Of Silver and Beasts (Goddess Wars) Read online

  Finally, I reach my mother. “What are you doing here?”

  Her green eyes, which have dulled from their bright hue since her illness, light up. “I wouldn’t miss your promotion for anything,” she says. The deep-set wrinkles around her eyes crinkle as she smiles.

  My chest aches, and I take a deep breath. “Where’s Emily?” I say low, glancing around. “You know you’re too sick to be—”

  “Stop, Kal.” She waves her hand. “I’m not missing this. Now come here.” She extends her arms. I sigh and allow her to hug me and kiss my cheek. The soft, worn fabric of her jade tunic brushes against my neck. She pulls back. “Don’t forget to visit me on your leaves.” She coughs into her hand. “I’m not above storming the palace to check on my little girl.”

  Mock-rolling my eyes, I give her the satisfaction of embarrassing me. “I promise.” I bring her into another tight hug, wondering how I’ll be able to do my duty while my thoughts will be constantly on her. “It’s not like I’m moving across the queendom. I’m literally right down the street.”

  She smiles, and runs her thumb across my check as she inspects my face. Then she uses the sleeve of her tunic to polish the silver protector emblem of wings encircling the goddess sun on my uniform. “Alyah watch over you, Kaliope.”

  At the use of my full name, something she only says when she’s extremely sentimental, I blink rapidly to clear my vision. I can’t let the other Nactue see me bawling like a little girl. They’re the fiercest women in all of Cavan. And now, I think proudly, I’m one of them.

  My heart beats against my breastbone as I study her face. “Mom, please do everything Emily says.” I widen my eyes at her. “Promise you’ll take care of yourself.”

  A sudden sadness fills her eyes, but then it’s quickly gone. “You have to stop worrying about me, Kal. You need to live your life.” Her eyes roam my face as if this will be the last time she’ll see it. “I will always be with you. No matter what. Now go.”

  Hesitating a moment, I consider her words, but then see protectors moving to the front of the crowd. I have to trust that she’ll be all right. That Emily will take care of her, and that my salary will continue to provide enough to keep her in good health. I nod and give her a quick smile. “I’ll visit soon.”

  Tugging the pleats of my cinched uniform straight, I make my way toward the front line of protectors. They’re positioned right below the dais where Empress Iana will give her address. I spot Lilly and Willa and push toward them, then stand next to Lilly at the end of the first row.

  Willa leans forward and says around Lilly, “It’s great she could be here.”

  I smile and give her a sure nod. What goes unsaid is that my father could not. That he never came to any of my functions even before he was committed. It reminds me of just how different my life is from theirs and most of the citizens of Cavan.

  Proving further that my home life was not of the norm, Lilly waves to her parents across the swarming crowd. Her mother stands to the side of her father and a foot ahead of him, showing her dominance in their family.

  Searching the crowd, I see the same display expressed in every family gathered here. It’s not a way to put men beneath women, or to declare us superior. It’s to show that Farrah has chosen the mother and wife to guard, protect, and govern those who she cares most for. It’s a symbol of a woman’s love and devotion to her family.

  My parents never attended functions together, I fear, for this very display. My father is an oddity—his misogyny something I can’t place on his part. He didn’t grow up in Cavan, though. And he doesn’t speak of his homeland. But he never allowed my mother to be ahead of him in any public fashion.

  And it’s that irony, of being raised in a queendom and also by a man who looked down on women, that makes me the oddity that I am. Had I been brought up in a normal household, maybe I’d have a different outlook on men in general. As it is, I simply want to serve my empress, my deities, and I don’t give men a second glance.

  “Here we go,” Lilly says, drawing me out of my reverie as she nods toward the dais.

  The all-women Cavan Council step up first and walk a straight line across the platform, then seat themselves on the raised bench behind the dais. Their neutral colored robes cling to them in the heat, and each member wears a vissa display over one eye with a short, thin silver microphone jutting from beneath the clear screen.

  Councilor Herna stands before her place in the middle of the bench. “Welcome Cavan.” Her voice booms across the court as she raises her arms in gesture to the crowd. A giant blue-green hologram of her image projects before the immense palace. “Farrah bless this day.”

  The crowd echoes her in unison with “Live well, in Farrah’s name”.

  She then swings her arm toward the front of the palace as the massive white doors part. “Empress Iana,” she announces, and cheers erupt.

  I clap and holler along, pride for our ruler filling me with elation. Empress Iana steps onto the platform and nods to her council, then raises her hands to the gathered crowd. Her white robe opens slightly in front, and peeking beneath is a gold and ochre dress. She’s the only empress to wear colors other than white. It was a matter of debate when she was first empowered ten years ago after the war. She was fourteen then, and one of the youngest ever to be sanctioned Empress of Cavan.

  The Council gave in to her whims, stating that age would mature her ways, and she’d eventually accept the purity of white as her everyday apparel. But apparently, it hasn’t. A small smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. I can think of no one more deserving to dedicate my life to then of the young, willful empress.

  She steps to the center of the dais and the crowd hushes. “Welcome Cavan,” she says, the silver microphone carrying her soft voice across the palace court. “Farrah has blessed this day, and given me the strength to announce this very difficult address.” She pauses, and murmurs rumble through the crowd. “As you know, the Perinyian Kingdom was attacked two days ago by Otherworlders. We feared the day they’d resurface and strike again. It was never a matter of if . . . but when.”

  I glance over at Lilly. She’s absorbing every word as she unconsciously snaps her knuckles with her thumb. A nervous habit or hers. I reach out and touch her hand.

  “Today should be filled with pride and celebration as our protectors advance to claim their accomplishments. However, it’s with a heavy heart that I rush their promotion and act quickly to secure our borders.”

  My brow furrows, and I anxiously study the empress’s own pinched eyebrows. She runs her hands along her white robe, smoothing non-existent creases, then brushes her long blond tresses from her shoulder, lifting her head high. “Perinya—our allies, need provisions. They need our help to recover supplies lost to them, and our comfort in their time of loss. King Marcus was assassinated during the raid.” A shocked gasp sounds out through the court, and the empress bows her head. We follow her direction and bow our heads for a moment of silence—to honor Perinya’s fallen king. I knew by the look on Councilor Herna’s face during the broadcast there had to be more to it than an attack.

  The supplies they lost can only be one thing—the thing we all depend on to power our cities, to operate our machinery and robotics.

  Mercury.

  My blood runs cold as I think about the Otherworlders attacking citizens in search of our most precious commodity—the very thing that swims in my veins.

  Empress Iana lifts her head and continues. “Many young women and men were taken from Perinya’s capital during the attack, and I fear the Otherworlders are abducting for their slave trade once again.”

  The crowd talks quietly among themselves. Hushed rants echo around me. My hand clamps the hilt of my sword, and my teeth grind as my jaw tightens. Otherworlders conducted a slave trade before they disappeared underground. That’s how they negotiated mercury from other countries so they could fuel their realm.

  I’ve never heard of anyone going down below in the Otherworld, but I can im
agine what it may be like: the captured slaves kept in dark, cold cells; made to eat and drink spoiled food and dirty water. What kind of people live underground? What kind of people take humans for slaves?

  My thoughts are interrupted as Empress Iana’s voice grows fierce. “. . . We will take every precaution at our borders. Protectors will be posted at every entry into Cavan. We will not bow before their tyranny.”

  Shouts and applause rumble through the court. The cheering grows louder, and Empress Iana’s features remain determined, hard. My hands limply close together, my mind distracted. We’re sending protectors to Perinya. A foreign land possibly swarming with the enemy. Even though I know it’s the right course of action, I fear for those chosen for this mission.

  Empress Iana holds up her hand to quiet the crowd. “Let us move forward with the ceremony.” She looks to us, her protectors—her loyal pledges. Then she motions us forward. I follow suit behind the protectors as we approach the dais.

  Councilor Herna unrolls a pale parchment and begins reading off names. One by one my sisters and brothers, who I’ve trained beside every day since I was twelve, step onto the platform. More than half are called. I glance around at our remaining numbers, and happiness swells in my chest. Lilly and Willa remain by my side. Which means they’ve either been factioned into the Milan Guard, who scout past our borders for resources and act as a liaison between the empress and neighboring kingdoms. Or they’re going to advance with me.

  They both deserve to be in the Nactue Guard. They spent every moment in training prepping for it as it was our dream to become members of the most revered faction. We’ve worked hard, and we’ve made personal sacrifices to place ourselves at the highest level during training. I say a quick prayer to the goddesses to keep us together.

  The empress looks to the new recruits of the Cavan Army on the platform. “You’re the backbone of our country. You will serve and protect Cavan, keeping our land safe, and commit your life to every citizen.” They kneel before her, and she takes a rapier sword from her advisor and waves it to one side, then the other. “Rise, daughters and sons of Farrah, and serve well in Her name.”

  Applause quakes the court and I cheer along. The Cavan Army moves down from the platform to make room for the next faction. Councilor Herna calls fewer names this time, and only fifteen protectors stand before the dais. Empress Iana says, “The Milan Guard commits their life to ensuring our land is never in want of mercury, our greatest commodity.” I involuntarily wince and grip my hilt tighter, preventing my hand from going to my chest. “We also depend on you for communication between us and the leaders of this world. May you honor us and Farrah with your service.” She waves the sword. “Rise, daughters and sons of Farrah, and be strong in Her name.”

  I attempt to clap, but my hands make little noise as they’re coated with sweat. Pulling back the sleeve of my uniform, I discretely inspect my skin. Silver swirls slightly beneath. I take a deep breath. I’m so nervous that my heart beats like a horse running the raceway. I try to think of something calming—a river; a bird’s song—anything to quell my excitement. I imagine I can hear the gears grinding in my chest, but I know that’s not possible.

  Looking down the row of girls, I’m overjoyed that Lilly and Willa are still beside me. Lilly’s eyes meet mine and we share a smile. She lifts her hand, turns her palm out, and crosses her fingers. Our secret friendship sign from when were little. I mimic her gesture, my heart elated. We’re going to be in the Nactue Guard together.

  Empress Iana takes the parchment from her advisor and proceeds to call the remaining five protectors herself. “Lilly Andrews,” she says, and Lilly steps onto the platform. Then Willa is called, followed by Missa and Van. And then, “Kaliope Rainym.”

  I yank my sleeve farther down my wrist and walk up the three steps leading to the platform.

  Councilor Herna bows her head in acknowledgment to us. The empress hands the scroll back to her adviser and picks up the sword. “As the Nactue Guard, you will be my most trusted, my most loyal, and my most feared protectors. You will dedicate your life to serving and protecting your empress before Farrah and all her divine sisters. And”—she smiles—“I’m honored to now call you my sisters as well.”

  My chest flutters at her praise as we kneel before her. She moves the sword to the left and chants under her breath. The thin blade illuminates a celestial white. Heat blooms inside my chest, and I touch the ground with my fingertips to get my bearings as my limbs tremble. A powerful blast of energy rushes through me as the empress sweeps her glowing sword to the right. “Rise, daughters of Farrah, my Nactue, and protect in Her name.”

  I peek over at Lilly as I get to my feet. She’s as shaken by the bond being formed with our empress as I am. We straighten and stand tall, and the cheers of the crowd rock the court. I scan the bodies, searching out my mother. My eyes settle on her, and the sheer joy and pride on her face makes my chest ache. I blink a few times, clearing away the moisture. I have to look away.

  As we exit the platform, we’re ushered into the palace while Empress Iana and her council wrap up the ceremony. I’ve been inside the palace only once before, when my father first signed me up. I remember it well, and was awestruck then by its sheer grandeur. But today, the towering sandstone walls reach upward endlessly, the fountain in the center seems clearer, sparkling like crystal. And the sun seems to shine brighter, lighting the stained glass windows as they bathe the white marble floor in iridescent colors.

  Lilly and Willa twirl, taking in the inner ward. I step forward to enjoy this moment with my friends, but my awe is interrupted as the former leader of the Nactue approaches. Her gray eyes scan me up and down, sizing me up.

  I quickly bow my head to her in acknowledgment. Then I straighten my uniform and stand tall, my chin lifted. “Protector Carina, it’s an honor—“

  “So,” she says, a slight smile hiking the side of her mouth. “You’re my replacement.”

  My eyes nearly bulge from their sockets. “Excuse me?” It wasn’t made known who would take Carina’s place, but I never thought for a moment it could be me. For the first time all morning, real fear grips my chest.

  Carina’s smile widens. “Congratulations, Kaliope Rainym. You’re the new leader of the Nactue.”

  My fingers glide over the smooth stone of the deity Alyah. Her statue stands next to the tint-covered window in my chamber, and I can’t help but feel that her presence confirms that I was fated to be here.

  My mother has loyally worshiped the goddess of healing her whole life. Alyah symbolizes strength in the path toward health and recovery. I spent countless nights praying to her, my faith tested when the mercury in my blood wasn’t miraculously stripped from my veins. It wasn’t until after I entered the protectors that my mother told me how she brought me to the Temple of Alyah. How she prayed over me, and the goddess spared my life. How I shouldn’t have survived to be alive today.

  Unlacing the top of my sleeping shirt, I loosen the neck, then slide it over my head. I run my hand roughly along my arm to force the blood to circulate. In the mornings, after my body has been at rest all night, it takes a while to get my blood pumping, and for the inky swirls to disappear. Most a.m. training sessions take care of this issue, and the grueling exercise leaves my skin nearly stain free. But this morning, I have to depend on the long sleeves of my uniform to hide the silver rivers flowing beneath my skin.

  Avoiding the mirror in my new room, I trace my collarbone, and the tips of my fingers find the puckered skin over my heart. I follow the pattern of stitched skin until I feel the smooth surface of clear, hard-as-diamond glass protecting the clamp. Two silver gears rotate beneath the glass, helping the device filter the mercury away from my heart.

  Tossing my shirt to the marble-tiled floor, I hustle over to the armoire that holds my new uniforms and yank one out. I slide my bottoms off and quickly slip into the tight black pants. Then I snap the silver buttons of my black cotton shirt, thanking the goddesses that I don
’t have to wear that scratchy polyester fabric anymore. My new uniform top is cinched in the middle, and the hem spreads out over my hips. I feel transformed.

  After I lace my knee-high boots, I secure my leather chest harness and snap my small dagger in place. I fasten my belt, making sure my sword hilt points up, straight. The pommel is a smooth brushed silver teardrop. It fits perfectly in my palm as I rest my hand atop. Comforting.

  I look up to the statue and thank the goddess once more, then move toward my bed where my clothes from home have been transported.

  A knock sounds at the door, and a young woman in a gray maid’s tunic peeks her head inside the room. “Mistress, I’m your maid. My name is Silvia.” She enters and curtsies low. “I’ve come to help put away your belongings.”

  “Oh,” I say, and then nod. “Of course. I’m Kaliope.”

  She smiles, her face brightening. “I know, mistress. It’s an honor to serve you.”

  My mouth parts as I glance around at my meager items: a satchel of clothes; a framed picture of my mother; a Tune Deck full of my favorite songs. Not enough to require the assistance of a maid. But I smile agreeably when Silvia passes me, her wisps of brown hair bouncing free of her high bun as she sets to work.

  She hums as she folds and hangs, placing my clothes in the armoire. I feel like I should assist her, but I need to get used to having help in the palace. Still, it’s strange to watch her rhythmically putting away my things while I awkwardly stand in place.

  She looks over at me and nods toward the wall screen. “Mistress, you’re free to do as you please.” She smiles sweetly. “I’m sure watching the playback of yesterday’s ceremony will help to pass the time until you’re called.”

  “Thank you,” I say. “Actually, that would help.” After Carina told me I’m to be the new Nactue leader, my mind has been restless as I wait to be summoned for my official faction orders. I barely slept, whether from the unaccustomed softness of the bed or the pending orders, I’m unsure.