Anais and the Broken War (The Blood Mage Chronicles Book 5) Read Free Page B

have directed you to the stories of the protectorate. But, you always seem to be rushing about. Not your fault of course, putting a wrench in any scheme I might have to provide you with a more thorough education. We are in sore need of the old sort of protectors.”
    “It’s too late for me, though. I’m already tied to Uthur.”
      “Do you still have the candle?” she asked.
    I nodded and pulled the candle out from the recess between my bed and the wall. It looked unchanged. The droplets of wax from the first time I had lit it had hardened into glossy beads.
    “I always wondered what would happen if you lit the candle and said the original words.” She handed me a sheet of parchment. “It might alter your course.” She snorted. “Of course, it might do nothing. I really wouldn’t know.”

    Before I left Tatiana, she had relayed to me that Zilla had gone to the chapel to conduct her morning prayers. Out of the three of us, Zilla was the only one who did this, though she never complained nor made Tatiana and I feel guilty for our neglectfulness. I tended to forget it was even something I was supposed to do. In the chapel, I saw Zilla kneeling on the floor, her hands folded atop a bench in silent prayer. I didn’t wish to interrupt her, so I sat quietly on a nearby bench and waited. For a moment, I considered praying, but instead just closed my eyes and tried to empty my mind. I was so tired of thinking.
    “How was the meeting with the council?”  
    My eyes flicked open at the sound of the question. Had I drifted off? Zilla had joined me on my bench and was looking at me with wide, trusting eyes.  
    “The council is gone.”
    “Oh. That can’t be good.”
    “It is distressing, but Cedric found Jacarda. She says we’re the council now. She wants you to arrange a dinner tonight for twelve people. I think she’s going to try to rally together the remaining influential socialites in the city.”
    “That shouldn’t be a problem,” Zilla said. “Leave it to me. In the Courtshire Abbey, we specialized in organizing parties. I can’t imagine I would be any help in managing a war. How is Mediera faring?”
    “I don’t know if Mediera can do it,” I admitted. “How is she supposed to lead the war effort? She has no experience in dealing with captains and negotiating with the lords in the West. She’s been sheltered. I thought it would be good for her to have some power, but now I’m not so sure… She’s alone.”
    “She has Cedric and Gorman and Jacarda. And she has you. She’s not alone. She will find her way.”
    “I wish I could believe that. I wish I had your optimism–your faith.”
    She took my hand. “Dear mother in her garden, help Lady Mediera see the true path of light. Show her your infinite kindness, show her your infinite grace. See her through this time of darkness.”
    “Do you believe that prayer will accomplish anything?” I asked after Zilla opened her eyes.
    Zilla put her dark hand on mine. “There is power in faith, Ani. You might not know it yet. But it’s there. You just have to know how to take it. And it’s stronger than you realize. You might need it someday, so don’t mock it.” As she spoke, she looked at me as if she feared I would never understand.  
    “I’ll try to remember that.”
    “Would you like to come with me to the kitchens?”
    I shook my head. “I think I might stay and say a prayer.”
    Zilla raised an eyebrow in surprise. I grimaced. Clearly I wasn’t doing a credible job at keeping up the appearance of being a devoted sister of mercy.
    “Good,” she murmured.
    As soon as she was out of view, I pulled the parchment and the candle and Gorman’s ring with the black rock stone from out of my pocket. I wasn’t sure if I should recite the words. I knew virtually nothing about the original order of the protectorate, beyond Tatiana’s vague description. But I did know that my ties to Uthur were inconvenient. When had I ever been cautious? I