“What did you see?” I asked.
“Acaeja showed me the conqueror. She showed me terrible consequences that would take place if he were to succeed in his task. His actions are not Right. They threaten the realm of Acaeja, and all of the White Pantheon.”
My brows lurched.
That was a strong, strong accusation.
I managed, “How? Why?”
I felt her wry smile. “The Weaver, hearts thank her, is cryptic. She shows me only threads, not the tapestry. But I saw enough to understand her intentions. The conqueror needs to be stopped.” Her brow twitched. “If you’re still regretting that missed shot, you won’t be for long.”
I couldn’t speak for a moment. Then, “You want me to go.”
“I do.”
“But I’m—”
“We need fire, child,” the Sightmother said, simply. “You have it. But if you don’t want the task—”
“I do want it.”
I spoke too fast. Too eagerly.
I had been given many missions during my time as an Arachessen. All of them I executed skillfully, accurately, quietly. I trained twice as hard to make up for my late start, to make up for everything I knew the others would always say about me. And it had been recognized. I had risen through the ranks swiftly, earning respect if not always affection.
Still, these last few weeks… parts of myself I thought I’d long ago discarded had started nagging at me again. I hid it the best I could, but it bothered me to know that the Sightmother had noticed.
I had seen other Sisters be cast out of the Arachessen. Our goddess demanded discipline, distance. Not emotional volatility.
I had been handed a gift in this mission. I would not squander it.
I bowed my head. “Thank you, Sightmother. I accept the task.”
The Sightmother tilted my chin up, lifting my lowered face.
“All deserve another chance,” she said, then looped my arm through hers as we walked together.
“What do you know of the Bloodborn vampires? The House of Blood?”
Arachessen extensively studied all the continents and major kingdoms within them. It was hard to learn about the vampire Houses in much detail because they were so isolated, but we had our ways.
“I know enough of their history,” I said. “I know of their position with their goddess.”
Nyaxia, the mother of vampires, was notoriously protective of her people, lording singularly over the continent of Obitraes for the last two thousand years. But long ago, the House of Blood had questioned Nyaxia and offended her, perhaps even betrayed her—offending her so violently that they were cursed rather than given the gifts matching those of the other two Houses. Few details about the curse were known, only that it resulted in young, ugly deaths by vampire standards. The House of Blood was reviled not only by the human nations—who wanted nothing to do with any of the vampire kingdoms—but also the other two vampire houses.
“Are you aware,” the Sightmother said, “that they have a strong affinity for seers?”
That, I did not know.
“They don’t make such information well known, of course,” she went on. “But all major military operations from the House of Blood are almost always accompanied by one seer, who typically remains very close to the leading general. Their king, apparently, has one who never leaves his side.”
Strange, that a kingdom of Nyaxia would be so reliant upon seers. Nyaxia did not offer her followers any magic that could be used for peering into the future—which meant that seers would need to be human, worshipping other gods who offered magic that could be used for such things. Like Acaeja.
“Our conqueror is no exception,” she went on. “He has a seer as well. Join him, infiltrate his army, and watch his movements. Should you earn his trust, your position as his seer will give you unmatched insight into his movements and intentions.”
“You say he already has a seer?” I asked, and the Sightmother nodded.
“He does. For now.”
She did not need to say more. I understood right away what she was telling me to do—create my own opening.
“His forces move north,” she said. “I do not know what his ultimate intentions are with our country, but I know that now he moves for the Pythora King. We need to know why, and what else he intends. Accompany him. And then, when the time is right, you will kill him.”
Years ago, I might have wanted to kill him immediately. But I knew now what it was to cut off the head of a snake and have two more grow in its place. It would take more than a single dagger to his heart to end this.