A small feast was being held to celebrate the start of my brother's reign and continuation of our family legacy of witch killing.
I just saw it as an excuse to eat fancy meals at the expense of Regina's head. I would take no part in the gathering, so I let myself be alone in the solace of the gardens. It had slowly become one of my favorite places in this damnable castle.
Footsteps came from behind me, I was too tired and too uninterested to check who it was, so I stood in place "You're not coming for the feast?" he asked.
"I didn't imagine my presence was needed your grace"
I turned to duke Herbert, he wore a gray suit, and at his center sat that very peculiar golden pendant.
"It's a feast to celebrate the start of your brother continuing the family legacy" he said.
"I apologize if my idea of celebration does not come at the cost of beheading someone" I responded flatly. He smiled softly, but I could easily see through the bullshit "Would you rather she hurt innocents? That she killed your brother? All witches are evil" he said, trying to make me understand,
"You are not in a position to tell if all witches are evil" I spat.
His eyebrows joined together, and he walked closer to me "So you take their side?"
I took two steps back, finding the proximity disturbing "There are no sides your grace" I answered, getting bored of the conversation.
"And even if there was, it wouldn't matter anyway because you and your council of leeches would do as they pleased" I said, walking past him.
Not if I could help it, I thought.
I went upstairs to Acrisius' office, because there was sort of a small library there. I need answers to some questions, Regina came to Korghon to tell me to 'find myself' and if somehow I am this high priestess they say I am, I need to know what the hell a high priestess is.
Regina's death would not be in vain, I would not allow it.
I pushed open the doors to Acrisius' office, I found him slumped over his desk, surrounded by scattered papers and maps. He looked up, his eyes tired, and gestured for me to approach. He really needs to get a life. Though I wasn't one to talk.
"How's the baron of Temeria and Sundara doing this afternoon?" I asked jokingly.
He groaned and pushed his head back "I wouldn't hate it so much if I had sufficient funds to manage both cities. Your contribution is much appreciated cousin, but it isn't enough"
I took a seat opposite him determined to help, we could discuss my issue later "What do we have?" I asked, preparing myself for a long discussion.
Acrisius rubbed his temples, a hint of frustration in his voice "I'm in talks with the merchants guild, trying to negotiate a deal that will benefit Sundara. I want to establish a trade route that will bring more commerce and revenue to the city, but its proving to be a challenge"
My eyes narrowed, intrigued by the potential implications "What is the challenge exactly?"
He scurried through the papers on the desk and handed it to me "The prices they're demanding exceeds our budget" I could see that he had allocated a certain amount of gold to the merchant's guild, but the price they are demanding exceeds his budget by a little bit, and if he removes it from another project it'll be lacking.
"The amount is not so great cousin, I'll send it to you on the morrow. Conclude the agreements with the merchant's guild"
His lips pulled back into a wide smile, he wanted to stand from his chair, and I knew exactly what was coming "If you stand from your chair and do what you intend to do, I'll bite you" I warned, and he sat back down.
"Thank you Natalya" he said genuinely. My cheeks reddened, but I hid them.
"Now that we're done with me, why are you here? He asked.
I sighed, realizing the weight of what I was about to tell him "When I went to see Regina in the dark cells, she addressed me as high priestess. It also happened when I went to Sundara"
Acrisius rubbed his chin in thought "I may have read some texts where that was mentioned, give me a minute" he said, before rushing to his little library, carefully searching for the book.
Since the time of my ancestor Armand Kastillion, any item or book that related to magic was wiped out from the main libraries, those that held interest in them found them by other means, probably from the black market or the merchants guild. If he has one, I wonder where he got it from.
"Aha!" he rejoiced, raising a brown medium-sized book.
He sat back down on his chair, carefully cleared all the papers from his table and dropped the book on the table, the sound making a loud Thump!
The name of the book reads 'Brief Histories of The Old Religion'
In that moment, something clicked, Regina mentioned something about the old religion, but I did not understand.
"Where did you get this?"
He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly "My mother had an unhealthy obsession with these things, there's a few of them left in Temeria"
I was caught between strangling him for not hiding it properly, knowing the implications were he caught, or hugging him for having exactly what I needed.
I did neither.
I skimmed through the pages of the book, the smell of old parchments attacked my nostrils.
"There!" he said, pointing at a page that read 'The Old Religion' we placed the book in a position that made it easy for us to read together.
According to the book, the old religion describes the customs and way of life belonging to the magic users of this kingdom, before my ancestors did away with it at least.
We read further, and we stumbled upon a page that indicated that the old religion was led by nine high priestesses, who were among the most talented and dedicated practitioners of magic. They were direct servants of the triple goddess.
Witches who possessed high magical powers or potential could ascend to the rank of high priestess.
I closed the book immediately, thinking it impossible. Only witches could be high priestesses, and I wasn't a witch.
"Are you okay?" Acrisius asked worriedly.
"I'm confused," I admitted "Regina said I was a high priestess, but according to this book, only witches were capable of becoming that, and I am not witch"
He nodded his head in understanding "Maybe she was mistaken, maybe she got the wrong person"
"If she was, then she was executed for it," I told him. "I need to think"
I left Acrisius' office more confused than when I entered. If he was right and it was indeed a mistake, then she was killed for nothing.
"Please let it not be for nothing" I pleaded to the goddess.