The Alcazar (The Cerulean Duology #2) - Amy Ewing Page 0,132

the High Priestess, still flanked by two acolytes.

Sera climbed back down the temple and Leela turned to address those who would be coming with them.

“We will have to go down beneath the City,” she said. “If anyone wishes to change their mind, now is your chance. There is no shame in being afraid.”

Daina trembled and Koreen twirled her hair nervously, but no one said a thing. The gathered Cerulean were watching her with faces set and backs straight. Leela felt a quiver in her stomach. She was in charge now. She must lead them.

She turned to Elorin and Sera. “Let’s go,” she said.

She led them to Faesa’s statue, revealing the stairs that descended into the cold blue light. There were more cries of amazement as the Cerulean took in the Sky Gardens, the glowing columns and green paths and clear pools. Leela brought them to the central pool where the stalactites lay empty and the tether shot up into the cone of moonstone. Leela turned to the ice-white vines above—there was a flash of heat in her heart and suddenly all the fruit fell, plop plop plop, juicy orbs of gold littering the ground.

“You must take one,” Leela said. “And eat it. It will enhance your magic and make you strong.”

She was a bit shocked at how quickly her orders were followed. Without hesitation, everyone bent to grab a fruit. Koreen’s eyes widened as she took the first bite, Kandra gasped, and Freeda shuddered. But when the High Priestess began to bend, Leela reached out a hand to stop her.

“No,” she said. “Not you. You do not get to consume our magic anymore.”

The High Priestess pursed her lips and straightened.

“Everyone take a pool,” Leela commanded once the fruit was eaten. The Cerulean already seemed changed, their skin glowing bright silver, their eyes shining pure blue, as they spread throughout the space to stand beside the clear patches on the ground. “We will follow the line of the tether. Trust me. Trust Sera.”

Elorin had a mix of fear and anticipation on her face as she gave Leela a tight smile. Sera’s mothers were standing at pools right next to each other, their eyes flitting from the planet back to their daughter.

Leela and Sera stood together beside the largest pool with the tether shooting through it. “When I say jump, we jump!” Leela called out.

Sera grabbed her hand and squeezed it. Leela took a deep, fortifying breath and cried, “Jump!”

She sank through the pool, Sera at her side. One by one the Cerulean followed them, filling the darkness like silver-blue stars.

36

Agnes

SERA WAS GONE SO QUICKLY, IT LEFT AGNES BEWILDERED, her mind unable to truly absorb the loss.

Then the cannons rang out again and Vada grabbed her hand. “We must be getting out of here!” she cried.

Agnes turned to Wyllin. “Come with us,” she said.

The ancient Cerulean smiled. “My place is here,” she said. “Go.”

They fled back the way they had come, through the maze of rooms and out into the lush green trees. The warships had aimed their cannons at the Alcazar and ships carrying the Renalt’s Misarros were being rowed to shore. The Byrne Misarros were racing from the clandestines to confront them. So much fighting, so much death, Agnes thought. Over nothing.

“We have to stop this,” she said to Leo. But he was staring in the opposite direction. “What?” she asked, turning.

The Byrne Misarros who had come with Ambrosine were all kneeling, placing their weapons on the ground at Agnes’s feet.

“We are at your service,” said the leader, a woman with graying spikes and sinewy arms. “We will fight and die for you, Agnes Byrne.”

“By the goddesses,” Eneas gasped. “You are the matriarch now.”

He looked proud, but Agnes didn’t feel anything except light-headed and confused.

Matthias seemed to understand. “Ambrosine is dead,” he said gently, placing his hands on her shoulders to steady her. “Culinnon is yours now. These Misarros serve the Byrnes. They serve you.”

“I don’t want to be served by anyone,” Agnes protested.

“Let us not be making any hasty decisions,” Vada said. “We are still having the Renalt to contend with.”

That was a good point. Agnes could deal with the fact that she didn’t want to be a matriarch later. “Please,” she said to the Misarros, feeling horribly awkward. “You can stand, it’s all right. We—we’ve got to get off this island.”

“Our fleet is yours,” the head Misarro said. “This way.”

She led them down the winding path, an easier journey than the climb had been, though nearly as long.