The Last Throne of Golah

Chapter 4

"Well, there's no one here." Aelys glanced over Morgana's room, eyes lingering on the desk and bed, as if someone were hiding underneath them. She walked over to the bathroom, sapphire dress glinting, and opened the door. The pearl lamp on the vanity glowed over the turquoise sea glass walls and seashell tub.

"How do you know?" Morgana crossed her arms. "I feel like someone's been following me around all day."

"I'm sure there's no one here because I used my air magic to feel out your room." Aelys's eyes narrowed on the balcony. "Do you still feel as if you're being watched?"

"Not at this moment ..."

Aelys walked past, wafting freesia, golden curls gleaming under the fireflies. She opened the balcony doors and peered out into the darkness. After a moment she came back in. "All clear."

Morgana exhaled.

Aelys shut the balcony doors and gave Morgana a concerned look. "Are you sure you're being followed? You've been under a lot of stress lately."

"I don't know." Morgana sat on her bed and sighed. "Maybe I am being paranoid or I'm stressed. I've been worried that we'll get found out. Lord Elwyn was a win, but I don't know how long our lucky streak will last or if I'll even be strong enough to do the spells in the grimoire. I promised Caliath that I'd free his people, but I can't even control the elements anymore." Morgana looked up. "What if I don't get better, Aelys? What if our plan fails because I'm not strong enough? Then I'll be letting Aeperos Court, my ancestors, and my parents down. You won't get to be queen ..."

Aelys sat next to Morgana and wrapped an arm around her. "Don't say that. You'll get better with the magic; you're just going through a rough patch at the moment. That's all. As for getting caught, well, we all knew the risks when we decided to do this. But it's worth it because of what we're fighting for. Just try not to stress so much."

"I can't help it." Morgana groaned and put her head in her hands. A moment passed. "You said that you felt out my room with air magic. How did you do that?"

"Well, you have to make the magic ripple out from your body. It's like throwing a stone into a pond. When it touches another creature, you'll feel the disturbance. It's only something that can be done with air and earth magic and it's very difficult to control."

"At the rate I'm going I'll never be able to do something like that."

Aelys gave Morgana a stern look. "Yes, you will. It just takes time. Come now, or mother will yell at us for being late for dinner."

***

Dinner was a quiet affair. The dining table was lined with tapered candles that flickered light over platters of roast chicken and vegetables. There was herbed bread drizzled with melted butter and pots of aromatic gravy. Larania praised Morgana for working with Tithonia, while Erik ate his meal in cold silence. He left the room without a word once he was finished. Then the rest of the family continued on with their meal. In an attempt to break the silence Damon invited Morgana and Aelys out to a party that Flynn was having at his mansion in a couple of hours' time. But Morgana curtly declined then continued eating her chicken in silence. Aelys smiled at Damon and lied that she and Morgana had planned a ladies' night instead so that's why they couldn't go. The hurt look on Damon's face softened after that.

Now, they were in Morgana's bedroom waiting for Caliath to arrive.

Morgana quickly brushed her hair and spritzed herself with rose perfume. She caught Aelys's amused grin in the mirror.

"What?"

"Nothing." Aelys smirked. "At least you chose a pink dress today. The color suits you."

Morgana's cheeks warmed, and Aelys poured herself a glass of wine. The wine was a bottle of Moraxes white she'd brought up that had been part of the ladies' night ruse.