Head still reeling from Mai's admissions at the wisteria tree, Rina let Mai lead her to a part of the formal gardens near the precipice edge. The sunset blazed across the ocean, licking up the forget-me-not blue of the sky, and Hecata watched on, a curious silver crescent dangling from a star-speckled chain. Gravel crunched beneath their feet, and rose and lavender-scented the air. The marble palace glowed like a third moon, many-pillared and decked with trees, vines and flowers.
Mai didn't stop here, though. Instead, he took her through a gate built into a tall hedge. They entered an enclosed garden of green grass circled with round white stones that shone like moons. On the far side of the lawn stood a marble building, as large as a manse in the merchant district, but windowless.
Mai walked to the centre of the grass, to a briar bush. "My mother loved wild roses," he said simply, reaching out to cup one of the red blooms. "She always let them grow free, not wanting to tame them."
Rina noticed an engraved plaque at the base of the plant and peered over to read it the in the darkening light.
Kiera
Princess of Eurora
Queen of Denea
Beloved of King Raia
Mother of Emperor Mai
"My father teased her, said she was mad," he continued. "The gardens in Nebia are nothing compared to those in Hypat. 'We have the best gardeners in the world!' he'd say. But she still insisted on keeping one untamed red rose from Eurora and letting it grow as it would."
Mai's mouth twisted. "Her body rests in the mausoleum—" his eyes darted to the building "—but this is where her heart rests."
"I'm sorry, Your Magnificence, but I—"
A pale hand cut through the air. "Don't speak to me like that." There was an edge to his voice that made Rina gulp. "Didn't I tell you, the same blood runs through our veins? And you have the blood of the strongest magician known to Denea." He didn't say more, but Rina heard the unspoken words: the destroyer of Denea. "Your descendent was conceived to take my crown. If Arkis and Elia hadn't been so reckless, things might have been very different."
A seed of dread sprouted in Rina's stomach. She wasn't a threat—but if he truly believed what he said... Was this a test?
He glared at her, and Rina forced her mouth to form words. "If—if what you say is true, why would you take me, of all people, here?"
He began to pace. "Because she didn't get the respect she deserved from your ancestors." He paused and faced her. "You can change that."
Rina took one step back. "I don't understand."
He took a step toward her. "I'm not going to hurt you."
The hood of his cloak was still pulled back, and the silken material ate the growing shadows, turning it as inky black as the ringlets of his hair. The Carnelian Crystals in his diadem flickered with bloody light under the dying sun. She could not forget who he was.
"I know that," she said, not trusting her own words.
"Come then. Do this—for me."
He held out his hand, and, reluctantly, she put hers in it. His fingers coiled around her, preternaturally cold, and she shivered. He seemed paler than before as he drew her hand to the roses, though perhaps she just imagined this. Carefully, Mai moved their hands through the thorny stems and placed them on a thicker branch.
YOU ARE READING
The Carnelian Way
FantasíaDeceit. Love. Power. Centuries ago, the mages of Old Denea destroyed their civilisation to keep Mai, a half-blood prince, from inheriting the throne. Mai rescued the survivors from the remaining Devastation and brought them to Eurora. Since that ti...