Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 131875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
“Keres,” she said before her mother exited the room.
“Yes?”
“Could you send a second summons?”
She raised an eyebrow. “For whom?”
“There is one other person I must help, if I can.”
Fordham smirked, as if to say, See.
Keres laughed. “Fine.”
It was an unsettling hour, waiting for their three guests at Keres’s palace on the outskirts of Carithian. The three prowled the massive bedchamber, hardly speaking as fear clogged the room. Kerrigan had been certain this was the right move, but every minute that ticked by in which Cleora didn’t arrive felt like impending doom. As if Vulsan would swoop in and ruin everything and it would be all her fault.
Luckily, Keres always had staff on-site to maintain the building and its gardens. They brought in a buffet of food and wine to accommodate the Doma and her two Daijan. Keres insisted that they were her people through and through and they had nothing to fear. But fear was ingrained in Domaran culture. It was hard to walk away from it.
Finally, after another long half hour, Keres straightened. “She’s here.”
Cleora strode in with her head held high and her eyes full of mistrust. She bowed low. “Domina Keres, daughter of He Who Reigns.”
Keres waved a hand. “Dispense of the pleasantries, Cleora. Kerrigan has vouched for your presence into my inner sanctum. Know that I do not do this lightly, and if this gets back to my husband, I will not just bring down justice on you, but your brother and entire family as well.”
Cleora didn’t so much as flinch. She had been threatened by one of the most powerful beings in Domara, and she stared her down and nodded. “I will hope to honor the trust you have put in me.”
“See that you do.”
“She is your daughter in truth?” Cleora asked boldly. “And he does not know?”
Keres raised her chin. “She is my daughter. He suspects, but I have forestalled him this long. I hope to be gone before he starts asking more questions.”
“Then, you have little time.”
“Indeed.” Keres leveled her with a sharp gaze. “Kerrigan says that you can help. Have you seen this … affliction put on Kerrigan before?”
“No,” she admitted, relaxing as the topic shifted from her potential death to matters she was more comfortable with. “I have texts at the Emperor’s Academy that would aid me in my research. I have some thoughts about what is happening and ways to break what was done.”
“Then, speak.”
Cleora bristled. “I have hypotheses only. Anything I say at this point would be nothing but speculation.”
“I would hear your speculation,” Keres said.
“Apologies, Domina,” she said with a head bow, “but if you want my best work, then we would need to retreat to the academy so that I might make better assessment of what we are working with.”
“Basically, leave her be,” Kerrigan said, striding between them. She touched Cleora’s shoulder and was surprised to find her shaking. “She is a scholar, and she has to do things her own way.”
“How will we know if we can rely on her assessment?” Keres argued.
“Do you have any idea what is wrong with her magic?” Cleora shot back. Then cringed at her own audacity.
Keres smiled. “I do not.”
“Then, allow me to do my work. She is the first actual spiritcaster I have had in all my years at the academy. I would not risk her, and I have grown quite fond of her,” Cleora admitted softly.
“So have I,” Keres said with a sad smile. “Ah. Our other guests have arrived.”
“Other guests?” Cleora asked in confusion.
Constantine and Danae strode through the doorway. Constantine had his back up, as if he expected at any moment to be slaughtered by his oppressor. Danae was still in servant clothing, trying to seem as unremarkable as possible.
“Good. You’re here,” Kerrigan said. “Now, we can go.”
“Excuse me?” Constantine asked.
Keres rose to her full height and strode toward the general. She tilted her head slightly and smiled before holding her hand out. He looked like he wanted to swat it away, but reluctantly put his in hers.
“Hello, Kurios.”
He stiffened at that name. “General only now, Domina.”
“If he walks like a king, talks like a king, and acts like a king, then no demotion by any force can make him anything but what he is,” Keres informed him.
To Kerrigan’s surprise, his cheeks heated, and he straightened even further at the assessment. As if her mother’s understanding of him made a difference.
“Thank you, Domina,” he said with a tilt of his head. “Now, will you explain what this is about?”
“The only people who know this information are in this room,” Keres said. “And I would like to keep it that way.” Constantine nodded, though he clearly had no idea what she was going to say. “Kerrigan is my daughter and heir.”
Constantine opened his mouth and then promptly closed it. His eyes swept to Kerrigan’s.