Emilia nodded. “King Gaius wanted Father to turn Auranos over to him without a fight. He told Father he’d do horrible things to you if he put up any opposition.”
Cleo trembled at the thought of it. Emilia leaned closer. “And just between you and me, I believe Father would have done exactly as King Gaius asked before it was too late to save you.”
“He couldn’t. There are so many people in Auranos, he couldn’t just give it over to the Limerians.”
“And the Paelsians. Paelsia and Limeros have partnered in their hatred against us.”
“Why do they hate us so much?”
“Envy. They see that we have so much here. And they’re right. We do.”
Cleo exhaled shakily. Her actions had nearly brought about the ruin of her father’s kingdom. “My trip was wrong in so many ways. But I still can’t bring myself to fully regret it. I wanted to help you.”
“I know.” A small, sad smile touched her lips. “I know you did it for me. And I love you for that so much. But I don’t think even a Watcher could have helped me anymore. I’m not sure I even believe they’re anything more than legend.”
“They’re real.”
“Did you meet one?”
Cleo faltered. “No. But a woman I met, Eirene, she told me tales I’d never heard before. About a sorceress and a hunter, about the Watchers. Did you know the goddesses were Watchers who stole the Kindred and exiled themselves? Now the Watchers wait to find the next sorceress, who can lead them to the hidden Kindred to restore their magic before it dies away completely. It’s all so incredible.”
Emilia’s smile held. “Sounds like quite a tale.”
“It’s real,” Cleo insisted. “The goddesses stole the Kindred and split it between them, but the power made them enemies. Before that, the entire Western Realm was one. We were all friends once upon a time.”
“No longer. The Limerian king hates Father. He wants to destroy him. He’s hungered for Father’s land since before he was on the throne. His father was a kind and gentle king who only wanted peace. King Gaius will be happy to spill oceans of blood beyond his own borders if it will get him the power he desires.”
Cleo’s chest tightened. “His son is a vicious, evil creature. If I see him again, I’ll kill him.”
This didn’t bring a look of concern to Emilia’s face, rather one of admiration. “You have such boundless passion and determination. And strength.”
Cleo stared at her. “Strength? I could barely lift a sword to try to save my own life.”
“Not physical strength. Strength here.” Emilia pressed her hand against Cleo’s heart. Then she touched her forehead. “And here. Although up here is a part that you could probably work on a bit, so no more trips to dangerous lands will be in your immediate future.”
“I’m not strong,” Cleo insisted. “Neither heart or mind.”
“Sometimes you don’t realize how strong you are until you’re tested. As the youngest daughter in this family, you haven’t been tested very much in your life, Cleo. Not like me.” Emilia’s face shadowed. “But I believe you will be. Very soon. And you must draw from that strength. You must increase it. And you must hold on to it because sometimes that small glimmer of inner strength is all that we have to help us press forward through the darkness.”
Cleo clutched her sister’s hands. “And you must also be strong. I will send a guard back to Paelsia to continue my search. And he will be successful.”
Theon had promised he would go. Now she would have to find another to take his place. If Emilia had enough strength to leave her bed and come to Cleo’s side in the middle of the night, there was still hope for her recovery.
“I’ll try,” Emilia said, a weary tone to her voice. She turned her head to look out the window. “I’ll try very hard to be strong. For you.”
“Good.” The sisters were quiet for a moment. Emilia continued to gaze at the stars.
“You need to know that Limeros and Paelsia are gathering an army to enter Auranos in the coming weeks. They expect that Father will give up the moment they arrive.”
Panic swelled in Cleo’s chest. “He can’t give up.”
“If there isn’t an immediate surrender, they’ll fight to take the palace.”
An anger burned inside Cleo’s chest. “What will he do?”
Emilia’s grip on her hands tightened. “Had you been in the Limerian’s clutches, I think he would have done anything to save your life.”
“And now that I’m back?”
“Now,” Emilia said, gazing into her sister’s eyes, “if King Gaius is looking for a war, a war is exactly what he’ll get.”
Magnus had expected his father to be furious over his failure in Paelsia. He’d been prepared to face his fate after waiting for over a week. He stood by the thick iron railing as King Gaius entered the downstairs foyer upon his return. The king didn’t waste any time in getting to the point as he peeled off his riding gloves and a servant helped him removed his mud-encrusted cloak.
“Where is Princess Cleiona?”
Magnus looked at him unflinchingly. “I would assume she’s in Auranos.”