"What do you mean she's the reason I'm alive?" Kin pressed.
"I mean that there's something going on in the divine realm. I can't go into details, but your curse is no ordinary curse. It doesn't belong to any ordinary god either. In fact, it isn't something you should be able to hold—yet somehow, you can. I don't know exactly how, but I'm guessing the goddess of fate was involved. So yes, she's the reason you're alive. Only she can manipulate the fates of mortals in such a manner."
Kin thought about what Ashell had just dropped on him out of nowhere. He already had his mind full with Wize and Jai, and now he had to deal with a goddess manipulating his life. Was he ever going to catch a break?
Ashell sensed his distress and spoke. "You don't have to do anything about it—not that you could, anyway. I just want you to be careful around Jamila. If she's really the Daughter of Fate, as they claim, then she's dangerous to you. I'm not telling you to kill her or anything; just keeping your distance would do."
"That one will be easy. Once I'm certain she's safe, I'm leaving," Kin replied.
They followed the masked temple guards quietly, observing the various half-collapsed buildings, most of them in a sorry state. The ruins held several small buildings and shrines, including some altars. It was as if a small village had been built around the temple, though everything now seemed abandoned.
"These houses were built for those who wanted to stay and live closer to the temple," the leader of the masked guards explained. "No one was allowed to stay in the temple without a good reason, so anyone wishing to remain on pilgrimage or with other reasons to stay longer was told to live in these houses. Although we had some permanent residents, many were only here temporarily."
"So, what happened? Believers no longer came after your temple lost its place in the court? After it betrayed the Kingdom and lost a power struggle?" Kin asked.
The leader turned to Kin. "The Temple of Fate isn't a political institution, and so its leaders shouldn't have meddled in governance. But people's faith and beliefs shouldn't be restricted. Because of their meddling in the struggles, King Kon ordered not only that the temple be stripped of its power, but that it be totally destroyed across Wize. He destroyed people's beliefs just because some greedy fools challenged him. The temple was wrong to meddle in the kingdom's affairs, but King Kon was wrong to destroy the temple completely," she replied.
Kin scoffed. "Why would he leave the temple intact and risk it growing powerful enough to come back and stab him in the back? If you ask me, the Fates got exactly what they deserved. The throne should never be coveted by anyone but those of royal bloodline."
"Then, by that logic, your uncle taking the throne from your father should be fair," a voice rang deeply in his head.
Kin was used to speaking to Ashell in his head, so at first he thought it was Ashell. But then he realized he didn't recognize the voice. Ashell's voice was soft, calm, yet domineering, while this one had a sinister edge. Kin immediately raised his guard, his eyes wandering. He saw the masked guards bowing their heads and an old woman standing at the foot of some stairs, with the temple itself looming behind her. Kin frowned. Not only had he not realized they'd arrived at the temple, but he also hadn't noticed the old woman, even after she had spoken to him in his mind. He didn't like whatever was happening.
"Calm down, Your Majesty," the woman spoke aloud this time. "I'm not going to harm you. You're guests. It's been a long time since we had those."
Kin raised a brow. "Your Majesty? How did you know who I am?"
His mind blared with alarms.
The woman smiled. "I can detect the bloodline of a scum anywhere. You carry the same blood as Jabal. And not only that, you carry something even more sinister," she said.
Kin didn't like this. She knew who he was at first glance, and she could sense Ashell too, just like Meliesse had.
"Ashell…" Kin called internally. But there was no reply.
Kin's stomach churned. This was the second time in a few days his connection to Ashell had been severed, and, like the first time, he didn't like it. He didn't enjoy the experience that had followed the disconnection, either. He needed—
"You don't have to worry about anything, Your Majesty. I have no business with you. I'm more concerned about her," the old priestess said, pointing at Jamila. "Come, child. You must be tired."
Jamila hesitated, but eventually walked forward. She didn't know how to describe it, but there was a sense of trust and familiarity whenever she saw the woman. It was as if she were staring at someone familiar. No, that wasn't it—it was as if she were looking straight into a mirror. She reached out, taking the older woman's hand. The woman held Jamila's hand, smiling.
"Serapha, my daughter," she whispered.
Jamila was surprised and wanted to ask what she meant, but the old woman spoke again. "Come, child. There's something I want to show you," she said, leading Jamila into the temple. Some of the guards followed them, while the others returned to their posts.
Kin wanted to follow, but Ashell's voice returned.
"Don't," she warned. "If you go in there, I won't be able to help you."
Kin frowned. Her assessment matched his when he'd watched Jamila and the woman enter the temple. He felt a sense of dread.
"And Jamila?" he asked.
"She's the Daughter of Fate. No one can harm her here. You, on the other hand, are not Fate's favorite person."
Kin sighed. "I guess it's time to leave."
He turned to go back, and that was when he saw some of the masked guards leading several men toward the temple entrance. He froze when he recognized a tall man with a neatly trimmed white beard
His eyes widened in surprise.
"Farouk?"
Kin couldn't believe it. The man he never expected to see here, of all places, stood just ahead, his presence as striking as ever. The masked guards led him and the other men closer, each step adding to Kin's growing sense of tension, excitement and curiosity. Why was Farouk here? And with these men?
As Farouk's gaze fell upon Kin, a flicker of recognition passed across his face. He gave a subtle nod, acknowledging Kin's presence without a word. The silence between them spoke volumes.
Kin's mind raced, questions flooding in, but he held back, waiting for Farouk to make the first move. In the quiet atmosphere of the temple ruins.