When Joseline spoke again, the change in her tone was drastic. “Can you promise me something?”
Quinn turned to her, frowning. He fought to keep his own expression neutral at the smooth, otherworldly fluctuation in her previously sweet voice. The voice she spoke with now could have belonged to someone else entirely—calm, wise, sincere—the determined gleam in her eyes contrasting the prior concern as if she knew exactly what she was agreeing to, all her fears and hesitations forgotten. Her eye color shifted from forest green to a dancing, swirling gold, but he disregarded that change until he could focus on it later.
“No, Your Highness, I can promise you nothing.”
She nodded, her gaze unblinking. “Hypothetically speaking, if I agree to help you, can you guarantee that my city and my people will be safe from harm?” The strange tone lingered. Even her posture changed; her hands folded neatly at her waist, her movements less timid, more graceful and regal.
Almost godly.
Quinn’s pulse quickened, but still he ignored the shift in the princess, keeping his own voice even. “To the best of my power. I would die to save the people of this city, to save you. It is my fate. As it is yours to learn what you must to defeat Aeron.”
Joseline turned to Maya and Jenson, her head tilting curiously to the side, eyes still demanding and flecked with gold. “You two can say the same?”
“Quinn has never led us astray. I trust him with my life. I would follow him to the demon realm and back if he thought it in our best interests,” Jenson replied solemnly.
“As would I,” Maya agreed.
If either of them noticed the change in her demeanor, they didn’t show it.
The princess brushed off the dusty satin skirts, releasing a shuddered breath. She hesitated before speaking, though the presence that had overcome her body remained. The power awakening within her seemed to turn her from naïve fear to royal acceptance and determination. “As the future Queen of Rathal, it is first and foremost my responsibility to make decisions that will keep my people safe despite my own fears. Aeron plans to harm them. So, it would seem my duty aligns with this fate you speak of.”
Quinn held his reply, breath hitching at her sudden agreement.
She opened and closed her mouth several times. Her nose flared slightly, as if she fought whatever controlled her, but still she continued, “Furthermore, you seem to care for the people of my city as much as I do. You are not only willing to sacrifice your safety for theirs, but you saved my life.”
“So, what does that mean?” Quinn asked, tasting blood where the skin of his lip had broken.
“It means I am in your debt. I don’t like that, and I don’t believe you, but if my people’s lives are in danger…I must be a strong ruler before anything else, before my own fears. How can I hope to rule justly if I cower in terror and leave my people to suffer? Aeron threatens them, he threatens my family, so I must find a way to stop him, for their sakes.” She gave a close-lipped smile. Her expression returned to normal, the gold vanishing from her eyes, and her shoulders trembled, though her posture remained near-perfect.
Quinn walked to her, half expecting her to take back everything she’d just said, but she only watched him, waiting for him to speak. “Your Highness, we would be honored to serve and protect you.”
Maya rolled her eyes. “Leave her be. I’m sure she would like to change.”
Joseline was silent for a moment more before she glanced down at the torn and dirtied satin, the ivory lace trim along her chest, upper arms, and waist now an unpleasant brown, and gave a small laugh. “I suppose that would be nice.”
“It’s the least I can do,” Maya said, starting toward the stairs.
Tugging on scarlet curls, Joseline murmured, “I don’t suppose I could borrow a bath as well?”
The two women disappeared up the spiraling stairs, the warning bells still echoing through the streets outside.
Quinn released the breath he’d been holding. “Well, I was expecting worse.”
He undid the clasp of his cloak and laid it over the couch on his way into the open kitchen. Filling a mug to the brim with golden-brown ale, Quinn took a long swig. The bitter taste settled his shaking nerves, but the headache remained.
“You always expect the worst.” Jenson was a silent shadow beside him.
“Which is why I have a seilapora who expects the best,” he mused. “Kindred souls are meant to balance one another after all. You’re meant to see the things that I can never find, isn’t that what Fallon always says?”
Jenson smiled at that. “Please, at least tell me I’m not the only one who saw that power awakening within her.”
Quinn took another long swig. “You aren’t.” He let out a low whistle. “The Goddess blessed princess. I wasn’t expecting the Great Mother’s power to impact her like that. It was like her consciousness shifted to influence her decision but when she regained control she didn’t fight the statement. It was interesting.”
“I don’t think any of us knows what to expect,” Jenson said. “How can we? Queen Maren was the last Waeshorn ruler to have the Goddess strength and she died in the Second Demon Wars. Not to mention this is probably the first time the power has awakened within Joseline at all.”
Draining the mug, Quinn set it on the counter. “Regardless of how the power affects her, I don’t think she comprehends the danger she’s in. Despite her own beliefs, she wants to help her people, to protect them.”
“She shows potential to be a great ruler.” Jenson braced his elbows against the counter, leaning back.
Quinn sighed. “Part of me wishes we didn’t have to drag her into all this.”
“There is no one else.”
The stable door opened again.
Fallon, all lean muscles and silvery flowing hair, strode into the room, Reyes and Resa, the dark-haired twins, at his heels.
Quinn dipped his head in a swift bow. “All went well, I assume?”
Fallon ignored him. His voice, smooth and demanding, was steady as he met Quinn’s eyes. “Princess Joseline?”
“Safe with Maya. Her mare is in the stables. Building and barn are under a cloaking enchantment.”
“I noticed.”
“I didn’t want to take any chances.”
The aged scar running from Fallon’s lower lip to his chin was accented by his thin smile. “Have you talked to her?”
Quinn nodded. “She thinks Aeron is a children’s story, but she’s going to help for her people.” He gnawed on his lip again. “The Goddess power awoke and made the decision for her, but as long as we reach the end goal, right?”
Fallon patted Quinn’s shoulder. “That’s my boy.”
“One problem,” Resa said from the window.
“What would that be?” Jenson asked.
“The palace sent out guards lookin’ for the girl,” Reyes replied, with a quick glance at his sister. “Not only the Jade Cloaks, but there’s other strange creatures. The darkness trailing behind ’em makes me uneasy.”
“Yes, they attacked during the procession. I’ve never seen demons of that kind before.” Fallon glanced to Quinn. “We need to get her out of Rathal, start toward Raenya. We can take care of training on the way. If we make haste, we can reach Rekiv before Kyaos ends, do most of the traveling while the days are longer.”