House of Secrets and Vows (Crown of Deceit #1)

8. The Solstice Priestess

8

THE SOLSTICE PRIESTESS

I spend the night wide awake, lost in giddy anticipation of finally having a chance to avenge Aella.

Just as Priestess Lana claimed, exactly one hour after the first morning bell the next day, I find Prince Maddox waiting outside the Temple of Secrets. He’s shorter and much leaner than his older brother, with steel blue eyes that lack any speck of warmth.

I approach him slowly, my steps soft and steady, as he leans against a luxurious horse-drawn carriage parked in front of the Temple. The stallion’s coat is a lustrous coal-black, with a sleek mane of the same color.

Two other, plainer carriages pulled by gray steeds sit on each side of the fancy one, with two guards peering outside each of them.

Despite the already warming weather, the prince wears a long-sleeved leather coat and matching pants. I suppose I can’t judge as I’m also covered head-to-toe.

The prince pushes from the carriage and rests his bent arm in front of his torso. “You must be Priestess Halina.”

“Yes,” I answer behind the veil covering my face.

Unlike the usual blue gown I wear, today I am in a deep plum-colored outfit with embroidered silver stars scattered across the dark fabric. The silver embellishments signify the importance of the position of Solstice Priestess, a step below the golden needlework that the high priestesses don.

“The crown thanks you for agreeing to serve at the palace for the Summer Solstice.”

“It’s my honor.”

There's a lie if I’ve ever told one.

My love for the crown is about as minuscule as a gnat, and that was before I knew of Prince Nevan’s new association. Now, after what happened to Aella, I wouldn’t give my left pinky to save any royal in Valazica.

But this opportunity will give me a chance to get close to the prince and to learn as many secrets as I can from those at the palace filled with people who don’t seem to give a single damn about the commoners they rule over.

I ignore the hand Prince Maddox offers me as I enter the carriage. Lush crimson-colored fabric upholsters nearly everything inside. There is a bench on either side, decorated with pins to elevate the already elegant look.

The prince chooses the seat to the left, so I lower myself gracefully across from him and stare out the window as we travel the near-empty streets.

The Temple sits on the border of inner Valazica, where the wealthiest live, and the Silver District, which houses the middle class. As we ride on empty cobblestone streets toward the center of the kingdom, I can only assume we are traveling so early to avoid any crowds.

The pink of dawn spreads in the sky above as birds chirp their morning songs.

The prince leans back in his seat and stretches his arms wide on the cushion back. “How long have you been a priestess, Halina?”

“A decade now,” I reply curtly.

In normal circumstances, I’m the queen of pretending. I pretend to be Halina, pretend to have the heart of a priestess, eager to wash away the guilt of those who enter the Temple. At night, I pretend to be a nobody, dedicated to fighting the power the crown holds over the people.

That is the closest to my truest self, but even still, I walk the tightrope of my own secrets.

Things I’ve never told a single soul in the kingdom.

Even Aella hadn't been privy to all of my skeletons.

But today, riding in this luxurious carriage, I don’t fight the bitterness in my tone as well as I usually do.

“If I remember correctly, the last Solstice Priestess had lived in the Temple for twelve years.”

A knot tightens in my stomach, and I can’t stop my hands from clenching.

His features fold into concern as he lowers his elbows to his side. “Is she all right? Aella, wasn’t it?”

“She went missing months ago.” I won’t divulge any more than that.

“I’m sorry to hear that. She seemed so kind on our ride to the palace.”

I hadn’t known that Prince Maddox had been the one to retrieve her. “Is it your usual duty to fetch priestesses when the crown calls?”

Gods , I scold myself. Prince Maddox isn’t to blame for Aella’s disappearance. As much as I hate the privilege all royals have, I’m wasting an opportunity to learn more about him. With a quick huff, I exhale my ire and relax. Giving in to my anger will get me nowhere.

“It’s a job I’ve volunteered for the past few years, yes.” He stares at the veil covering my face. “You don’t much like me, do you?”

“Thinking of Aella is difficult,” I divulge, truthfully. “I worry that something awful happened to her. I apologize for my harshness.”

“No need to apologize.” With that, our conversation dies, and my attention remains outside the carriage as we continue into the richest circle of Valazica, home to nobles and wealthy commoners alike.

More Valazicans are out and about as we pass the nicest merchant center of the kingdom.

Each of the three sections has its own area for vendors. Inner Valazica brings in the finest quality in everything. Next is the merchant center of the Silver District, which sells more reasonably priced items. Last is the Onyx district of the slums, which trades in anything from cheap foods and clothing to items that fall into the illegal category of the law.

As we continue, we weave through streets of city homes all pressed tightly together.

Last night, I went to the resistance base to tell Felix of my Solstice Priestess assignment. He’s the only one who knows about my role at the Temple. He was in a foul mood before I got there and only nodded at my news.

Afterward, I went to Quin’s apartment, but he wasn’t home, so I left a note telling him I would be gone for two weeks.

A part of me wanted to tell him more, but keeping my double life to myself has gotten me this far. And as much as I enjoy my time with Quin, I don’t know enough about him to take any risk.

Soon, our carriage passes the tall palace gates. As we ascend the hill where the palace sits atop, I admire the lushness all around. Thanks to the heavy spring rain, green grass spreads on each side of the wide cobblestone pathway. Fountains surrounded by walking paths are scattered throughout the grassy lawns, with a bed of flowers lining the trail.

The carriage drops us off at a side door next to a garden area, and then I follow the prince up two flights of stairs before he stops in front of a door.

“This will be your room for your stay. Meals will be brought to you. There’s a small temple to honor all the gods and goddesses on the bottom floor of this wing where the past priestesses have all enjoyed praying.” He turns the handle and pushes the door open. “Otherwise, tomorrow is the opening prayer, which will be held in the eastern wing of the castle in the cathedral. You are asked to be there an hour after the first morning bell. In the meantime, you are free to wander this wing at your leisure.”

I lower myself into a half-curtsy, something I should have done when I first met the prince this morning.

He only dips his chin. “Palace servants will be wandering the halls. If you need anything, ask them to send word for me, and I will return as time allows.”

“Thank you.”

As the prince walks away, I enter my room, close the door behind me, and pull up the veil to allow air to cool my face. Wearing so much clothing is a comfort in the colder months, but on the verge of summer, sweat pools on my skin underneath the fabric.

The room for my stay is small but far fancier than my quarters at the Temple. There, the priestesses are meant to rid themselves of materialism and instead devote their lives to the Goddess. Here, though, a thick red comforter covers the large bed, with more decorative pillows than I bother counting.

Thin cream-colored curtains drape in front of the single window on the far wall, and I pull them open to a view of the garden below.

There is a polished mahogany desk in the corner, a matching dresser with a mirror atop it, and a small velvet chaise that resembles the upholstery in the carriage. I avoid my reflection as I set the small bag I had packed on the dresser.

It's still morning, which means I have time to pass before bed. My stomach grumbles, reminding me I barely ate yesterday and skipped breakfast this morning, and I wonder what time food will be brought to my room.

Not wanting to dwell on my hunger, I flip my veil down and follow the prince’s suggestion to look around. The better I know my new surroundings, the easier it will be to move without being seen if needed.

The floor my room is on appears to be empty. All the doors down the hallway are closed and locked, and I don’t hear a single sound behind any of them. The floor beneath is full of bedrooms as well, though there I hear voices, so I don’t try opening any of them.

To avoid attracting unwanted attention, I locate the temple the prince spoke of. It proves much cozier than the sanctuary in the Temple of Secrets. Situated on the bottom floor of the palace, the room lacks a mosaic above but boasts a beautiful painting on the ceiling depicting five of the six gods, all nude except for strategically placed flowers and vines.

I walk around the single row of benches to the front, where five statues sit. After Aella’s disappearance, I’ve dedicated what little spare time I have to deepening my knowledge of the Houses and the gods they worship.

I managed to, miraculously, slip the book about the Houses from the library, though I never found the missing pages on the House of Blood. But the rest of the tome taught me the basics about each of the other five deities and their respective Houses, all honored in this quaint temple.

On the far left stands a statue of an elephant, blessed by Cerelia, Goddess of Deceit and Desire. The large animal represents the matriarchy and the diverse forms of passion women can embody, as well as the darker nature such emotion can assume. Flowers adorn the statue’s base—roses, peonies, daffodils, and an array of their petals all fall together in a work of colorful art.

To the elephant’s right, two snakes coil around each other, ready to strike, symbolizing Scythe, God of Serpents and Lies. Three dead mice lie at their base.

Next to the snakes stands a pedestal bearing a large sword, the emblem of Esra, God of Shadow and Death. Its hilt, crafted from pure gold, gleams with a row of blood-red rubies. Not a single fingerprint marks the shiny blade.

Beside the sword, a statue of a bare tree looms, adorned with keys hanging from its many branches. This statue represents the deity who blessed the House of Secrets, Mina, Goddess of Secrets and Vows. The keys symbolize the darkness confined within one’s soul, yearning for release, and the covenant made by the priestesses to carry confessions to their grave in honor of the Goddess.

Last is a statue of a large moth, rumored pet to Aviana, Goddess of Whispers and Wind. Notably absent among the statues is any offering to Malikar, God of Blood and Betrayal.

Even the crown fears his power—the same power he’d blessed the House of Blood with.

If only the king knew…

The magic of the vow I took as a priestess prevents me from sharing what I know, but it doesn’t prevent me from finding another way to keep Prince Nevan from gaining the throne. The risk involved in such an endeavor is high, though.

Not only will the prince kill me if he finds out my goal, but it’s unlikely the House of Blood will take too kindly to me exposing one of their own, especially when he might finally give them full control of the kingdom.

Because while the crown itself can be cruel to the people, it hasn’t stepped back and allowed the House of Blood to wreak havoc on the kingdom.

Yet.

To keep up appearances in case any stray eyes might be watching, I kneel in front of the tree of keys and recite one of the many prayers to the Goddess Mina. Then I return to my room, where a tray of food is waiting outside my door.

I crack open the door before lifting the tray from the floor and setting it on my bed, next to a box that hadn’t been there when I left.