people that I made my decision because I love them.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Gerard’s eyes grew wet before he took a deep breath, bowed, and then turned to follow the two princes.

Beks took a deep breath of her own. She turned towards the spring that was just becoming visible in the breaking light. Her eyes narrowed as she stepped forward. “Step back,” she said in a quiet voice. “If it shatters, it’ll be dangerous.”

Knowing that, Beks remained a good distance away, her back to the cliffside, ready to slide down the side to duck from any debris that would fly out once she flooded the sacrificial stone with energy.

She closed her eyes and began to gather biha in her hand. She raised her arm and pointed it at the stone. Light visibly gathered at her hand. She opened her eyes and aimed.

Beks felt the push first, and then the pressure of all the air in her lungs was forced out. Her eyes went wide as a half-wheeze-half-grunt escaped her lips. She threw her arm directly up to avoid releasing the light beam in a direction where it could hit the others.

It took her a moment longer to realize that she was flying across the dirt, only to land hard on the ground and roll. She heard a groan above her and vaguely made out the shape of a man tumbling over her and rolling further away.

Alarm shot through her. Any pain she should’ve felt after being tackled from the back was numb.

“I knew it! I knew you’d come!” A woman’s voice rang through the peak and Beks turned her head. Her braid had come undone and fell over her face in a mess. Through the parts between her hair, she saw several figures standing at the edge of the cliff, and a few more pulling themselves up.

Beks let out a heavy, resigned breath as she narrowed her eyes. She gritted her teeth and pushed herself up. She carefully moved her feet, making sure she wasn’t injured, all while keeping her eyes on Iris Elpidah, a familiar High Priest, and a dozen paladins and counting. Her eyes darted to the man who’d tackled her. He’d rolled further away and was also pushing himself up.

The corner of Bek’s lips curled with disgust as she recognized the haggard man. He must’ve ridden non-stop to get there. Still, she didn’t think that riding like a madman would get him that far south so fast.

He really is a relentless bastard. “Oh, gods, not you again....” she grumbled.

Captain St. Moore gave her a cold wry smile as he swayed on his feet. “You’re surprised to see me? It is impossible to make it from the Giant’s Ridge to Strahnroc on horseback, but you’re not the only one with a flying legendary beast.”

Beks was only mildly surprised. “The Temple was hiding a rokh?”

Captain St. Moore sneered. “Close.” A throaty cry that was almost like that of a rokh came from behind them, on the cliffside.

Beks narrowed her eyes, adjusting to the piercing morning light as a shadow fell over where Iris and the High Priest stood. The winged beast with the body of a lion and the head, wings, and talons of an eagle rose into the air behind them. The creature was just large enough for a single rider and its saddle was still on.

“Surprised?” Iris asked, almost sounding triumphant. “The Temple has more secrets than you can imagine.”

“Thieves and murderers often do,” Beks said. She didn’t take her eyes off of her enemies. “But this is the first time I’ve seen a griffin. It’s not bad.” Her gray eyes flickered to Captain St. Moore and smirked. “And I’m sure you get this a lot, but....” She pointed to the sky. A loud screech sounded somewhere in the distance, as if on cue. “Mine’s bigger.”

The smug look on Captain St. Moore’s face dropped. Iris gritted her teeth.

“Don’t look so pleased! Our paladins have you surrounded! We know you’d try to stop us!”

“I knew you’d come, too, but to make your way up the most difficult side of the mountain?” Beks smirked and wiped the dust from her arms. “And breaking your own ceremony rules by allowing paladins up with you. I’m almost impressed.”

“You’d never expect us to come up this way. It was the safest route,” Iris said. Beks looked her up and down. No wonder the twins had told her that paladins were stationed on the cliff side, but made no mention of anyone else.

Iris and the High Priest were dressed as paladins.

“You were really expecting me,” Beks said. She smiled with a cold glint. “And here I thought you weren’t a real oracle.”

Iris scowled. She seemed to want to say something more, but one of the paladins handed her a metal box. Shaped like a square, it was as big as her head and the width of her arms.

“You must finish the ceremony before the sun completely rises from the horizon,” the High Priest said in a low voice.

“I know that,” Iris said with gritted teeth.

Beks took a step back as she saw the paladins finish climbing up. She silently praised their caution. Two dozen paladins for her? She must’ve been terrifying. Another step back and she felt something against her foot, stopping her from getting closer to the spring behind her. Beks held her hands at her side and pushed her palms backwards.

She felt the smooth, soft, and cool scales.

“It looks like I’m going to have to take a risk,” she said in a quiet voice. “I’m sorry to do this to you, baby.” She felt something nudge her upper arm gently. “Okay...I love you, too.”

She hadn’t taken any more steps and the High Priest seemed to reach the end of his patience. He let out a growl and whirled to look at the group of paladins surrounding them.

“What are you waiting for? Get her out of the way!” The High Priest screeched with fury as the paladins escorting them rushed forward. “The sun will finish rising soon!”

“Quickly!” Iris yelled as she clutched the metal box against her chest. “While no one is protecting her!”

Beks narrowed her eyes as she lifted her chin. She dug her feet into the pathway between Iris and the spring several paces behind her.

“Who said no one is protecting me?” she asked in a low voice as the warm sunlight hit her face.

Her shadow was cast against the ground and right behind it, a long, stretching shadow appearing from nothing.

The paladins noticed the shadow at once and slowed, trying to assess what it was.

“It’s just shadow biha! It does nothing but create a fog to reduce visibility!” Captain St. Moore raised his sword. “Forward!”

“Paladins. Why does it always have to be paladins...” She sighed. Beks cracked a small smile. “I have someone much better.”

Iris sneered as she looked at Beks. “Your men are preoccupied. There is no one here to save you this time!”

“Yes, there is,” Beks replied. Behind her, the clear path to the spring and the sacrificial stone began to fade until it was completely blocked off by a thick, long, and glistening white-scaled body. A huge white head with large red eyes was raised over her head, as sharp horns seemed to glow in the dawn light. A wide mouth opened and long, slender fangs extended and a loud hiss vibrated through the air. Beks pointed up and gave them a curt, knowing nod.

“Snowflake.”