With Saffron's mind made up, the group spent the next hour coming up with a plan. In order to find out more about the late Queen, they needed to know about her family. The King may have kept her past a closely guarded secret, but there had to be traces of it somewhere.
"All royal marriages in the Kingdom are recorded in the Grand Record. It's been that way since the kingdom was founded," Saffron told them, drumming her fingers anxiously on the table.
"Alright, and how do we get access to this book?" Prince Blaze asked, continuing to jot down notes on the parchment.
"Typically, it's kept in the High Priestess' tower. It's typically only accessed to add something new," Saffron explained.
"That should be easy enough to get to," Prince Ash said, folding his arms and leaning back on his chair.
"I don't see how," Prince Uri said, giving his brother a doubtful look.
"What's your plan?" Prince Conley asked.
"Simple," the Crown Prince said, his eyes flicking over to Saffron, "We go to the tower and request to see our entry."
Saffron frowned, rubbing her chin gently as she considered the idea. She was doubtful it would work but...
"I suppose it's better than nothing," Saffron sighed, reluctantly agreeing with his plan.
"Once we learn the Queen's maiden clan, we can look for their records and try to piece some more together," Blaze explained, rolling the parchment up and stuffing it into the inside pocket of his jacket.
"If it is so uncommon for a fae and phoenix to have children, surely there should be some record of it?" Prince Conley asked, peering curiously at his brothers.
"It's unheard of amongst nobles, but it is more common amongst the peasant clans on the borders," Prince Ash replied, drumming his fingers impatiently on the table, "That is why most of the elite look down upon it."
Saffron cast her eyes down for a moment. Perhaps that was just another factor as to why Ash disliked her so much. She could only imagine what gossip was running amongst the nobles right now, in both of their kingdoms. Ash had many siblings, so it was also not absurd to think that the pressure from the nobles could threaten his position as the Crown Prince.
"Let's go. Brothers, you can either wait here or find something useful to do with yourselves."
Saffron stood quietly, following the Crown Prince as he exited the library.
"You're going to have to lead the way, you know. If you keep following me, we'll never find it."
Saffron's head snapped up to look at Ash, startled out of her thoughts.
"Right, of course. Sorry," She replied, stepping in front of him.
The High Priestess' tower sat across from the training grounds, disconnected from the castle except for the stone platform that attached directly to the King's Council room. The High Priestess was free to attend council meetings should she wish to, or if she was needed to advise on any situations. The entrance was sealed by magic. Each member of the court, and the royal family, had permission to enter the tower. Saffron placed her hand on the leaf-shaped imprint in the door and closed her eyes. A woosh of green magic engulfed her hand for a moment before receding back into the door.
"Welcome, Your Highness..." A whispy voice echoed, "Please, enter."
Unease swirled in Saffron's stomach as she stepped across the threshold. She had been in the tower only twice in her life. The first time she entered was shortly after her birth, as her father tried to seek answers for her winglessness. The second had been for her sister's ceremony five years ago when she received the title of 'crown princess'. The Priestess had always unnerved Saffron whenever she saw the stoic woman crossing the tower bridge.
The inside of the tower was exactly as she remembered; as if it had not changed at all in those five years. It smelled strongly of lavender and patchouli and shelves, filled with all manner of mystical items, lined every wall. A large hole in the centre of the tower led up through several floors, each of them dedicated to a different purpose. A vine slithered down and hung limply in the middle.
"It appears the Priestess would like us to meet her on the top floor," Saffron sighed, "Hold on tight."
Prince Ash eyed the vine cautiously, but as Saffron grabbed onto it, he followed suit. It was not necessary for the fae to use stairs, and as Saffron did not venture there often, there had been no need to add any to the tower. The vine slithered around Saffron's waist and then the Crown Prince's, tightening until they had been all but tied together.
"Is this really necessary?" Ash growled, clearly uncomfortable.
"Unless you can fly up there yourself," Saffron replied, irritated by his question as if she would choose this method of transport over any other.
The sudden jerk of the vine made Saffron yelp, as the rocketed through the air, Saffron grabbed onto Ash's arms desperately. Despite the fact she knew she would not fall, her heart was hammering and she felt as if she might throw up. The vine stopped abruptly when they reached the top, dropping the two onto the solid floor beside the hole. Saffron lurched forwards, wrenching and struggling to calm herself. The Prince, on the other hand, looked merely annoyed.
"Your transport methods are unorthodox, Your Eminence," Ash growled.
The High Priestess was perched gracefully on a small velvet back-less sofa, staring at her guests with amused eyes. Saffron had always considered her utterly beautiful, but she seemed even more striking to her today. Her periwinkle hair, so long that it would touch the floor if she walked, was draped over her shoulder in a floral braid. She wore a pale blue priestess robe, decorated with pearls and sapphires. Her elegant wings, as clear as glass, fluttered behind her.
"I was very curious when you requested to enter, Your Highness," The Priestess said, ignoring the Crown Prince's remarks, "Even more so when I saw that you had brought a guest with you. I presume this is your husband?"
Saffron swallowed hard, still struggling to regain her composure, getting to her feet and dusting off her dress.
"Yes, your eminence, this is Prince Ash Phoenix."
"Mhm, he's not quite the husband I would have chosen for you but I suppose he's good enough. And you may call me Lydia."
Saffron could feel the rage burning from Prince Ash. She had clearly hit him right in his pride. A smirk flickered on Lydia's lips as she observed his reaction. She gestured lightly to the sofa opposite her. Saffron approached gingerly, her legs still shaky, and took a seat.
"Your Highness, are you going to join us?" Saffron asked, staring at her husband.
Prince Ash gritted his teeth, forcing himself to join the two women. He took a seat next to Saffron, crossing his legs and folding his arms in annoyance. The tension in the air made Saffron's unease even worse.
"Ah, forgive me, I know you get rather parched after a scare, Your Highness," Lydia said.
The High Priestess snapped her fingers. A table across the room flew over, settling itself between them. Two glasses and a large jug followed, setting themselves down in front of the couple. One more snap of her fingers filled the jug with a pink liquid and poured two glasses.
"Rosewater, to settle your stomach."
Saffron picked the glass up gratefully and took a sip. Once it was clear she had not died, Prince Ash followed suit and took a drink. Lydia watched the two carefully for a moment before she spoke again.
"You have come here for a purpose, do you seek a prophecy, or perhaps a fertility remedy?"
Startled, Saffron choked on drink, coughing and spluttering. She felt a thump on her back as the Crown Prince half-heartedly attempted to aid her.
"N-No," Saffron blurted out as soon as her coughing had subsided enough, "No, it's nothing like that."
Lydia's eyes flicked between them for a moment and she raised her eyebrows.
"I suppose it might be a tad soon for that, I apologise, but you came here for a reason, no?"
"Yes, you're right," Saffron said, patting her chest lightly in an attempt to ease the discomfort, "I was telling my husband about our marriage book, and he was curious to see our entry. No such system exists in the Phoenix Kingdom."
Lydia tilted her head thoughtfully, a smile appearing on her face.
"I won't question your true intentions. I will allow you to see the book, but you must allow me to seek a prophecy in exchange. Your father has always barred me from doing such things, but if I have your permission..."
Saffron paused apprehensively, her heart beginning to pound nervously. Why did Lydia want to look into her future? She glanced at the Prince, who gave a small nod of encouragement, and drew a deep breath.
"Alright, you have a deal."
Lydia smiled widely, leaning forwards on her seat. She raised her hands into the air and mumbled something in the Ancient Fae language. A burst of light filled the air, making Saffron shrink back away from it. Sitting atop the light was the record book. It was old and large, leather-bound with golden hinges, corner protectors and embossed writing. The book fluttered down onto Saffron's lap and opened itself, flicking through the pages until it reached Saffron's entry.
The entry took up an entire page of its own, set out like a certificate, it listed both of their information, along with their parents' names and ranks.
"Fascinating," She heard Ash breathe as his eyes scanned the page.
Saffron's fingers shook as she hesitantly grabbed the corner of the page and turned it, her eyes landing on the previous entry. Her parents.
"Lady Oriane Solstice, aged 20... Daughter of Lord Bramwell Solstice and Lady Idalia Solstice of clan Oriel."
"Oriel?!"
Saffron looked up quickly, startled by Prince Ash's outburst.
"Is that significant?"
"Oriel was one of the kingdoms that merged to become the Phoenix Kingdom at its founding. The Oriel clan was executed for their crimes. There should be no living members of the clan, especially not after hundreds of years."
"Unless they escaped across the border?" Saffron asked, eyeing her husband curiously.
"It is possible," Ash replied, drumming his fingers on the wooden arm of the sofa, "So your Grandmother was an Oriel..."
"This doesn't make us related, does it?" Saffron asked sourly.
Prince Ash's calm demeanour cracked at her question, causing him to erupt into a guffaw. She had never seen him laugh so heartily before.
"No, we're not. The Oriel clan was the sworn enemy of my ancestors. Even if they weren't, it was so long ago there wouldn't be a drop of shared blood between us anymore."
The sound of Lydia clearing her throat startled both of them.
"Now that you have the information you require, may I?" The High Priestess gestured to the table, which now held a large sphere made of solid sapphire.
"Of course, my apologies for taking up your time, Lydia," Saffron said quickly.
A snap of her fingers sent the book on its way. Lydia leaned forwards, hovering her hands over the sphere which began to float. Her eyes began to glow as she gazed into the deep blue of its surface. Saffron found herself captivated by the swirling mist that seemed to dance inside. Lydia was silent for a long time as she moved her hands, as if she wished to look at every part of the orb. A gasp escaped her lips and the sphere dropped out of the air, landing on the table with a loud thud, but thankfully remaining intact.
"Your Eminence? Are you alright?" Saffron asked frantically, grabbing one of Lydia's hands quickly.
The glow of her eyes began to slowly fade away, leaving the Priestess panting as if she had been running for days on end. After a moment, Lydia seemed to come back to her senses.
"Forgive me, Your Highness. I have never received such a powerful prophecy before," Lydia mumbled, seemingly trying to compose herself.
Saffron glanced nervously at Prince Ash, whose face had hardened into its usual mask once again.
"Did you see... Something bad?" Saffron asked nervously, fidgeting with her fingers.
Lydia seemed to take a moment to choose her words, as if her life may depend on it.
"You will certainly face adversity, Your Highness, and your path is uncertain at many points... But I am confident, should you make the correct choices, you will have a future greater than you could ever imagine."
Saffron sat quietly, unsure of how to digest her words. If she made the correct choices? And if she did not, what would that mean for her?
"We got what we came here for. We should go."
Saffron looked to Prince Ash, whose face seemed to be a mixture of annoyance and disgust. What could possibly have rattled him so? It was her future, not his. But he was right, they had found her mother's clan, and that was what they had come for. There was no longer a reason to stay. Ash grabbed her arm and pulled her roughly to her feet.
"Your Highness, you may want to reconsider how you treat your wife," Lydia said calmly, her gaze cold and firm.
"Kindly keep your opinions to yourself," Ash snapped back, stalking over to the hole in the centre of the room.
"As you wish," Lydia replied with a curt nod.
Saffron grabbed the vine gingerly. She hated descending from the tower far more than ascending it. The vine snaked gently around her waist. As the Crown Prince attempted to grab the vine, it slapped his hand away, making him growl angrily. A second vine dropped from the ceiling, securing itself around the Crown Prince.
"I will see you another time, Princess Saffron," Lydia said gently.
Saffron closed her eyes as the vines began to descend, however, she soon opened them as she realised that she did not feel the usual sensation of falling. Instead, the vine was gently lowering her to the ground. She heard a thud, followed by an angry curse as the Prince reached the bottom of the tower. The vine unwrapped itself as Saffron's feet touched the floor. She looked down, seeing Prince Ash sitting on the floor, with a hand on his back and an enraged expression on his face.
"Your Priestess seems to think it's funny to drop me," The Crown Prince sneered angrily.
"A thousand apologies, Your Highness, but we have little authority over the Priestess, so even if you wish for it, she will not be punished," Saffron declared, holding her head high as she strode to the door and opened it.
"We'll see how that holds up once I ascend the Phoenix Throne," Ash mumbled under his breath, making Saffron cover her mouth to hide her smirk.
She had always feared the High Priestess, but perhaps she was not so bad after all. This was the first time she had ever spoken to Lydia without her family present.
"Stop daydreaming," Ash snapped, dragging Saffron out of her thoughts, "Come along. We're taking our findings to my brothers."
Saffron followed after the Prince, biting back the rude comment she wanted to snap. If Lydia was right, her future had the potential to be truly great, then she would have ample time to get revenge for his behaviour.