If you scorn us, he will be hers. Give yourself to us. Know our ways.
The light of the torch was nearly gone. Lia hesitated, her soul wrenching with pain. But she would not surrender to it. Even if it cost her life. The Medium had whispered to Colvin that he needed to marry Ellowyn Demont by irrevocare sigil. If he took Hillel to Billerbeck, he would marry the wrong girl – but perhaps the Medium would bind him to Lia regardless, because of who she really was. Could she give up having Colvin in this life in the hope of having him forever?
The pain of the decision was excruciating. Jealousy, greed, hatred, and worst of all fear – all of the negative feelings swarmed her. She crushed them beneath the heel of her mind. No, she would not give in. With her hand still on the Leering, she set the torch down on the ground and stretched to reach to the final Leering. Its crushing weight slammed upon her.
The fear of betrayal.
Oh yes, she was expecting it. She saw Hillel for who she was. She saw that she had visited the hetaera garden already. Each visit, she had slowly given away her fears, one at a time. Her last act was betraying someone. She had chosen to betray Lia.
Caught in the crushing grip of two ancient Leerings, Lia experienced the salty sweat streaking down her body. The agony was unbearable. Fear of betrayal was worse than the fear of death. Colvin would succumb to Hillel. After all, he was only a man. The Aldermaston had taught her that women were more powerful. It would take time to wear him down. But if Lia died in the pit, would he keep faith to her memory?
The choice is yours. Join us, and you can avert this fate. Join us, and live forever!
You are a daughter of Ereshkigal.
When the mastons are dead, the hetaera will rule the kingdoms.
Lia bowed her head, knowing what would happen.
I will not fear death. I will not fear betrayal. I will do the Medium’s will.
The two Leerings released her. The serpents surrounded her, eyes and forked tongues probing her. There was only one more Leering, the one she could not see. The one beyond the wall. Lia stood, heart heavy but feelings firm.
She left the small cone of light and wandered into the dark, no longer caring what the serpents did. The Leering pulled her forward, beckoning her with its power.
The stone wall blocked the way. She reached out and touched it. Immediately she was overwhelmed by a force so powerful it dropped her to her knees. There was a rush of pain and pleasure, a jolt so violent and heavy that she was overwhelmed by its power.
A voice thundered in the stillness of her mind. She recognized the voice from the night before the battle of Winterrowd.
Speak your true name and enter. Give me power over you. Speak your true name!
Lia stared, dumbfounded, paralyzed by the weight and ferocity. She tried to open her mouth, but the binding sigil prevented her. She could not say it. She would have. Her will was so small and frail next to the strength she faced. It was Ereshkigal’s voice. She had never experienced something so powerful before, something that was ancient beyond anything. A presence stirred in the room.
Speak your true name!
But Lia could not. Of course it would be this way. The hetaera would never risk their lair to any maston. They would not risk it without the assurety that any who entered would fail.
Lia’s mind burned. She could not let go of the stone. She saw the burning image of the twin serpents, just beyond the wall, mocking her.
You thought to tame me? I, the mother of hetaera? You are nothing compared to my power. You will give your body to my minions. You will surrender who you are to me. You will surrender your will to mine. Speak your true name!
Lia could not.
The fire from the torch guttered out.
The first fangs bit the flesh of her legs as she knelt near the stone. Then another bite. Then another. The poison rushed through her, burning from her legs up to her waist. It was quick and painful. Then there was blackness.
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT:
Birth
The horse was lathered in sweat and foam as Prince Alluwyn crossed the threshold of his ridgetop palace. He had not slept since learning that Elle was laboring with the child, too early. They were not expecting the babe to be full term for another cycle of the moon and the news had shocked him. As someone with the Gift of Seering, he knew that he would die shortly after the babe’s birth. He had hoped for another fortnight or more. Clutching the leather reins, he swiveled off the saddle as his steward, Davtian, approached.
“Where is your escort?” Davtian said, his eyes wide with outrage. “Did you leave the Evnissyen behind?”
“They are not far behind,” the Prince said, tossing the reins to a stableboy. “How fares my lady?”